2003 NBA draft
The 2003 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2003, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The NBA announced that 41 college and high school players and a record 31 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2003 NBA draft.[1] The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 22.50 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 22, and Cleveland chairman Gordon Gund said afterward his team would select LeBron James.[2] The Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets were second and third, respectively. This draft was the first draft to be aired on ESPN after they picked up the license from TNT.
| 2003 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date(s) | June 26, 2003 |
| Location | The Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) |
| Network(s) | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 58 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) |
The 2003 draft is known for having one of the most talented draft pools in draft history. The draft contained fifteen players who combined for twenty-six championships. Four of the top five picks are NBA All-Stars and "Redeem Team" Olympic Gold Medalists: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. Many players have been in the starting line-ups of their respective teams; nine have participated in an All-Star Game, Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP in 2006 and won the NBA All Star Game MVP in 2010. Boris Diaw won the Most Improved Player Award in 2006, Jason Kapono won the three point shootout back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008, James Jones won the three point shootout in 2011, Leandro Barbosa won the Sixth Man Award in 2007, Kyle Korver set the NBA record for three point shooting percentage in 2010 (53.6%), and in the 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 seasons, LeBron James won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, and the NBA Finals MVP in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020. Carmelo Anthony won the 2013 NBA Scoring Title and is the only player in NBA history to win at least three Olympic gold medals.[3] Zaza Pachulia and David West won NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Matt Bonner won NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007 and 2014. Dahntay Jones and Mo Williams won the NBA championship in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Luke Walton won three NBA championships, two as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and one as an assistant coach with the Warriors in 2015. Chris Bosh left Toronto in 2010 as its all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws made and attempted, and minutes played. The 2003 draft class has drawn comparisons to the 1984 and 1996 NBA draft classes,[4] but is also known for the Detroit Pistons having made the selection of Darko Miličić with the second pick, over other prospects who went on to have much more success in the league.[4] Out of the entire draft, only Nick Collison has played his entire career for the team that drafted him and also retired his number. As of 2021, the only remaining active players from the 2003 draft class are LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
Draft selections
| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
%253B_Flag_of_Serbia_and_Montenegro_(2003%E2%80%932006).svg.png.webp){kind=small}
- Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
^ a: Chris Kaman was born in the United States, but also has German citizenship through his great-grandparents and competes internationally for Germany.[28]
Notable undrafted players
These players were not selected in the 2003 NBA draft, but have played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earl Barron | C |  United States |
Memphis (Sr.) |
| José Calderón | PG |  Spain |
Tau Cerámica (Spain) |
| Matt Carroll | SG | United States |
Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| Marquis Daniels | SG | United States |
Auburn (Sr.) |
| Ronald Dupree | SF | United States |
LSU (Sr.) |
| Britton Johnsen | SF/PF | United States |
Utah (Sr.) |
| Kirk Penney | SG/SF |  New Zealand |
Wisconsin (Sr.) |
| Josh Powell | PF | United States |
NC State (So.) |
| Kasib Powell | SF | United States |
Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| Quinton Ross | SG | United States |
SMU (Sr.) |
| James Singleton | SF/PF | United States |
Murray State (Sr.) |
Draft Lottery
| ^ | Denotes the actual lottery result |
| Team | 2002–03 record |
Lottery | Lottery probabilities | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | ||||
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 17-65 | 225 | .225^ | .215 | .178 | .357 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Denver Nuggets | 17–65 | 225 | .225 | .188 | .171^ | .319 | .123 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Toronto Raptors | 24–58 | 157 | .157 | .157 | .156 | .226^ | .265 | .040 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Miami Heat | 25–57 | 120 | .120 | .126 | .133 | .099 | .350^ | .161 | .013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 28–54 | 89 | .089 | .097 | .107 | — | .261 | .360^ | .084 | .004 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 28–54 | 64 | .064 | .071^ | .081 | — | — | .440 | .304 | .040 | .001 | — | — | — | — | |
| Chicago Bulls | 30–52 | 44 | .044 | .049 | .058 | — | — | — | .599^ | .232 | .018 | .000 | — | — | — | |
| Atlanta Hawks | 35–47 | 29 | .029 | .022 | .027 | — | — | — | — | .724^ | .197 | .011 | .000 | — | — | |
| New York Knicks | 37-45 | 15 | .015 | .022 | .027 | — | — | — | — | — | .784^ | .143 | .005 | .000 | — | |
| Washington Wizards | 37-45 | 14 | .014 | .021 | .025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | .846^ | .087 | .002 | .000 | |
| Golden State Warriors | 38–44 | 7 | .007 | .009 | .012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .907^ | .063 | .001 | |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 40–42 | 6 | .006 | .008 | .010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .935^ | .039 | |
| Houston Rockets | 43–39 | 5 | .005 | .007 | .009 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .960^ | |
References
- "NBA Announces Early-Entry Candidates". NBA. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- "Cavaliers Win NBA Draft Lottery 2003". NBA. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- Carmelo Anthony wins third gold medal, says he's finished with Team USA
- "2003 draft eventually may be best in history". MSNBC. Archived from the original on January 26, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2007.
- "Most anticipated No. 1 draft picks". CBC Sports. July 27, 2005. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
- The Grizzlies traded this pick to the Pistons for Otis Thorpe on August 7, 1997.
Boeck, Greg (August 8, 1997). "Thorpe trade frees Pistons to chase Bulls' Williams". USA Today. p. 12C.
Enlund, Tom (June 28, 2003). "Selections have Pistons popping; Sonics also do well on draft day". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 3C. - The Hawks traded this pick along with Toni Kukoč and Leon Smith to the Bucks for Glenn Robinson on August 2, 2002.
Saladino, Tom (August 3, 2002). "Robinson traded by Milwaukee to Hawks for No. 1 pick and Kukoc". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. - The Rockets traded this pick along with Othella Harrington, Brent Price, Antoine Carr, and Michael Dickerson to the Grizzlies as part of a three-way deal in which the Rockets received draft rights to Steve Francis and Tony Massenburg from Grizzlies and Don MacLean and future first-round draft choice from Orlando Magic, and Magic received Michael Smith, Rodrick Rhodes, Lee Mayberry and Makhtar Ndiaye from Grizzlies on August 27, 1999.
Murphy, Michael (August 27, 1999). "Rockets land Francis, 5 others; Grizzlies get 4 in largest deal in NBA history". The Houston Chronicle. p. 1. - The Grizzlies traded No. 13 and No. 27 picks to the Celtics for No. 16 and No. 20 picks on the draft day.
Baird, Woody (June 27, 2003). "West wastes no time for draft-night trades". Associated Press. - The Bucks traded this pick along with Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, and Ronald Murray to the SuperSonics for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason on February 20, 2003.
Ruiz, Don (February 21, 2003). "Goodbye, Glove: Sonics trade Payton; NBA deal: Fan favorite Mason also sent to Milwaukee Bucks". The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington). p. A01. - The 76ers traded this pick along with Roshown McLeod to the Celtics for Jérôme Moïso on August 3, 2001.
Doyle, Bill (August 4, 2001). "Celts move forward in Sixers deal; Little-used Moiso swapped for McLeod, future first-round pick". Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts). p. B1. - The Pacers traded this pick to the Hawks for Jamaal Tinsley on June 27, 2001.
Marot, Michael (June 28, 2001). "Pacers wait their turn, wind up with 2 guards". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. - The Kings traded this pick along with Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Magic for Nick Anderson on August 3, 1999.
"Magic trades Anderson for Kings' Abdul-Wahad". The Houston Chronicle. August 4, 1999. p. Sports 9.
The Magic traded this pick along with Mike Miller and Ryan Humphrey to the Grizzlies for Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek on February 19, 2003.
Scanlon, Dick (March 7, 2003). "Trade Pays Off Quickly". The Ledger. p. C1. - The Spurs traded this pick to the Suns for a future pick (#30 pick in 2005 NBA draft) on June 26, 2003.
Badger, T.A. (June 26, 2003). "Spurs select and then trade Brazilian point guard". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. - The Nuggets traded this pick along with Antonio McDyess and the draft rights to Frank Williams to the Knicks for Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and the draft rights to Maybyner "Nenê" Hilario on June 26, 2002.
"Knicks blockbuster may be the tip of iceberg". ESPN. June 26, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2016. - The Raptors traded No. 32 pick along with Tracy Murray and Kareem Rush to the Lakers for the No. 52 pick, Lindsey Hunter, and Chris Jefferies on June 26, 2002.
Harris, Beth (June 27, 2002). "Lakers trade Hunter, first-round pick to Toronto for Murray". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. - The Grizzlies traded this pick to the Bucks for Chris Owens on June 26, 2002.
Finger, Mike (June 27, 2002). "Owens off to Memphis ; Injury didn't scare off teams". San Antonio Express-News. - The 76ers traded No. 41 pick to the SuperSonics for the No. 50 pick and cash during the draft.
"Green has thumb surgery". ESPN. Associated Press. December 5, 2003. Retrieved September 11, 2016. - The Bucks traded this pick to the Magic for cash considerations on the draft day.
Mulhern, Tom (June 27, 2003). "Short, to the Point; Bucks Choose Texas' Ford". Wisconsin State Journal. - The Suns traded this pick along with Soumaila Samake to the Bulls for C Jake Voskuhl on October 29, 2001.
"Bulls trade Voskuhl to Suns for draft pick". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. October 29, 2001. - The Bulls traded this pick to the Raptors for a future pick (#38 pick in 2004 NBA draft) on the draft day.
Gray, Kevin (June 27, 2003). "Toronto trades for Bonner". The Union Leader. - The Celtics traded this pick along with Shammond Williams to the Nuggets for Mark Blount and Mark Bryant on February 20, 2003.
"Celtics add bulk with additions of Blount, Bryant". ESPN. Associated Press. February 20, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2009. - The Nets traded this pick to the 76ers for cash considerations on the draft day.
"Korver drafted by Nets, traded to Philadelphia". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. June 27, 2003. - The Pistons traded this pick along with Cedric Ceballos to the Heat for a second-round draft pick (#38 pick in 2002 NBA draft) on November 26, 2000.
The Heat traded this pick to the Bulls for Sean Lampley on October 2, 2001.
"Heat acquire F Lampley from Chicago". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. October 2, 2001. - The Kings traded this pick along with a future pick (#53 pick in 2005 NBA draft) to the Celtics for Darius Songaila on June 23, 2003.
"Celtics Acquire Second round Draft Choice From Sacramento Kings For Rights To Songaila". NBA. June 23, 2003. Retrieved May 20, 2007. - The Mavericks traded this pick to the Nuggets for a future pick (#50 pick in 2004 NBA draft) on the draft day.
"Xue Yuyang Joins Denver After Dallas Draft". China Internet Information Center. June 28, 2003. Retrieved May 20, 2007. - The Spurs traded this pick to the Pistons for Mengke Bateer on October 3, 2002.
"Pistons trade Menks to Spurs". The Associated Press State & Local Wire. October 3, 2002. - Clippers' Kaman becomes German citizen for Olympics. Los Angeles Times. July 3, 2008.
- "NBA.com Draft 2003". NBA. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
- "Player profiles with their career transaction information". NBA. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
External links
- ESPN.com Draft 2003
- databaseBasketball.com Draft 2003
- "How LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and the 2003 draft class transformed the NBA". SC Featured. ESPN. June 25, 2018 – via YouTube.