2003 NBA draft
Basketball player selection
title: "2003 NBA draft" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2003–04-nba-season", "nba-draft", "june-2003-sports-events-in-the-united-states", "2003-in-sports-in-new-york-city", "2000s-in-manhattan", "basketball-in-new-york-city", "sporting-events-in-new-york-city", "sports-in-manhattan"] description: "Basketball player selection" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_NBA_draft" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Basketball player selection ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox sports draft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | 2003 NBA draft |
| logo | 2003 NBA Draft logo.png |
| logosize | 180px |
| sport | Basketball |
| date | June 26, 2003 |
| location | The Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) |
| network | ESPN |
| league | NBA |
| overall | 58 |
| rounds | 2 |
| first | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) |
| hofnum | {{Collapsible list |
| title | 3 |
| 1 | SF Carmelo Anthony |
| 2 | PF Chris Bosh |
| 3 | SG Dwyane Wade}} |
| prev | 2002 |
| next | 2004 |
| :: |
| name = 2003 NBA draft | image = | caption = | logo = 2003 NBA Draft logo.png | logosize = 180px | sport = Basketball | date = June 26, 2003 | location = The Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) | network = ESPN | league = NBA | teams = | overall = 58 | rounds = 2 | first = LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) | hofnum = {{Collapsible list | title = 3 |1 = SF Carmelo Anthony |2 = PF Chris Bosh |3 = SG Dwyane Wade}} | prev = 2002 | next = 2004 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. 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, and they did. 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.
The 2003 draftees represented one of the deepest talent pools in NBA history. The draft contained 15 players who combined for 26 championships. Four of the top five picks were NBA All-Stars and "Redeem Team" Olympic Gold Medalists: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and James. Nine of the players drafted were named All-Stars at least once. As of 2026, James is the last remaining active player from this draft class, having held this distinction since Anthony's retirement in 2023.
Overview
Four of the top five picks of the 2003 draft became NBA All-Stars and "Redeem Team" Olympic Gold Medalists: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. Nine players have participated in an All-Star Game. Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP in 2006 and won NBA championships with the Miami Heat in 2006, 2012 and 2013, as well as the NBA All Star Game MVP in 2010. Boris Diaw won the Most Improved Player Award in 2006, Jason Kapono won the three point contest in back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008, James Jones won the three point contest 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 was the only player in NBA history to win at least three Olympic gold medals until Kevin Durant won his third one in 2020. 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 the Toronto Raptors in 2010 as its all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws made and attempted, and minutes played; he went on to win championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.
The 2003 draft class has drawn comparisons to the 1984 and 1996 NBA draft classes but is also known for the Detroit Pistons' selection of Darko Miličić with the second overall pick over other prospects who went on to have much more success in the league. As of 2026, LeBron James is the only remaining active player from the 2003 draft class.
Eleven of the players selected in this draft never played in an NBA game throughout their professional basketball careers. Two of those players were the sole selection of the draft by their respective teams: Malick Badiane (Houston's only pick) and Paccelis Morlende (Philadelphia's only pick).
Draft selections
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/LebronFT_(cropped).jpg" caption="url-status= live}}"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Darko_Milicic_Larry_Brown_(cropped).png" caption="website=Bleacher Report}}"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Carmelo_Anthony_(2007).jpg" caption="[[Carmelo Anthony]] was selected 3rd overall by the [[Denver Nuggets]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Chris_Bosh.jpg" caption="[[Chris Bosh]], selected 4th overall by the [[Toronto Raptors]], was the first member of the draft class to be elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Dwyane_wade_2008.jpg" caption="[[Dwyane Wade]] was selected 5th overall by the [[Miami Heat]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Chris_Kaman_Clippers.jpg" caption="[[Chris Kaman]] was selected 6th overall by the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/David_West_2011.jpg" caption="David West]] was selected 18th overall by the [[New Orleans Hornets]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/joshhoward.jpg" caption="[[Josh Howard]] was selected 29th overall by the [[Dallas Mavericks]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Mo_Williams_Cavs.jpg" caption="[[Mo Williams]] was selected 47th overall by the [[Utah Jazz]]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Kyle_Korver_Sixers_(cropped).jpg" caption="[[Kyle Korver]] was selected 51st overall by the [[New Jersey Nets]] (traded to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]])."] ::
::data[format=table]
| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :: |
::data[format=table]
Notable undrafted players
These players were not selected in the 2003 NBA draft, but have played at least one game in the NBA. ::data[format=table]
| Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | United States | Memphis (Sr.) | |
| PG | United States | Minnesota (Sr.) | |
| PG | Tau Cerámica (Spain) | ||
| SG | United States | Notre Dame (Sr.) | |
| SG | United States | Auburn (Sr.) | |
| SF | United States | LSU (Sr.) | |
| PF | United States | ||
| Fresno State (Sr.) | |||
| PF | United States | ||
| Libya | Fresno State (Sr.) | ||
| SF/PF | United States | Utah (Sr.) | |
| PF | United States | Utah State (Sr.) | |
| SG/SF | Wisconsin (Sr.) | ||
| PF | United States | NC State (So.) | |
| SF | United States | Texas Tech (Sr.) | |
| SG | United States | SMU (Sr.) | |
| SG/SF | United States | Oklahoma State (Sr.) | |
| SF/PF | United States | Murray State (Sr.) | |
| SF/PF | United States | Ball State (Sr.) | |
| :: |
Draft lottery
::data[format=table]
| ^ | Denotes the actual lottery result |
|---|---|
| :: |
::data[format=table] | Team | 2002–03 record | Lottery | Lottery probabilities | 1st||2nd||3rd||4th||5th||6th||7th||8th||9th||10th||11th||12th||13th | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets | Toronto Raptors | Miami Heat | Los Angeles Clippers | Memphis Grizzlies | Chicago Bulls | Atlanta Hawks | New York Knicks | Washington Wizards | Golden State Warriors | Seattle SuperSonics | Houston Rockets | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 17–65 | 225 | .225^ | |.215 | .178 | .357 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | | | | | 17–65 | 225 | .225 | .188 | .171^ | .319 | .123 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | | | | | 24–58 | 157 | .157 | .157 | .156 | .226^ | .265 | .040 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | | | | | 25–57 | 120 | .120 | .126 | .133 | .099 | .350^ | .161 | .013 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | | | | | 28–54 | 89 | .089 | .097 | .107 | |— | .261 | .360^ | .084 | .004 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | | | | | 28–54 | 64 | .064 | .071^ | .081 | |— | |— | |.440 | |.304 | .040 | .001 | |— | |— | |— | |— | | | | | 30–52 | 44 | .044 | .049 | .058 | — | — | — | .599^ | |.232 | .018 | .000 | — | — | — | | | | | 35–47 | 29 | .029 | .022 | .027 | — | — | — | — | .724^ | |.197 | .011 | .000 | — | — | | | | | 37–45 | 15 | .015 | .022 | .027 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | .784^ | .143 | .005 | .000 | |— | | | | | 37–45 | 14 | .014 | .021 | .025 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | .846^ | .087 | .002 | .000 | | | | | 38–44 | 7 | .007 | .009 | .012 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | .907^ | .063 | .001 | | | | | 40–42 | 6 | .006 | .008 | .010 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | .935^ | .039 | | | | | 43–39 | 5 | .005 | .007 | .009 | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | .960^ | | | | ::
Early entrants
College underclassmen
In terms of underclassmen declaring for this year's draft, the number of players available for entry this year would increase up to 73 after previously being down a bit the previous year. However, it would also see the most withdrawn entries from underclassmen either in college, overseas, or even high school in the case of Charlie Villanueva with 27 total people doing exactly that. As such, there would actually be 46 underclassmen that qualified as such for this year's draft, which would be an overall step down when compared to last year's official number of underclassmen entering the NBA draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
- USA Chris Alexander – C, Iowa State (junior)
- USA Carmelo Anthony – F, Syracuse (freshman)
- USA Mario Austin – F, Mississippi State (junior)
- USA Ronald Blackshear – G, Marshall (junior)
- USA Chris Bosh – F, Georgia Tech (freshman)
- USA Lamar Castile – G, CC of Beaver County (sophomore)
- USA Rod Edwards – G, Ouachita Baptist (junior)
- CAN Carl English – G, Hawaii (junior)
- USA T. J. Ford – G, Texas (sophomore)
- USA Zack Fray – F, Santa Ana (sophomore)
- USA Jonathan Hargett – G, West Virginia (freshman)
- USA David Hamilton – F, Salem International (junior)
- USA Jarvis Hayes – F/G, Georgia (junior)
- USA Maurice Jackson – F, Texas–Permian (junior)
- USA Richard Jeter – G, Atlanta Metro (sophomore)
- GER Chris Kaman – C, Central Michigan (junior)
- USA Josh Powell – F, NC State (sophomore)
- USA Rick Rickert – F, Minnesota (sophomore)
- USA Luke Ridnour – G, Oregon (junior)
- USA Rob Smith – F, North Carolina Wesleyan (junior)
- USA Michael Sweetney – F, Georgetown (junior)
- USA Dwyane Wade – G, Marquette (junior)
- USA Mo Williams – G, Alabama (sophomore)
- USA Doug Wrenn – F/G, Washington (junior)
High school players
This would be the ninth straight year in a row where at least one high school player would declare their entry into the NBA draft directly out of high school after previously only allowing it one time back in 1975. However, it would be one of the most famous ones due to the entry of high school phenom LeBron James entering the NBA draft this year, being the second high schooler to be drafted at #1 behind only Kwame Brown back in 2001, as well as being the second high schooler to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award behind Amar'e Stoudemire only a year prior. This draft also saw a high schooler named Charlie Villanueva initially enter for the NBA draft, but withdraw his name and go to college before the draft began. The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
- NGR Ndudi Ebi – F, Westbury Christian School (Houston, Texas)
- USA LeBron James – G, St. Vincent–St. Mary High School (Akron, Ohio)
- USA James Lang – F, Central Park Christian High School (Birmingham, Alabama)
- USA Travis Outlaw – F, Starkville High School (Starkville, Mississippi)
- USA Kendrick Perkins – F, Clifton J. Ozen High School (Beaumont, Texas)
International players
The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
- SEN Malick Badiane – F, Langen (Germany)
- BRA Leandro Barbosa – G, Bauru Tilibra (Brazil)
- ARG Carlos Delfino – G, Skipper Bologna (Italy)
- FRA Boris Diaw – F, Pau-Orthez (France)
- POL Maciej Lampe – F, Universidad Complutense (Spain)
- SCG Darko Miličić – F, Hemofarm Vršac (Serbia and Montenegro)
- GEO Zaza Pachulia – F/C, Ülker (Turkey)
- SCG Aleksandar Pavlović – G/F, Budućnost (Serbia and Montenegro)
- FRA Mickaël Piétrus – G, Pau-Orthez (France)
- CRO Zoran Planinić – G, Cibona (Croatia)
- GRE Sofoklis Schortsanitis – F, Iraklis (Greece)
- BIH Nedžad Sinanović – C, Brotnjo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- ISL Jón Arnór Stefánsson – G, Trier (Germany)
- POL Szymon Szewczyk – F, Braunschweig (Germany)
- NLD Remon van de Hare – C/F, FC Barcelona (Spain)
- SCG Slavko Vraneš – C, Budućnost (Serbia and Montenegro)
- CHN Xue Yuyang – F, Hong Kong Flying Dragons (China)
References
References
- "NBA Announces Early-Entry Candidates". NBA.
- "Cavaliers Win NBA Draft Lottery 2003". NBA.
- The Associated Press. (June 26, 2003). "LeBron James Selected First by Cleveland".
- (August 21, 2016). "Carmelo Anthony wins third gold medal, says he's finished with Team USA".
- "2003 draft eventually may be best in history". MSNBC.
- (July 27, 2005). "Most anticipated No. 1 draft picks". [[CBC Sports]].
- Smith, Mark David. "NBA Draft: Is Darko Milicic the Biggest Draft Bust Ever?".
- Boeck, Greg. (August 8, 1997}}
{{cite news). "Thorpe trade frees Pistons to chase Bulls' Williams". USA Today. - Saladino, Tom. (August 3, 2002). "Robinson traded by Milwaukee to Hawks for No. 1 pick and Kukoc".
- Murphy, Michael. (August 27, 1999). "Rockets land Francis, 5 others; Grizzlies get 4 in largest deal in NBA history". The Houston Chronicle.
- Baird, Woody. (June 27, 2003). "West wastes no time for draft-night trades".
- 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).
- Doyle, Bill. (August 4, 2001). "Celts move forward in Sixers deal; Little-used Moiso swapped for McLeod, future first-round pick". Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts).
- Marot, Michael. (June 28, 2001). "Pacers wait their turn, wind up with 2 guards".
- Scanlon, Dick. (August 4, 1999}}
The Magic traded this pick along with [[Mike Miller (basketball, born 1980)). "Magic trades Anderson for Kings' Abdul-Wahad". The Houston Chronicle. - Badger, T.A.. (June 26, 2003). "Spurs select and then trade Brazilian point guard".
- (June 26, 2002). "Knicks blockbuster may be the tip of iceberg". ESPN.
- Harris, Beth. (June 27, 2002). "Lakers trade Hunter, first-round pick to Toronto for Murray".
- Finger, Mike. (June 27, 2002). "Owens off to Memphis ; Injury didn't scare off teams". San Antonio Express-News.
- (December 5, 2003). "Green has thumb surgery". ESPN.
- Mulhern, Tom. (June 27, 2003). "Short, to the Point; Bucks Choose Texas' Ford". Wisconsin State Journal.
- (October 29, 2001). "Bulls trade Voskuhl to Suns for draft pick".
- Gray, Kevin. (June 27, 2003). "Toronto trades for Bonner". The Union Leader.
- (February 20, 2003). "Celtics add bulk with additions of Blount, Bryant". ESPN.
- (June 27, 2003). "Korver drafted by Nets, traded to Philadelphia".
- (October 2, 2001). "Heat acquire F Lampley from Chicago".
- (June 23, 2003). "Celtics Acquire Second round Draft Choice From Sacramento Kings For Rights To Songaila". NBA.
- (June 28, 2003). "Xue Yuyang Joins Denver After Dallas Draft". China Internet Information Center.
- (October 3, 2002). "Pistons trade Menks to Spurs".
- [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/07/clippers-kaman.html Clippers' Kaman becomes German citizen for Olympics] {{Webarchive. link. (June 13, 2017 . ''Los Angeles Times''. July 3, 2008.)
- (August 4, 2007). "2003 Underclassmen".
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