LeBron James and his family are awaiting an important milestone Thursday. The Lakers star is hoping his son, Bronny James, will be selected into the NBA on the second day of the league’s 2024 draft.
Bronny was among the top recruits in the 2023 classic, and there was hope he would reach his full athletic and playmaking potential at USC. Instead, he was merely decent in his lone season with the Trojans, coming off the bench and averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.3 minutes per game.
The younger James’ performance was impressive considering he was just six months removed from a cardiac event he endured during the summer. Still, he faced many questions about whether he would crack the 58 selections in the 2024 NBA Draft and which team would select him if he did.
Bronny’s draft day situation is a lot different than what his father faced when entering the NBA 21 years ago. LeBron was viewed as a generational talent, which made him a shoo-in as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
Here’s what to know about the elder James’ draft class, and what it looks like more than two decades after he was chosen.
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When was LeBron James drafted?
LeBron James was drafted in 2003. He was the No. 1 overall pick in that year’s class after he starred at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school in Akron.
James was selected by his hometown team, the Cavaliers, with the top pick. He was believed to be a generational talent who could eventually develop into the face of the NBA.
More than 20 years later, James has lived up to those expectations. He has won four championships with the Heat (two), Cavaliers (one) and Lakers (one) while rivaling Michael Jordan as one of the best and most successful players in NBA history.
MORE: Why there was no consensus No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft
How old was LeBron James when he was drafted?
James was just 18 years old when the Cavaliers selected him with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He didn’t turn 19 until Dec. 30, 2003, so he was one of the NBA’s youngest players at the time of his selection.
For those wondering, Bronny James is still just 19 years old and won’t turn 20 until Oct. 6, 2024. He may be a bit older than his father was when he was drafted, but the USC product remains a high-upside player who has plenty of room to continue growing and improving at the NBA level.
MORE: Breaking down the best fits for Bronny James, from the Mavericks to the Raptors
Did LeBron James go to college?
LeBron James was one of the NBA’s final draft picks to go pro after only ever playing at the high school level. He did not attend college as a result, choosing to go pro in basketball after starring at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school and establishing himself as a likely No. 1 pick.
James does maintain a rooting interest in college sports. He’s a noted Ohio State fan, but he pulled for USC during Bronny’s lone season with the team.
Still, the elder James’ interest doesn’t come from ties to an alma mater. It’s more about geography and family for him.
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Full 2003 NBA Draft results
James wasn’t the only top-tier talent selected in the 2003 NBA Draft. Four of the top five picks in the draft were perennial All-Stars, while plenty of other top role players like David West, Kyle Korver and Mo Williams came off the board later in the draft.
Below is a look at all 58 picks in that draft, from James at No. 1 to Andreas Glyniadakis with the final selection.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Team |
| 1 | 1 | LeBron James | SF/PF | Cavaliers |
| 1 | 2 | Darko Milicic | C | Pistons |
| 1 | 3 | Carmelo Anthony | SF/PF | Nuggets |
| 1 | 4 | Chris Bosh | PF/C | Raptors |
| 1 | 5 | Dwyane Wade | SG | Heat |
| 1 | 6 | Chris Kaman | C | Clippers |
| 1 | 7 | Kirk Hinrich | PG | Bulls |
| 1 | 8 | T. J. Ford | PG | Bucks |
| 1 | 9 | Michael Sweetney | PF | Knicks |
| 1 | 10 | Jarvis Hayes | F/G | Wizards |
| 1 | 11 | Mickael Pietrus | G/F | Warriors |
| 1 | 12 | Nick Collison | PF | SuperSonics |
| 1 | 13 | Marcus Banks | PG | Grizzlies |
| 1 | 14 | Luke Ridnour | PG | SuperSonics |
| 1 | 15 | Reece Gaines | F/G | Magic |
| 1 | 16 | Troy Bell | PG | Celtics (traded to Memphis) |
| 1 | 17 | Zarko Cabarkapa | SF | Suns |
| 1 | 18 | David West | PF | Hornets |
| 1 | 19 | Sasha Pavlovic | F/G | Jazz |
| 1 | 20 | Dahntay Jones | SG | Celtics (traded to Memphis) |
| 1 | 21 | Boris Diaw | PF | Hawks |
| 1 | 22 | Zoran Planinic | G/F | Nets |
| 1 | 23 | Travis Outlaw | SF | Trail Blazers |
| 1 | 24 | Brian Cook | PF | Lakers |
| 1 | 25 | Carlos Delfino | SG | Pistons |
| 1 | 26 | Ndudi Ebi | SF | Timberwolves |
| 27 | Kendrick Perkins | C | Grizzlies (traded to Boston) | |
| 1 | 28 | Leandro Barbosa | SG | Spurs (traded to Phoenix) |
| 1 | 29 | Josh Howard | F/G | Mavericks |
| 1 | 30 | Maciej Lampe | PF | Knicks |
| 2 | 31 | Jason Kapono | F/G | Cavaliers |
| 2 | 32 | Luke Walton | SF | Lakers |
| 2 | 33 | Jerome Beasley | PF | Heat |
| 2 | 34 | Sofoklis Schortsanitis | C | Clippers |
| 2 | 35 | Szymon Szewczyk | PF | Bucks |
| 2 | 36 | Mario Austin | PF | Bulls |
| 2 | 37 | Travis Hansen | SG | Hawks |
| 2 | 38 | Steve Blake | PG | Wizards |
| 2 | 39 | Slavko Vranes | C | Knicks |
| 2 | 40 | Derrick Zimmerman | PG | Warriors |
| 2 | 41 | Willie Green | SG | SuperSonics |
| 2 | 42 | Zaza Pachulia | PF | Magic |
| 2 | 43 | Keith Bogans | SG | Bucks |
| 2 | 44 | Malick Badiane | PF | Rockets |
| 2 | 45 | Matt Bonner | F | Bulls (traded to Toronto) |
| 2 | 46 | Sani Becirovic | SG | Nuggets |
| 2 | 47 | Mo Williams | PG | Jazz |
| 2 | 48 | James Lang | C | Hornets |
| 2 | 49 | James Jones | SF | Pacers |
| 2 | 50 | Paccelis Morlende | PG | 76ers (traded to Seattle) |
| 2 | 51 | Kyle Korver | SG | Nets (traded to Philadelphia) |
| 2 | 52 | Remon van de Hare | C | Raptors |
| 2 | 53 | Tommy Smith | PF | Bulls |
| 2 | 54 | Nedzad Sinanovic | C | Trail Blazers |
| 2 | 55 | Rick Rickert | PF | Timberwolves |
| 2 | 56 | Brandon Hunter | PF | Celtics |
| 2 | 57 | Xue Yuyang | C | Mavericks (traded to Denver) |
| 2 | 58 | Andreas Glyniadakis | C | Pistons |
James will be one of several Hall of Famers from this draft class. Wade and Bosh have already made it in, while Anthony — a microwave scorer in his prime — should to eventually be enshrined in Springfield.
Still, James remains the best of the bunch in this draft class. He has logged a whopping 263.7 win shares, good for more than double what anyone from his class has collected. That will allow James to coast into the Hall of Fame shortly after he finishes his NBA playing career.