THE 2003 NBA DRAFT CLASS: THE BEST "EVER..."??

During the late 1990’s to the early 2000 era, the National Basketball Association, most consider the NBA, was in a downward spiral. Tickets sales were depleting at a rapid rate. High school players were declaring for the draft without proper knowledge of what it would take to be considered a “lottery pick.” Thus, the game in itself was not as fun as watch. Most would call it the Post-Jordan era. There were no defined rivalries and no competition among peers for game supremacy. Magic Johnson had Larry Bird. Michael Jordan had the Detroit Pistons. Rivalry and competition is what the game thrives on. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal had their fair share of issues, but they were on the same team. Therefore, the 2003 NBA draft class will go down in history as the class responsible for the NBA's Post Jordan up rise.

Look at the names alone, people. It’s absolutely astonishing. The number five Draft Pick was Dwayne Wade to the Miami Heat. The Heat were a terrible basketball team. Let’s be honest. Dwayne Wade was, for a fact, the reason Shaquille O’Neal came to Miami from the Los Angeles Lakers. His relationship with the Lakers was redundantly wearing thin and he knew he could win a Championship with Dwayne Wade on his team. What happened? They won a Championship.

The 2003 number four Draft Pick was Chris Bosh to the Toronto Raptors. He has been a perennial superstar for five years straight. Bosh is a definite All-Star every year and in 2010 he become a free agent. Every team in the NBA with enough money to sign him will be chomping at the bit for that opportunity. He plays in Toronto, not the biggest draw for basketball of course, but the last two years they have faired 9th in total attendance. I have to believe Bosh is a big reason for that.

The number three Draft Pick in 2003 may be the biggest “sleeper” pick in the draft quite truthfully. The young man had just won a Championship with Syracuse and the Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. He was crafty, but had a phenomenal basketball I.Q. and could take a “college” game over at any time. How would he transcend to the NBA fast pace game. Carmelo Anthony, small forward for the Denver Nuggets, is doing just fine. He has been to the playoffs every year, losing in the first round all years until this one. He is playing in his first Western Conference Finals and just yesterday scored 39 points in a phenomenal duel with Kobe Bryant of the Lakers. Anthony, like Bosh, is an All-Star force in “the League” and is only getting started.

Drafted number one in the 2003 NBA Draft was none other than LeBron “King” James to the Cleveland Cavaliers. What more needs to be said. The torch has been passed from Jordan to Kobe and now to LeBron. The battle for game supremacy is back. Kobe vs. LeBron. The man is madness. Cleveland has sold out for three seasons straight. Not only his play, but also his character has exceeded all of the hype leading up to his draft. This young man is lively, charismatic, successful and arguably the best player on the floor today, if not EVER. He is not only an All-Star on the basketball court, but on the television through endorsements and interviews. LeBron equals money, period.

The 2003 NBA Draft Class reflects what the NBA stands for today. Remember the Michigan Wolverines “Fab Five.” The longest shorts, the best swagger and cockiness, with belief in every move they made. When you think of the NBA today, LeBron, Carmelo and Dwayne are always mentioned. Always. They have accepted the NBA as theirs. On the floor and off the floor they display great character and David Stern, NBA Commissioner, has to enjoy that. Kobe Bryant is still and always one of the best closers in the National Basketball Association. He has three Championships and could be on his way to a fourth, but the NBA is shifting. LeBron, Carmelo, Dwayne and Chris Bosh will be here for years to come. Lastly, did I mention they ALL have Olympic Gold Medals. Study up!

B.YONEST