LeBron James feels the stars were too perfectly aligned for the Cavaliers to land the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft lottery.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James just casually dropped a major bombshell, hinting that the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery may have been rigged to send him to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since there are several theories that have been all over the internet, James’ remarks have left fans guessing the authenticity of the system.
James appeared on the Pat McAfee Show, where he hinted that the 2003 draft was rigged and the organizers would have wanted him to be a part of the Cavs. The four-time NBA champion said, “Listen man, during the ball drop, during the lottery drop. Cleveland got the No. 1 pick, that’s… I just don’t think that was… What a coincidence, huh?”
“During the lottery drop, Cleveland got the No. 1 pick.. Let’s keep LeBron home, you know what, Patrick Ewing to the Knicks, you know, Derrick Rose to the Bulls, I understand the assignment guys,” he added. Notably, Ohio-born James was selected as the first pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2003 NBA Drafts. He spent a combined 11 years with the team across two separate stints.
The local boy had a memorable debut season, where he ended up winning the Rookie of the Year and led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals in 2007. In no time, he established himself as one of the most prominent players in the league, and the rest is history. After spending the first seven seasons with the Cavs, James moved to Miami for four years. He again came back to Cleveland in 2014, and led the side to their title win in 2016.
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The Cavaliers entered the 2003 NBA Draft following a disappointing 2002-03 season. They shared the league’s worst record with the Denver Nuggets, giving both teams an equal chance at securing the first overall pick in the lottery. With a 22.5% probability of landing the top selection, the Cavs won the draft lottery on May 22, 2023 and went on to select LeBron James.
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While many believe that the Cavs winning the lottery in 2003 was just a coincident, others opine that stars were aligned way too perfectly for them. There have been many seasons where the rumors of lottery system being fixed have made rounds on the internet. The Knicks picking Patrick Ewing in 1985, the Bulls picking Derrick Rose, the Cavs selecting Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson in 2011 are some of the other incidents which have left fans talking about the fairness in the system.
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