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. Cleveland chairman Gordon Gund said afterward his team intended to 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, and three of those top five—James, Wade, and Bosh—were members of the Miami Heat Big Three, while the only remaining top five pick—Darko Miličić—never played at the level expected of him in the NBA and is widely considered a draft bust. 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, while three of those top 5—James, Wade, and Bosh—were each selected as the 1st, 4th, and 5th picks in the draft respectively, and became scoring leaders for their respective franchises over their first seven seasons before they all formed a superteam together for the Miami Heat named the Big Three, also known as the Heatles, from the 2010–11 season to the 2013–14 season. During the trio's four seasons together, the Heat advanced to the NBA Finals each year and won two NBA championships. James won NBA Most Valuable Player awards in 2012 and 2013 and was named to the All-NBA First Team in all four seasons, while Wade was All-NBA Second Team in 2011 and All-NBA Third Team in 2012 and 2013. All three of Bosh, Wade, and James were NBA All-Stars during all four seasons together. Meanwhile, Darko Miličić was selected 2nd overall by the Detroit Pistons; however, he never played at the level expected of him in the NBA and is widely considered a draft bust. 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, having held this distinction since Anthony's retirement in 2023.
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
PGPoint guard SGShooting guard SFSmall forward PFPower forward CCenter
Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team School/club team1 1 *~ SF/PF Cleveland Cavaliers St. Vincent–St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio)1 2 Darko Miličić C Detroit Pistons (from Memphis)The Grizzlies traded this pick to the Pistons for Otis Thorpe on August 7, 1997. Hemofarm Vršac (Serbia and Montenegro)1 3 ^ SF/PF Denver Nuggets Syracuse (Fr.)1 4 ^ PF/C Toronto Raptors Georgia Tech (Fr.)1 5 ^ SG Miami Heat Marquette (Jr.)1 6 + C Los Angeles Clippers Central Michigan (Jr.)1 7 PG Chicago Bulls Kansas (Sr.)1 8 PG Milwaukee Bucks (from Atlanta)The Hawks traded this pick along with Toni Kukoč and Leon Smith to the Bucks for Glenn Robinson on August 2, 2002. Texas (So.)1 9 PF New York Knicks Georgetown (Jr.)1 10 F/G Washington Wizards Georgia (Jr.)1 11 G/F Golden State Warriors Pau-Orthez (France)1 12 PF Seattle SuperSonics Kansas (Sr.)1 13 PG Memphis Grizzlies (from Houston,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. traded to Boston)The Grizzlies traded No. 13 and No. 27 picks to the Celtics for No. 16 and No. 20 picks on the draft day. UNLV (Sr)1 14 PG Seattle SuperSonics (from Milwaukee)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. Oregon (Jr)1 15 F/G Orlando Magic Louisville (Sr)1 16 PG Boston Celtics (traded to Memphis) Boston College (Sr)1 17 SF Phoenix Suns Budućnost Podgorica (Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League)1 18 + PF New Orleans Hornets Xavier (Sr)1 19 F/G Utah Jazz Budućnost Podgorica (Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League)1 20 SG Boston Celtics (from Philadelphia,The 76ers traded this pick along with Roshown McLeod to the Celtics for Jérôme Moïso on August 3, 2001. traded to Memphis) Duke (Sr)1 21 PF Atlanta Hawks (from Indiana)The Pacers traded this pick to the Hawks for Jamaal Tinsley on June 27, 2001. Pau-Orthez (France)1 22 G/F New Jersey Nets Cibona Zagreb (Croatia and Adriatic League)1 23 SF Portland Trail Blazers Starkville HS (Starkville, Mississippi)1 24 PF Los Angeles Lakers Illinois (Sr)1 25 SG Detroit Pistons Skipper Bologna (Italy)1 26 SF Minnesota Timberwolves Westbury Christian HS (Houston, Texas)1 27 C Memphis Grizzlies (from Sacramento via Orlando,The Kings traded this pick along with Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Magic for Nick Anderson on August 3, 1999.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. traded to Boston) Ozen HS (Beaumont, Texas)1 28 SG San Antonio Spurs (traded to Phoenix)The Spurs traded this pick to the Suns for a future pick (#30 pick in 2005 NBA draft) on June 26, 2003. Bauru Tilibra (Brazil)1 29 + F/G Dallas Mavericks Wake Forest (Sr)2 30 PF New York Knicks (from Denver)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. Complutense University of Madrid (Spain)2 31 F/G Cleveland Cavaliers UCLA (Sr)2 32 SF Los Angeles Lakers (from Toronto)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. Arizona (Sr)2 33 PF Miami Heat North Dakota (Sr)2 34 # C Los Angeles Clippers Iraklis BC (Greece)2 35 # PF Milwaukee Bucks (from Memphis)The Grizzlies traded this pick to the Bucks for Chris Owens on June 26, 2002. Braunschweig (Germany)2 36 # PF Chicago Bulls Mississippi State (Jr)2 37 SG Atlanta Hawks BYU (Sr)2 38 PG Washington Wizards Maryland (Sr)2 39 C New York Knicks Budućnost Podgorica (Serbia and Montenegro and Adriatic League)2 40 PG Golden State Warriors Mississippi State (Sr)2 41 SG Seattle SuperSonics (traded to Philadelphia)The 76ers traded No. 41 pick to the SuperSonics for the No. 50 pick and cash during the draft. Detroit (Sr)2 42 PF Orlando Magic Ülkerspor (Turkey)2 43 SG Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Orlando)The Bucks traded this pick to the Magic for cash considerations on the draft day. Kentucky (Sr)2 44 # PF Houston Rockets Langen (Germany)2 45 F Chicago Bulls (from Phoenix,The Suns traded this pick along with Soumaila Samake to the Bulls for C Jake Voskuhl on October 29, 2001. traded to Toronto)The Bulls traded this pick to the Raptors for a future pick (#38 pick in 2004 NBA draft) on the draft day. Florida (Sr)2 46 # SG Denver Nuggets (from Boston)The Celtics traded this pick along with Shammond Williams to the Nuggets for Mark Blount and Mark Bryant on February 20, 2003. Virtus Bologna (Italy)2 47 + PG Utah Jazz Alabama (So)2 48 C New Orleans Hornets Central Park Christian HS (Birmingham, Alabama)2 49 SF Indiana Pacers Miami (Florida) (Sr)2 50 # PG Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Seattle) Dijon (France)2 51 + SG New Jersey Nets (traded to Philadelphia)The Nets traded this pick to the 76ers for cash considerations on the draft day. Creighton (Sr)2 52 C Toronto Raptors (from Los Angeles Lakers) FC Barcelona (Spain)2 53 # PF Chicago Bulls (from Detroit via Miami)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. Arizona State (Sr)2 54 # C Portland Trail Blazers Brotnjo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)2 55 # PF Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota (So)2 56 PF Boston Celtics (from Sacramento)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. Ohio (Sr)2 57 # C Dallas Mavericks (traded to Denver)The Mavericks traded this pick to the Nuggets for a future pick (#50 pick in 2004 NBA draft) on the draft day. Hong Kong Flying Dragons (China)2 58 C Detroit Pistons (from San Antonio)The Spurs traded this pick to the Pistons for Mengke Bateer on October 3, 2002. AEK (Greece)
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 teamCMemphis (Sr.)PGMinnesota (Sr.)PGTau Cerámica (Spain)SGNotre Dame (Sr.)SGAuburn (Sr.)SFLSU (Sr.)PFFresno State (Sr.)PFFresno State (Sr.)SF/PFUtah (Sr.)PFUtah State (Sr.)SG/SFWisconsin (Sr.)PFNC State (So.)SFTexas Tech (Sr.)SGSMU (Sr.)SG/SFOklahoma State (Sr.)SF/PFMurray State (Sr.)SF/PFBall State (Sr.)
Draft lottery ^Denotes the actual lottery result