THE 2003 NBA Draft remains one of the most legendary drafts in NBA history.
Though it may lack the depth of the classic 1996 Kobe Bryant draft, it was among the most top-heavy we’ve ever seen: LeBron James went first, and the top five picks were rounded out by Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.
Of course, like all drafts, it also produced some famous busts, role players, and players who went into other fields after their playing days were over.
See what happened to the top 10 picks of the draft below:
LeBron James was picked No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron’s one of the best players of all time, with four MVPs and three titles after winning a championship with the Cavs last year.
Darko Milicic was picked No. 2 overall by the Detroit Pistons. Considered one of the biggest draft busts ever, Milicic played for six teams in ten years. He later played overseas, became a kickboxer, and now reportedly lives on a farm in Serbia.
Carmelo Anthony was picked No. 3 overall by the Denver Nuggets. Anthony is a nine-time All-Star and is in his sixth season with the Knicks.
Chris Bosh was picked No. 4 overall by the Toronto Raptors. Bosh’s successful career has taken a strange turn. After sitting out portions of the last two seasons with bloodclots, the Heat have put a pause on Bosh’s return to the floor. It’s unclear if he’ll play in the NBA again.
Dwyane Wade was picked No. 5 overall by the Miami Heat. After a falling-out with the Heat in free agency, Wade joined the Bulls over the summer.
Chris Kaman was picked No. 6 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. Kaman played for the Trail Blazers in 2015-16, but did not return to the team this season.
Kirk Hinrich was picked No. 7 overall by the Chicago Bulls. Hinrich played 13 seasons in the NBA, 11 of them with the Bulls. He’s currently an unsigned free agent.
TJ Ford was picked No. 8 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. Ford had to retire in 2012 because of a spinal injury. He now runs basketball camps for Texas high school players.
Michael Sweetney was picked No. 9 overall by the New York Knicks. He fell out of the league in 2007 after struggling with weight issues. He recently teamed up with a foundation called umttr to promote awareness for depression.
Jarvis Hayes was picked No. 10 overall by the Washington Wizards. He played seven seasons in the NBA and was hired by the SEC Network in 2016.
- Tony Manfred and Scott Davis, Business Insider
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Still Jordan for me
I’d say wait another 6 or so years, until he’s close to retiring. You never know what he’ll achieve by then
Clearly Jordan, especially when you look at his stats. I don’t think most people these days (especially newbies on this side of the water) appreciate just how much of a phenomenon he was.