Before getting arguably the luckiest pick in history with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers were an afterthought in the league. The franchise has been a contender in previous decades, specifically in the late 80s to the early 90s, but it was never a team that fans or the rest of the league took seriously.
But then came a teenager from nearby Akron who carried massive expectations before he made his NBA debut. LeBron James entered the league in 2003 as arguably the most hyped prospect the game has ever seen. Dubbed The Chosen One while still in high school, James was expected to turn around a franchise that was reeling in irrelevance since its inception. And he embraced that job.
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A city about to be changed forever
Drafting a No. 1 pick always comes with excitement. The franchise and the fans know they might have drafted someone who could change their fortunes, but most of the time that excitement is suppressed until after they see their new player in action. But for LeBron, he already knew how the Cavaliers were about to change forever.
“This is a longtime dream — to finally accomplish this,” James said when he was drafted. “You come there this season. You’ll see how glamorous it is. It’s going to be a lot better. It’s going to be lit up like Vegas.”
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The Cavaliers were by no means a glamorous destination, and not even the most popular sports team in the city due to their NFL counterpart, the Cleveland Browns. But that didn’t matter after drafting James, who had the whole basketball world in the palm of his hand as soon as he got drafted. By nature, the Cavaliers instantly became a team to watch, and James’ popularity was just the start.
In LeBron’s rookie season, Cleveland finished with a record of 35-47, 18 wins more than the previous season, and suddenly became one of the league’s most-watched teams. National television games increased, and merchandise sales exploded as everyone wanted a piece of the teenager who was already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan.
But more importantly, James also delivered on the hardcourt. After being awarded Rookie of the Year and finishing ninth in MVP voting after averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, LeBron dominated the league in the years that followed, leading the franchise to its first Finals appearance in history in 2007 as well as winning back-to-back MVPs in 2009 and 2010.
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Unmatched legacy
But because the Cavs’ front office failed to build a championship team around him, James left the team for Miami in 2011. And thus, the Cavaliers instantly fell back down to the bottom. But in 2014, the prodigal son would return home with one mission in mind: win the franchise’s first ring. And two years later, he accomplished exactly that in one of the sport’s most iconic moments.
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That championship alone would have cemented his legacy forever. But LeBron’s impact really goes way beyond banners and trophies. He made an obscure franchise become relevant forever. Younger generations of viewers who might otherwise never have paid attention to Cleveland suddenly became die-hard Cavaliers fans because of Bron.
Economically, culturally and competitively, LeBron transformed the organization into one of the biggest franchises in the league just because he was drafted. And it was, in large part, because he embraced being the Chosen One to lift his hometown from the gutter.
And today, with rumors rampant of James returning to Cleveland for the final time, Cleveland may once again be thrust back into being the league’s most popular team. But even if that doesn’t happen, The King has already made his mark on the city he loves, the moment he got drafted.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.