LeBron James might have been the most hyped prospect to ever lace up for the NBA. And for all these years, he has lived up to that hype with his performance and longevity. Let’s get an idea. The seven players who were drafted as No. 1 overall in the seven consecutive years after 2003 have either retired or fallen into oblivion. Here is how:
• Dwight Howard (2004–2023)
• Andrew Bogut (2005–2018)
• Andrea Bargnani (2006–2016)
• Greg Oden (2007–2014)
• Derrick Rose (2008–2024)
• Blake Griffin (2009–2024)
• John Wall (2010–2023)
The next active No. 1 overall pick after James is Kyrie Irving, who was drafted in 2011 — that is an incredible eight-year gap. At 40, James stood tall as he logged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and a remarkable 51.3% shooting in his 22nd season in the NBA. Indeed, a career like a No. 1 pick.
But climbing such a height probably starts with humility. That seemed to be the case when the Lakers superstar recently admitted that he felt like just another rookie fighting for a spot when he first entered the league.
LeBron James Opens Up About Draft Day Mindset
On his “Mind the Game” podcast with Hall of Famer Steve Nash, James peeled back the curtain on his mentality during his rookie year. Even though he was the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, James said he came in with an underdog chip on his shoulder.
“I was the No. 1 player in the country my senior year, but I knew when I got drafted I was No. 450,” he said (8:45 mark). “That’s how I looked at it. I was like, ‘OK, how can I get back to No. 1,’ like I did when I was a freshman to my senior year. … It wasn’t going to be me talking. I needed to soak in the knowledge. I needed to learn. I need to earn it.”
Despite the “Chosen One” label and the constant comparisons to Michael Jordan before he even logged a minute, James stressed that he came in humble, ready to grind, and eager to soak up knowledge from the vets. With all that, the podcast episode also touched on the 2025 NBA Draft, where Duke’s phenom Cooper Flagg is expected to be selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks.
James Weighs In on Cooper Flagg’s Top Pick Status
James, who was around Flagg’s age when he entered the league, had nothing but praise for the 17-year-old forward and the situation he’s walking into.
“He has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that’s established, with Hall of Fame guys,” James said. “Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, right off the bat, Hall of Fame coach, Jason Kidd. These guys, they can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be.
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“And I think that’s gonna be an incredible thing for him to have. That type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces. So, I think he’s going to be amazing.”
Flagg’s college stats back up the hype: the Duke standout put up 19.2 points, 7.5 boards, 4.2 dimes, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 swats per game, while shooting an impressive 38.5% from deep. He was named national player of the year, and his draft stock never dipped.
With his skill set and the Mavericks’ stacked roster, Cooper Flagg looks poised to make an immediate impact in the league.
