In which year was LeBron James drafted into the NBA? He was drafted in 2003.
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James first overall in the 2003 NBA draft, held on June 26 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. James entered directly from St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, becoming one of the most famous players ever chosen straight out of high school.
The 2003 class quickly became known as one of the deepest in NBA history. Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were also selected among the first five picks, and all four became major stars. James won Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game for Cleveland.
A frequent mix-up is confusing the draft year with his rookie season. The draft took place in 2003, while his first NBA season was 2003–04. He wore number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan and scored 25 points in his regular-season debut against Sacramento.