Which team drafted LeBron James?

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron James with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

The selection was made on June 26, 2003, after Cleveland won the draft lottery. James was only 18 and had never attended college, but his performances at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron had made him one of the most highly anticipated prospects in basketball history.

Because Akron is near Cleveland, the pick created an unusually strong connection between a franchise and a local star. James quickly became the face of the Cavaliers and won Rookie of the Year in his first season. He initially played for Cleveland from 2003 through 2010, then returned in 2014 after four seasons with the Miami Heat.

The Cavaliers eventually won the 2016 NBA championship with James, defeating the Golden State Warriors in seven games. That title was Cleveland’s first major professional sports championship since 1964. James later joined the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Lakers and Heat did not draft him; they acquired him later in his career.