Every NBA team’s greatest draft pick of all time
By Dre Elder
The old saying is a picture says a thousand words. But, writers have to get their words off so hopefully you’ll understand. The image above is a distinct depiction of what one transcendent player can mean to a team and a city. No one knows this better than the Cleveland Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland.
How often does a team get to draft the transcendent player that grew up in its backyard? About as often you winning a million dollars on a scratch-off lottery ticket. Except the Cavaliers won the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery and selected LeBron James with the top pick. It was a picture-perfect scenario.
The hype surrounding LeBron entering the NBA was unprecedented. And Cleveland in its entirety reaped the benefits of renewed relevance. LeBron quickly became the biggest draw in town as he wowed fans with size, power, acumen, and speed. He led a forgettable group of Cavaliers to the NBA Finals as a 22-year-old. LeBron ascended to the league’s elite. Then, he was gone. And his new locale was much shinier than the former.
LeBron won championships in Miami while Cleveland fell into an abyss. But the kid from Akron, Ohio returned to his roots. He propelled the Cavaliers and Cleveland’s economy to even greater heights. Almost one year ago, LeBron delivered the city its first professional sports championship in 52 years. He did the unthinkable and led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 Finals deficit to defeat the record-setting Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James is already one of the all-time greats. And when you factor the number of lives changed by the LeBron James Family Foundation, has any athlete ever meant more to a community?