The 2003 NBA Draft is often called one of the best classes in history due to the talent present in the group. Before teams selected players, people believed LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were the best players in the class. They were both excellent in high school, while Melo became a National Champion at Syracuse.

While James and Anthony didn’t play in the same high school class, it was evident that LeBron’s destiny was to succeed. Most people saw the elite athleticism and how he overpowered his opponents. However, for Melo, it was all in the eye test on the court.

“Yeah, you knew. There are certain people, where you know. It was just the stature, the way he moved on the court, the way he saw the game, his vision has always been A-1,” Melo said in his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. “He saw the game differently than everybody else at that age. You knew. He’s special.”

Bron had undeniable strengths

LeBron is one of the most complete players in basketball’s history, as he can legitimately do it all on the court. He is the NBA’s greatest-ever scorer, and he won’t stop anytime soon. Aside from his scoring, Bron is one of the best playmakers ever, as he could set up his teammates for open looks in almost every play. Remember that LeBron is 6’8″, which means he’s not your typical point guard. That gives him an advantage, as he can have superb vision over his matchups.

James’ defense also deserves plaudits, as he could match up with almost any player. He could guard a point guard and even bang in the paint with big men. The 2012/13 Defensive Player of the Year remains an issue for LeBron fans, as they see it as a deserved win for King James.

That well-rounded skill set was already apparent while Bron was in high school. With Melo being as talented as he is, he saw Bron’s superstar potential and saw him on a similar level as him, even if James is a year younger.

Bron should get his flowers for living up to the hype

During his high school career, James was getting hyped as the most exciting prospect ever. Living up to that pressure makes Bron a compelling player, as he cemented himself as arguably the greatest player ever rivaled by Michael Jordan.

It is an argument for LeBron because he has proven that he lived up to the hype and proved all the doubters wrong. Being in the limelight since he was a teenager and continuing to play at an All-NBA level until his 40s should convince some people that LeBron deserves praise for how he maintained this level of excellence in contrast to his fellow 2003 draftees like Melo and Dwyane Wade, who retired much earlier than him.