Just curious on what everyone here felt back then.

I first heard of him in 2002, and saw him play in that first game they showed on ESPN. I was halfway caught up in the hype, but even still, I felt that it would be hard for him to live up to the expectations. I didn't think he'd be able to have 6-8 years as a Top 3 MVP candidate or anything that high.

I felt that he was gonna be a superstar, possible legend, but thought it would take a while for him to show impact. I remember he got like 12 in his first pre-season game, which was decent. But when he got 25 in his first actual NBA game...I was like yea, he's for real. I did think it was BS that he didn't make the All Star team his first year.

At this point, yeah, I think he even exceeded the hype. Even more than his skill, I think I'm shocked at the fact that he's for real never been in any kind of trouble or scandals...in the internet/social media age, at that. That might be the biggest surprise to me.

Poll question: June 2003...what was your opinion of Lebron?

Poll result (28 votes) This kid is going to be a LEGEND...nothing short (7 votes) Vote He's good, but it's nearly impossible that he'll live up to the hype (18 votes) Vote I'm not sold on him...he shouldn't have been the #1 pick (1 votes) Vote No opinion/other (explain) (2 votes) Vote

I'd only seen like one aired HS game, so the fuck did I know about him? Plus, that hype seemed impossible to live up to.

I didn't doubt he should go #1, but I didn't think he could achieve what he has. (I will say, my feelings changed somewhere around his first or second NBA game that I watched, lol.)

It's so hard to tell, especially with such hype. But nobody can possibly ever have thought he'd be this good and this dominant.

His athleticism, speed, size and passing ability stood out right away. It was just about how long it was going to take him to develop a jump shot. After that, he was going to be pretty much unstoppable..


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overall maturity off the court considering his family background and upbringing, from day 1 he has seemed mature beyond his years as far as dealing with the media as well as avoiding any major trouble off the court. A lot was made of his LRMR team but outside of maybe how "The Decision" was handled those guys have done a great job.

cus he was just as skilled as them with a chance to be better cus he was already a manchild physically.

Aside from the obvious athleticism, his overall mastery & understanding of the game at such a young age impressed me the most..

But never once did I imagine he'd legitimately challenge Cheese for dat throne tho

..impressive, to say the least.

all the intangibles, full of potential. unfortunately, far too much hype & controversy before he ever finished high school.

#1 draft pick? TOO EASY. immediate impact on the game, yet he struggled a bit once the true pressure mounted. since then, he's shown massive improvement. i know professional sports in cleveland, so i always had a feeling they wouldn't do enough to keep him there.

his journey has been interesting, but humbling as well. attended the nyc premiere of the documentary ('More Than a Game') and finally had a chance to talk with him one on one. he didn't answer any questions about his future in cleveland, but that night i knew he was on his last contract with the cavs.

the decision: le misérables

still, i held no issue with him joining dwade & bosh in miami. its not the 1st time its happened, certainly won't be the last. *he's done an amazing job of branding himself and maintaining composure in the business of professional sports & marketing.

having watched him play live as a member of the cavs AND heat, you can definitely see the difference in maturity. he's well on the way to proving realizing his potential (and proving his harshest critics wrong).

i think his next move might be even more impressive.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

I knew he was going to be great. His unparalleled selflessness and athleticism is the perfect model for the young guys to follow. While his work ethic isn't at GOAT's level, it's incredible nonetheless. Plus, the man got a $100 million contract when most people were signing promissory notes his senior year.

...was gonna shove him down our throat no matter how good he actually turned out to be, because I thought they were desperate to create another "Jordan." I was SUPER skeptical during his rookie year, but that doesn't really cover the purview of this post.

seeing him in person back then is something i will never forget.
i was definitely in on the hype.

I can't really recall what my long-term thoughts were but it was somewhere between blue & red.

His jumper looked a little suspect & it was tough to see fully how great his passing acumen was because he could see over top of the entire court versus high-schoolers.

But considering he's now become the best basketball player I've seen in my life, I'd have to say even with the lofty expectations he's exceeded them.

but I don't know if anybody could've imagined
he would work on and develop new wrinkles in his
game in the way that he has.

His jumpshot was very inconsistent and it didn't
seem like he would ever be able to rely on it, but
now he's a tremendous jump-shooter, and hits clutch
3's repeatedly, like he did in the 4th quarter game 5
v. BK - where he hit two crucial 3's to buoy the Miami
comeback.

Top 3 all time when it's all said & done, without question -
and the only living player to have a legitimate shot to
outshine Jordan in terms of career accomplishments.

-->

Never really had an impression of him because I never saw him play.

The hype around him was crazy though.

And that Nike deal got so much press.

Only saw clips of one hs game on ESPN. Unlike some of you super scouts I couldn't then and still can't now tell how good a player is going to be.
----------------------------
Same as it ever was!

2003? What was my opinon of LBJ in his rookie year?

The best I could say is that if he was going to live up to the hype

in his rookie year

ROTY, 20, 6 and 5 is a GREAT start

so I would have to say it was possible he would be great

in 2003

FTR, I wasn't convinced until after the 25 in the 4th he dropped on DET in 07'

after I saw that, I was like yep, he's gonna have a shot at GOAT

but I also recognize I'm wrong as shit.



~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." © Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

and still felt that way three years ago.

then he hit 40% from three and became a cheat code.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." © Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

I thought Melo had old man game at a young age and would always be able to get shots that he could make when it counted to win the close games (aka most playoff games). I assumed general progression from both, but I felt too good about Melo's 'hey...I'm a dude who was made to play basketball' vs Lebron's 'super athlete who chose basketball' argument.

But then Lebron did way more wind sprints, ran with more weighted vest/parachutes, added more pieces to his offensive game, ate far more sensible dinners, watched more film, had more disciplined defensive coaches and coaching and generally more of a fuck about being a winning/legendary player...and now we are here...it just isn't much of a convo/comparison. In addition, to being in better situations (IE: Lebron being in the East his whole career vs Melo being stuck having the Denver years and then going out of his way to end up in New York under the worst circumstances possible personnel-wise), Lebron appears to have him beat in effort..and I say that as more of a compliment to Bron than a diss to Melo even if I'm not above making a 'eating burgers and playing GTA during the offseason' jokes about him when I see his shoulders looking like something other than rocks in November.

>but I also recognize I'm wrong as shit.
>


>
>
>~~~~~~~~~
>"This is the streets, and I am the trap." © Jay Bilas
>http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
>Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

because of his shooting ability but once once LeBron started to develop he would eventually surpass Melo. Now, Melo is still the better pure shooter w/o question but Bron's overall ability to penetrate & pass makes him a greater offensive threat.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<---- 5....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlgiritpmfo

=======================================

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Took his team to the 'Offs, shot better, etc. I think I held on to the idea that he'd be better a couple more years. I gave that shit up during the '06 play-offs though.

people are.


LBJ, Durant, Melo and D. Rose were sure fire SUPERSTAR players by their 11th grade year.


The crazy shit is when the BIG DOGS fall off tho, like Lenny Cooke...he was top 5 nationally at one point.


New Mantra: anti-gentrification, cheap alcohol & trying to look pretty in our twilight posting years (c) Big Reg


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as a lot of regular people. Shit, Darko that same year being RIGHT AFTER Lebron....how do we call that one??

The rest of the skill-set was clearly there.

That was my first time hearing his name (He was talking to some cats on the Bball team & he said "There is this kid from Cleavland & I heard he's better than Kobe right now").....I think we can all agree he was right.

does it really matter?

thought he was being over hyped as is usually the case w/99% of most athletes that receive a lot of attention before they've really proven anything...

His jump shot was REAL suspect at that time to say the least and I didn't think his athleticism alone would be enough for him to play at a high level and live up to the expectations.

I said if he were to average 13ppg in his nba rookie season that that would be a GOOD season for him.

Was convinced Carmelo was better than him at that point due to Melo having won a ncaa title that season and him playing against the top players in college while Lebron was beastin on high school kids.

I was, however, immediately impressed w/Lebron's passing ability. I had NEVER seen a high school kid, who wasn't a point guard, w/that kind of vision.