LeBron James Jokes He Would Have 'Gone Full Eli Manning' If Grizzlies Won 2003 Draft Lottery

The NBA superstar claims he may have refused to play for Memphis if they had the top pick in 2003.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:59pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented and overlapping shapes and planes representing a basketball game or draft lottery event, conveying the conceptual idea of a top prospect's leverage over their draft destination.LeBron James' hypothetical refusal to play for the Memphis Grizzlies highlights the power of top draft prospects and the challenges small-market NBA teams face in attracting superstar talent.Today in Nashville

In a recent YouTube video, NBA legend LeBron James joked that he would have 'gone full Eli Manning' and refused to play for the Memphis Grizzlies if the team had won the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery and selected him with the first overall pick. James claimed he had no desire to play in Memphis at that stage of his career and may have sat out and forced a trade, similar to what Manning did with the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Why it matters

LeBron's comments highlight the power and leverage top draft prospects can wield, as well as the challenges small-market NBA teams face in attracting and retaining superstar talent. The Grizzlies' failure to land the No. 1 pick in 2003 ultimately led them to select Darko Milicic, passing on future stars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.

The details

In the YouTube clip, the 41-year-old James claims he thinks the Grizzlies organization should move out of Memphis and relocate to Nashville, Tennessee. He also jokes that if Memphis had won the 2003 lottery and drafted him, he 'might've pulled an Eli Manning and not show up.' Sitting out and forcing a trade is exactly what Manning did in the 2004 NFL Draft when he refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after they selected him first overall.

  • The 2003 NBA Draft Lottery took place in May 2003.
  • LeBron James made the comments in a YouTube video published on April 2, 2026.

The players

LeBron James

A 41-year-old NBA legend and future Hall of Famer who was the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Eli Manning

A former NFL quarterback who refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after they selected him first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, forcing a trade to the New York Giants.

Memphis Grizzlies

An NBA franchise based in Memphis, Tennessee that had a chance to select LeBron James with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft but ultimately landed the second pick and selected Darko Milicic instead.

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What they’re saying

“I'm f***ing 41 years of age. You think I want to do sh** in f****** Memphis on a random a** Thursday?”

— LeBron James, NBA Superstar

“I'm not the first guy in the NBA to talk about this. You guys got to move the team... go over to Nashville already.”

— LeBron James, NBA Superstar

“Their only chance [to sign me] was in 2003 if they had won the lottery. And I might've pulled an Eli Manning and not show up.”

— LeBron James, NBA Superstar

The takeaway

LeBron's comments highlight the challenges small-market NBA teams face in attracting and retaining top talent, as well as the leverage elite prospects can wield over their draft destinations. The Grizzlies' failure to land the No. 1 pick in 2003 ultimately shaped the trajectory of the franchise, as they passed on future superstars like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.