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The 2003 NBA Draft
Date: June 26th, 2003
Location: Theatre at Madison Square Garden
Time: 7:30 pm |
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How Sweet It Is
Prior to last night’s NBA Draft the New York Knicks were an under-sized veteran ball club who failed to qualify for the playoffs the last two seasons. Now the tides have turned. In the 2003 NBA Draft General Manager Scott Layden drafted three players who fill the Knicks need for size and youth.
With the 9th pick in the first round, the Knicks selected Mike Sweetney from Georgetown. Sweetney, a 6-8 260 pound forward will provide a boost to the Knicks’ under-sized frontcourt. He brings a unique combination of tenacity, athleticism, and playmaking skills that is generally difficult to find in young prospects. Furthermore, he has a strong low-post game enabling the Knicks to have a solid physical body in the paint. Sweetney’s 73% free-throw shooting and shot-blocking prowess are also considered his strong points. His college career highlights include: a two-time first-team All-Big East selection, average of 18.2 points per game and 887 rebounds in three years at Georgetown, leader in points and rebounds over the last three seasons, 38 career double doubles, and the only player in the country to rank in the top 20 in both scoring and rebounding last season. In his final season with Georgetown, Sweetney averaged 22.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks leading his team in all three
categories. Sweetney is the complete package, and will be ready to contribute immediately.
In the first pick of the second round (30), the Knicks selected Center, Maciej Lampe from Real Madrid, Spain. With his 6-11, 240 pound frame Lampe may be the sleeper in this year’s draft. Projected as a lottery pick, Lampe saw himself slip through the first round because of the uncertainty in his contract status. Lampe is a member of the Polish Junior National Team, and played in the European Junior Championships in 2002. Lampe averaged 14.8 points, and 6.0 rebounds for Real Madrid last season. In addition to his youth and size, he is a strong shooter and can run the floor effectively.
With their last pick (39) in the 2003 NBA Draft the Knickerbockers decided to go big again selecting 7-4, 250 pound Center from Buducnost (Serbia & Montenegro), Slavo Vranes. Vranes has played for elite European teams such as FMP Zeleznik (Serbia & Montenegro), Efes Pilsen (Turkey), and Buducnost. In Euroleague play he blocked 17 shots in 14 games, and can provide the Knicks with a daunting defensive presence in the post. He is a solid rebounder who can develop into a strong player in the NBA.
The Knicks and their fans should be extremely pleased with the team’s draft, and can look forward to the team returning to playoff contention in the near future.
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| 2003 NBA Draft Picks |
| PICK # | TEAM | NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL/COUNTRY |
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | LeBron James | SF | St. Vincent-St.Mary HS |
| 2 | Detroit Pistons | Darko Milicic | F/C | Serbia-Montenegro |
| 3 | Denver Nuggets | Carmelo Anthony | SF | Syracuse |
| 4 | Toronto Raptors | Chris Bosh | PF | Georgia Tech |
| 5 | Miami Heat | Dwyane Wade | G | Marquette |
| 6 | LA Clippers | Chirs Kaman | C | Central Michigan |
| 7 | Chicago Bulls | Kirk Hinrich | G | Kansas |
| 8 | Milwaukee Bucks | T.J. Ford | G | Texas |
| 9 | Knicks | Michael Sweetney | PF | Georgetown |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | Jarvis Hayes | G/F | Georgia |
| 11 | Golden St. Warriors | Mickael Pietrus | G/F | France |
| 12 | Seattle SuperSonics | Nick Collison | F | Kansas |
| 13 | Memphis Grizzlies | Marcus Banks | G | UNLV |
| 14 | Seattle SuperSonics | Luke Ridnour | PG | Oregon |
| 15 | Orlando Magic | Reece Gaines | G | Louisville |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Troy Bell | G | Boston College |
| 17 | Pheonix Suns | Zarko Carbarkapa | F/C | Serbia and Montenegro |
| 18 | New Orleans Hornets | David West | PF | Xavier |
| 19 | Utah Jazz | Aleksandar Pavlovic | F | Serbia and Montenegro |
| 20 | Boston Celtics | Dahntay Jones | G/F | Duke |
| 21 | Atlanta Hawks | Boris Diaw-Riffiod | G/F | France |
| 22 | New Jersey Nets | Zoran Planinic | G/F | Croatia |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Travis Outlaw | F | Strakville HS |
| 24 | LA Lakers | Brian Cook | F | Illinois/TD> |
| 25 | Detroit Pistons | Carlos Delfino | G/F | Italy |
| 26 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Ndudi Ebi | F | Westbury Christian HS |
| 27 | Memphis Grizzlies | Kendrich Perkins | C | Clifton J. Ozen HS |
| 28 | San Antonio Spurs | Leandrinho Barbosa | G | Brazil |
| 29 | Dallas Mavericks | Josh Howard | F | Wake Forest |
| New York City Sports Commission 2003 NBA Mock Draft* |
| PICK # | TEAM | NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL/COUNTRY |
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | LeBron James | SF | St. Vincent-St.Mary HS |
| 2 | Detroit Pistons | Darko Milicic | PF | Serbia-Montenegro |
| 3 | Denver Nuggets | Carmelo Anthony | SF | Syracuse |
| 4 | Toronto Raptors | Chris Bosh | PF | Georgia Tech |
| 5 | Miami Heat | T.J. Ford | PG | Texas |
| 6 | LA Clippers | Chirs Kaman | C | Central Michigan |
| 7 | Chicago Bulls | Mickael Pietrus | SG | France |
| 8 | Milwaukee Bucks | Maciej Lampe | C | Poland |
| 9 | Knicks | Pavel Podkolzin | C | Russia |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | Dwyane Wade | SG | Marquette |
| 11 | Golden St. Warriors | Sofaklis Schortsianides | C | Greece |
| 12 | Seattle SuperSonics | Michael Sweetney | PF | Georgetown |
| 13 | Memphis Grizzlies | Leandrinho Barbosa | SG | Brazil |
| 14 | Seattle SuperSonics | Luke Ridnour | PG | Oregon |
| 15 | Orlando Magic | Reece Gaines | G | Louisville |
| 16 | Boston Celtics | Nick Collison | PF | Kansas |
| 17 | Pheonix Suns | Ndudi Ebi | PF | Westbury Christian HS |
| 18 | New Orleans Hornets | Jarvis Hayes | SG | Georgia |
| 19 | Utah Jazz | Maurice Williams | PG | Alabama |
| 20 | Boston Celtics | Boris Diaw | SG | France |
| 21 | Atlanta Hawks | Kirk Hinrich | PG | Kansas |
| 22 | New Jersey Nets | Anderson Vareajo | F | Brazil |
| 23 | Portland Trail Blazers | Brian Cook | PF | Illinois |
| 24 | LA Lakers | Kendrick Perkins | F | Ozens HS |
| 25 | Detroit Pistons | Josh Howard | SF | Wake Forest |
| 26 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Marquis Daniels | G-F | Auburn |
| 27 | Memphis Grizzlies | David West | PF | Xavier |
| 28 | San Antonio Spurs | Zaur Pachulia | C | Georgia |
| 29 | Dallas Mavericks | Mickal Badiane | C | Senegal |
| Knicks Past First-Round Draft Picks |
| Year | Player | School/Country |
| 2003 | Mike Sweetney | Georgetown |
| 2002 | Frank Williams | Illinois |
| 2001 | None | |
| 2000 | Donnell Harvey | Florida |
| 1999 | Frederic Weis | Limoges (France) |
| 1998 | None | |
| 1997 | John Thomas | Minnesota |
| 1996 | John Wallace | Syracuse |
| | Walter McCarty | Kentucky |
| | Dontae' Jones | Mississippi State |
| 1995 | None | |
| 1994 | Monty Williams | Notre Dame |
| | Charlie Ward | Florida State |
| 1993 | None | |
| 1992 | Hubert Davis | North Carolina |
| 1991 | Greg Anthony | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 1990 | Jerrod Mustaf | Maryland |
| 1989 | None | |
| 1988 | Rod Strickland | DePaul |
| 1987 | Mark Jackson | St. John's |
| 1986 | Kenny Walker | Kentucky |
| 1985 | Patrick Ewing | Georgetown |
| 1984 | None | |
| 1983 | Darrell Walker | Arkansas |
| 1982 | Trent Tucker | Minnesota |
| 1981 | None | |
| 1980 | Mike Woodson | Indiana |
| 1979 | Bill Cartwright | San Francisco |
| | For more information on this year's NBA Draft, visit www.nba.com.
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To see results of last year's NBA Draft, please visit our 2002 NBA Draft Page.
Last Updated On:
Monday, June 30, 2003 | |
