The 2003 NBA Draft Lottery through Jerry West's eyes 🏀 | Outside The Lines

Former Memphis Grizzles general manager Jerry West tells the story of how a lucky goat named Maynard almost helped him land LeBron James during the 2003 NBA draft lottery.
#outsidethelines #nba
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[@jonathanchan1365]

jerry has been on tv more often and I love it never u will have somebody this famous, good and one of the smartest mind in basketball.

[@stephenl7756]

Crazy story. I remember watching that as a kid and not understanding why Memphis was just gone from the draft after they got 2.

[@alitoroganan2442]

Who's the number 2 pick in 2003

[@christianpaul-cp6746]

@Johnny Natural crazy how both Memphis & Detroit both dropped the ball in this draft.

[@brucecurtis6910]

Rest in peace, the Logo

[@Trump4prisonxxx]

how is he dead he did this video

[@PACNYY]

For all of the young and uneducated NBA fans out there this man Jerry West is one of the 🐐 and also the NBA Logo. 😎.

[@Allmenshouldrespectallwomen]

Why are you so obsessed seeing men play with a ball?

[@Allmenshouldrespectallwomen]

​@@goodnightmunchie excuse me,??

[@christianramirez7979]

​@@Allmenshouldrespectallwomenbecause its fun to watch sports, people hunt, cook, clean, watch or play anything for fun, its human

[@jimboslice303]

​@@Allmenshouldrespectallwomen because we can all get together and cheer for the same thing like we're family. Great way to bond with ppl

[@jimboslice303]

​@@goodnightmunchie you sound like one of those ignorant individuals who goes to school with 20 other ppl and has only dated 2 of your cousins

[@afanofall3131]

I could watch a Jerry West narrated story for a whole day about his life as a player and as a gm

[@steviechampagne]

Hes the best logo in sports. Truly a legend of the NBA, and we should celebrate his greatness and give him his flowers while hes still alive!

[@Mercuricmike]

amen

[@therealneal3034]

The hilarity of all of that just for Detroit to get Darko

[@yuki.alonzo]

Imagine taking over the GM spot right after the previous one messed it up big time. Really unfortunate for Memphis and also, I feel like LeBron would've won a title with Memphis sooner than with Cleveland because the Cavs back then had no idea how to build around LeBron

[@MattKrath]

“And now the real winners” as he pulls out the last 3 names. Meanwhile the other teams not realizing how good D-Wade was gonna be.

[@ThaFixture]

Lebron probably has a better start to his career if he is in Memphis. Memphis was a better team and had better pieces to start.

[@jcartertv6686]

100% agree also I think if they draft Kyrie in 2009 Lebron might of never left Cleveland. Guy was there for 9 years and they never got him 1 good free agent

[@atribecalledlen3567]

Memphis even won 50 games the next year

[@TONEakaSHOW]

Just imagine if Memphis got the pick, with Gasol that team would have been special

[@antoniorossiz]

The amount of Finals he lost is incredible. Idk how the tf he dealt with it. There is no modern parallel.

[@BMORETODAY]

My favorite NBA Legend. He keeps it real 😂

[@OGKNUCLEHEADFOE]

The goat story remind me of the Chicago Cubs 😂😂😂😂

[@mikeyRoxx981]

4:54 He looked disappointed but little did Caron know, being #5 was going to turn the franchise around completely.

[@MyConfession__]

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

[@SCbound25]

Really well produced content

[@dariussparks1409]

He’s looking, moving, and sounding GREAT!

[@Jimmerg]

He’s mad chill

[@stevemeters3090]

can't tell me this wasn't rigged.

[@blucheer8743]

Zeke from cabin creek! Still got it!

[@natekong3596]

The Grizzlies GM who traded the pick for Otis Thorpe was Stu Jackson. Save you Google search.

[@hmhm856]

Wow, imagine Memphis with Lebron, Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Jason Williams, James Posey, Mike Miller, Bonzie Wells. And coached by Hubie Brown Surprisingly, Memphis won 50 games the 2003-2004 season and made the postseason. Imagine if they had Lebron there as well. Thats 60 wins right there.

[@ralph.aguinaldomd]

Imagine Lebron mentored by Jerry West. Would've won even more chips.

[@poly_g6068]

Jerry would have had him in MVP form by 2005. Both ends of the floor. The story would literally shift overnight from Shaq and Kobe, to LeBron and Pau.

[@CaesarBlack91]

I need more of these ❤

[@colincrume5451]

Why are we censoring stuff on youtube it's getting ridiculous

[@bayodaman]

Lakers great Jerry West

[@alvinco4829]

the GOAT Jerry West and Maynard the lucky goat. 😂

[@splashnskillz37]

And Pistons who got the Grizzlies pick went ahead fucked it picking Darko Militic, yet somehow won the chip that season

[@derrickknight3649]

All that for Detroit to draft Darko 😂😂😂

[@MindfulAttraction2.0]

The greatest basketball person ever. And then after that it's Larry Bird.

[@EDWARDTHEEAUTHOR]

I mean to be fair Bron didn’t bring Cleveland a championship prior to leaving,he came back in a trade so that could of happened at any time.

[@LoSoNBanks22]

Wow brutal trade

[@frankiemoss2718]

Legend

[@martinracza]

Jerry would've strangled whoever made that Otis Thorpe trade

[@fanpolposition8375]

awesome video

[@km-lr7wj]

Media just gotta bring up Lebron no matter what huh??

[@judyseager4450]

Great man great job 👏🏼 👍🏾 my ke safe ☘️🌿💙💙

[@judyseager4450]

Great story 🇺🇸🌄🆗️💙💙

[@PhantomOfDarkness]

as a pistons fan, I can wholeheartedly say that we took an L on this draft...so I guess MEM doesn't have to feel too bad.

[@REVIEWSWITJAY]

This the draft that the pistons fumbled bad

[@footballhead101]

And the Detroit Pistons with the 2nd pick of that legendary draft selected.. Darko Milicic😂

[@itk.r8rsn8k15]

Another painful moment in West’s career.

[@natutz]

That could be Melo!

[@smellslikemiddle-agedspiri8503]

And I thought the Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac trade was the dumbest trade of all time.

[@johnnymason2460]

If Lebron James had come to Memphis, we would have won at least 3 championships. It's very unfortunate we got shafted.

[@miocid31]

The Logo!

[@r-guyle1913]

Why did they trade the second pick if Carmelo was still in the board??????

[@Moonroofmusik]

The logo

[@AlanSmith88888]

Such a fascinating look into the mind of a basketball genius

[@juwonhill9102]

Detroit went on to fumble the pick 💀

[@Rob-ml3vl]

Why did he trade away the second pick? He could have had Wade, Carmelo, or Bosh. Those are all very good picks.

[@LuisMartinez-qi6dv]

I mean it ain’t like Detroit did anything with the pick 😂

[@stephensurry3416]

This man is as much a product of the misfortune of his era (non player movement) as LeBron is among the prime beneficiaries of this player movement era. LeBron has tried and failed to succeed as a player-GM. West on the other hand, the ability to construct these teams...he was 1-8 in the Finals in a non player movement era. Imagine what he would have achieved in the modern era; if he could construct a team to his specifications with modern talent including himself. He might have won 6 of 9 Finals... Greatest of all time MEANS all eras. Without free agency, who wins and who doesn’t win? If Bron couldn’t move teams he doesn’t win, in my opinion. All-time greats who won multiple with the teams which selected them have a...*greater* credence in the all-time argument. Namely Russell, Magic, Bird, Jordan and Duncan (in order of historical appearance btw)

[@slobberkissintl3548]

Maybe no one asked Maynard how lucky he is. Bc he did get them up to 2

[@truth2219]

What r the odds, he tried using a 🐐 to pick the eventual 🐐 of the NBA amazing. What r the odds. I’m glad he went to the Cavs tho 😅😂😂

[@313drepeso313]

Imagine my Detroit Pistons selecting Darko.... Instead of Melo... Wade or even Bosh!!! Cost us at least 2 ships!!! 😩😡

[@solutionxero]

lmfao and Detroit drafts Darko. basketball gods

[@SP.007]

Why would a goat bless you with another GOAT?

[@LeeannCase-bi6zx]

I did not really watch this video I am just letting it play while I watch game of thrones on my tv

[@deonandrews9399]

Definitely set up for lebron to go to Cleveland I don’t care what know one says lol

[@aking2330]

And detroit wasted that pick on Darko. Dwade and pau...would me no help for kobe

[@philipmarchalquizar7741]

He could have brought Dwayne Wade

[@tiismuna]

Lebron could have a better career with Jerry as his GM.

[@Firestorm2814Sector]

Jerry West lost some weight

[@keltners613]

if they did not send the pick to piston they could.have gotten wade. grizzlies could have skyrocketed to contenders.

[@jab1289]

Wade wasn't going second overall. It was a surprise when he went fifth. They probably take Darko or Carmelo if they don't make the Otis Thorpe trade in 1997.

[@mjock392]

LOL I love how the whole NBA pretends 2003 2nd pick Darko Milicic never happened. The guy played 20 seconds of NBA Finals in his rookie season and won a ring with Detroit xD Too bad he was getting hammered all the time and hung over during practices. Jokic brothers, who know Darko and his family made sure the same thing didn't happen to Jokic. Get this: Serbia has the biggest bust (2nd pick Darko) and best second round pick (41st, Jokic 2xMVP, FMVP) in NBA history. Now, imagine Darko used his talents like Jokic did and went home to his family instead clubbing after games and practice...

[@thecorndoghero7329]

I thought it was a video about the pope

[@olivercool2308]

I love Jerry, but he’s not looking too well 😢

[@wkdlama]

the crazy part detroit used the 2nd pick for darko instead of mello, bosh, or wade.

[@omargahd]

No thanks to chad ford

[@matthewli2030]

If darko went to memphis and be under Pau... what if

[@RobbieStacks90]

The Pistons didn't need a guard as they had Billups and Hamilton in his prime, so why would they have drafted Wade? Carmelo Anthony would have made them worse. It was prescient of the GM to avoid him.

[@wkdlama]

@@RobbieStacks90 pick the best player available. They had sheed and ben wallace also.

[@MrCleanMachine48]

@@wkdlama SHEED CAME MIDWAY IN THE 2003-2004 SEASON.

[@LaTrey_95]

Jerry West was even greater as an executive than a player. Helped orchestrate the Showtime Lakers, Shaq & Kobe Lakers, Memphis had their first 50 win season when he was an executive for them, & helped put together the Golden State powerhouse in the 2010's

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

And now working for the Clippers and helped orchestrate them getting Kawhi and PG13.

[@hooligan5381]

to be fair he was a greater player than executive he went to 9 finals averaged 30 4 times while also leading the league in points and assist. First NBA Finals MVP ever and on losing team the logo was legendary player

[@khaitranngoc4176]

Pound for pound, maybe the greatest NBA Employees of All Time, though his old Lakers pal Pat Riley runs him close.

[@LaTrey_95]

@@khaitranngoc4176 The Godfather has kept my team relevant ever since he came to Miami in '95. They have as many finals appearances than losing seasons since Pat got there

[@khaitranngoc4176]

​@@LaTrey_95 tbf, if ol' Pat was better as a player, maybe he would have been equal to Logo.

[@JonSnowsGhost]

They should do “2003 through Joe Dumars eyes”. He needed Lasik. 😂

[@alantaraiza4045]

Yes! I've been wanting to hear that for the longest 😅

[@finnbalor8021]

He won the title the next year. And no Larry Brown wasn’t gonna use Melo right 😂

[@JonSnowsGhost]

@@finnbalor8021 They did win the next year. But they could’ve won a few more if Melo had been on that team.

[@finnbalor8021]

@@JonSnowsGhost see I don’t know if Melo as a ball dominant player would fit into that team’s system. And would he buy into the defense. Honestly all we would hear is if he’s a good player or not in the wrong system. He would have helped against Wade and lebron but even then he’d have to buy in on defense and they’d cook him

[@JonSnowsGhost]

@@finnbalor8021 When Billups went to Denver he helped Melo get to the conference finals. And Chauncey was older. And without Sheed or B Wallace. Those three would’ve taught Melo how to be a winner. On that Pistons team he wouldn’t have been a leader. In Denver he was.

[@loyalmanny]

We need more stories like these

[@dannynhl9441]

This is why I miss the TNT NBA Open Court shows they were doing. I think they stopped in 2016 or so? I loved them. Group of players chatting about the game

[@ejpemoney6984]

What a story from a GM perspective that’s very unfortunate for the grizzlies

[@calamorta]

No way Cavs would ever lose that draft lottery, if you know what I mean

[@sonik6892]

Draft lottery is everything but luck 😉

[@matthanneman7511]

Absolutely. It would have been better if he didn't get edited.

[@tiismuna]

​@@sonik6892 it is rigged

[@ucanhitme]

Imagine LeBron being drafted by a competent team builder like a Jerry West. Talk about changing the course of history.

[@tecversegames3428]

At that time they have gasol and jason williams i think. He could have won more championship if he went to grizz.

[@dub88acc]

One of the biggest what ifs.... right after if Jordan would've been picked by Portland

[@skillz0122]

Always loved Jerry West, but also love hearing the perspective from the side that lost.

[@syklee26]

The most amazing thing about this is that Jerry STILL found a way to turn Memphis around despite the heartbreaker. He is the greatest.

[@damien8438]

So the Logo brought a goat 🐐 to the draft of the 🐐 goat. Seems poetic 😂

[@argc]

No way they thought NBA wouldn't fix the draft so that LeBron goes to his hometown team 😂😂 I guess that's what desperation does to people.

[@Jetsua02]

This was my thought while watching it, Memphis got the first pick, but they have to swap it for Cleveland.

[@bennisford1712]

NBA did rigged it...😒

[@GreaterSociety]

The NBA doesn't fix drafts or rig games. Only small brain people think that

[@johndee537]

​@@Jetsua02how come the memphis got the 1st pick? Lol

[@bennisford1712]

@@GreaterSociety yeah... ok

[@PhantomOfDarkness]

jerry west is looking a little frail, I hope he's okay. living legend. we owe him a lot for what he has done to the game of basketball. also a great human being who has dealt with a lot of tragedy in his life.

[@tezDariel]

He is 85 years old

[@patrick553]

He's a corpse

[@kinggambino3698]

@@patrick553 more sharper than you tho.

[@ABxx2011]

I think he looks quite good for his age. Unfortunately, no one lives forever.

[@cottonmather8146]

@@kinggambino3698 Wrong

[@laust5868]

bron came in the league out of high school with the weight of the world's expectations on his shoulders and delivered.

[@Justs99171]

He definitely did NOT deliver

[@laust5868]

@@Justs99171 ok bro sorry he did not meet your standards youre actually the goat you have all the rights to say things base on your feelings and not on facts

[@Justs99171]

@@laust5868 going to the finals and losing and then jumping ship is not delivering. Delivering would be winning a championship for the team that drafted you ... not leaving, and then returning as a free agent, and recruiting more guys, and then leaving again.

[@laust5868]

@@Justs99171 youre so wrong but i wont elaborate, you can do your own research instead of hating over your lack of information.

[@Justs99171]

@@laust5868 blatant denials of facts. Lebron was drafted by the Cavs - fact 1. Lebron carried the Cavs to the finals and lost - fact 2. Then Lebron left the Cavs to go to Miami - fact 3. So how is that delivering? Coming back to the Cavs after delivering a championship to another city is delivering?

[@PickEmUpMessEmUp]

Just so happen Lebron was from Ohio, if he was from any other state maybe Memphis would have got it but ain’t no way David stern was not letting Cleveland get the #1 pick the story was too good, as a Detroiter we fumbled the pick anyway 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@1kingzeus]

Sad part is the Grizz won 50 games the next year imagine how many titles he and Pau win.

[@HKim0072]

85 and still sharp as a tack.

[@jude3180]

why wouldn't he be?

[@randommodnar103]

Drafted 2003 and still one of the best in 2023 without any signs of retiring(yeah I know he said hes considering but thats a cap lol). Unbelievable

[@georgepaulthagoat5311]

Ran camps for high school prospects who went to college then the league and retired while dude still playing at an extremely high level. Jordan my goat but lebron is a one of a kind specimen for sure.

[@ABxx2011]

I'd be interested to know who West would've taken had he kept the #2 pick. His remark about Wade seems to imply that would've been the choice, but I'd love to hear his analysis of Wade vs. Melo vs. Bosh as draft prospects. I think we can safely assume he would not have picked Darko.

[@austin78993]

I think you're right. West is a guard he's always going to be biased towards guards and see potential in guards because he was one. HE also has claimed Jordan is the best player he's ever seen. And you only have to watch a few minutes of Wade footage to see that he played exactly like 80s Jordan. Just all over the court.

[@TjayK2]

Nobody would’ve taken Wade over Melo. Melo just came off a natty.

[@martyc909]

@@TjayK2 i think West would have taken Wade though, but you are right, everyone thought Melo was going second except for a select few who claimed Darko was better. We need to refind the old Darko is better articles.

[@razkable]

They had gasol battier wright and williams maybe posey..I think they take wade...not bosh..melo maybe...but they needed a sg

[@hongkong9231]

The draft is rigged

[@poly_g6068]

LeBron, Pau Gasol, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, and Jason Williams. That was the team. Jesus christ, they can win it all.

[@NZV13]

LeBron James & Pau Gasol in his prime...

[@tdpc45]

Karma. The Pistons wasted the pick.

[@zo62]

Why is that karma grizzle’s made the trade

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

Haha, karma? What did the Pistons do wrong? The Pistons traded an experienced player the Grizzlies wanted for the pick.

[@nortorioustxc4359]

@@thebasketballhistorian3291 In retrospect, The Pistons could of got Melo, Bosh or Wade but ended up getting Darko

[@pizzaman1736]

@@nortorioustxc4359 Hey we did get more championships after that draft than Melo did

[@nortorioustxc4359]

@@pizzaman1736 this is true. No complaints here

[@lilbru]

Jerry west is a top 5 SG irregardless of era..his intensity is still felt thru his interviews. Him and Rick Barry always give unfiltered and unbridled interviews as well as perspectives

[@tpc1416]

The draft lottery is always rigged. There was never any doubt that he was heading to Cleveland.

[@ChrisLutz3]

When people dispute this as even a possibility, it blows my mind. There was no question. Same with Chicago getting Rose, and same with this year's draft.

[@tpc1416]

@@ChrisLutz3 yup. Ewing is an obvious example aswell. The Cavs getting Kyrie at 3% the year after they lost Bron and getting the #1 pick in 2013 and 2014 aswell. AD going to the league owned Pelicans (Hornets at the time) and a couple of others obvious examples I’m forgetting. But I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with it personally. The NBA is a business at the end of the day. It’s not such a big deal for them to make business decisions like these. I just don’t want people to believe that the lottery is random lol.

[@ChrisLutz3]

@@tpc1416 exactly, 100%.

[@gunsmotleyqueen]

Also now spurs can draft wembanyama. Spurs already has french connection to begin with

[@MightyMouse11]

Anyone that doesn’t think the nba is corrupt is foolish. It’s just like wrestling.

[@Samsonmanase]

Lebron should’ve been in Memphis is crazy 😂

[@jab1289]

If the Grizz got LeBron, they would have been another small market power. Here's another WI, though? What if the Grizz moved to St. Louis (almost happened, but the prospective owner's intentions were found out) in 2001, and ended up getting LeBron in the 2003 lottery? If LeBron goes to St. Louis, that may improve their sports mojo so much that maybe even the Rams stay, and the Grizzlies win titles with LeBron, Pau, Battier, White Chocolate, etc...

[@Undrafted4]

IF Lebron was drafted by Memphis with Jerry West, that would have been huge for Lebron's career, I bet that he will be in that franchise forever with the track record of Jerry being what he is, I'm sure he and the Memphis would have done a better job at recruiting and surrounding Lebron with pieces around him that would have made him a champion.

[@rogerperalta2888]

Yes indeed

[@TheKapei22]

The Grizzlies had another draft pick. The 13rd pick not shown in this video belonged to them and it was Rockets' pick traded back in 1999, which was the Steve Francis trade. That pick became Marcus Banks. The Grizzlies traded Banks and Perkins for Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones. Bell played only 6 games, Dahntay Jones earned a bad reputation by injuring Kobe. They could have drafted David West or Boris Diaw. But without LeBron, Grizzlies made playoffs 3 times and didn't win a single game. They needed another reboot to win their first playoff game and series, in 2011.

[@colemcknight6068]

David Stern wasn’t going to pass up on the opportunity for Lebron to be drafted by anyone else. It was just too good of a storyline…

[@ucdaking6352]

Sit down children class is in session. Mr. West proceed.

[@corbind8193]

What's crazy was Detroit messed up too

[@HGLehnsdal]

Pau Gasol and LeBron James would've been better than the waste of time Dan Gilbert made to LeBron on his first 7 years