This week in 2003: LeBron James debuts with 25 points, 9 assists and 4 steals as the Kings beat the Cavaliers 106-92

LeBron James played his first NBA game on Wednesday, October 29, 2003, 23 years ago this week, and the 18-year-old put up 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals even as the Cleveland Cavaliers lost 106-92 to the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena. No rookie had arrived with more noise, and the No. 1 pick from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron spent his first night proving the hype was not a mistake.

The line that started it

James started and played 42 minutes and 50 seconds in front of 17,317 fans. He made 12 of his 20 shots, a 60 percent night that came almost entirely inside the arc: he missed both of his three-point tries and made only 1 of 3 free throws. He turned the ball over just twice while handing out nine assists, and his four steals led everyone on the floor.

The game was decided early and late. Sacramento took the opening period 39-32 and the second 26-20 to lead by 13 at the half. The Cavaliers won the third quarter 26-18 to get back within five, but the Kings closed it 23-14 in the fourth. Peja Stojakovic led Sacramento with 22 points and seven rebounds, Mike Bibby scored 19, and J.R. Bremer gave Cleveland 20 off the bench.

The Associated Press report the next morning summed up the evening as brilliant except for the result. Its last image was a small one: James airballed a three just before the final buzzer, and the Sacramento crowd teased him for it, gently.

Why it mattered

Few debuts have carried so much weight. James had been on national television as a high school junior, and Cleveland had won the 2003 draft lottery after a 17-65 season. A lesser first game would have fed every doubt about jumping straight from high school to the league. Instead, his line read like a veteran’s: scoring, passing, defending and staying under control for nearly 43 minutes.

What it led to

James finished that 2003-04 season averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, won Rookie of the Year, and helped Cleveland jump from 17 wins to 35. It was the first of more than two decades of opening nights. Across his first 23 season openers he averaged 24.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists on 50.2 percent shooting, so the debut in Sacramento turned out to be almost exactly his normal night.

Four championships, four MVP awards and the NBA’s all-time scoring record came later. The first box score, from a loss on the road in October, already showed the shape of the player: 25 points, nine assists and the ball moving through him.