The upcoming NBA draft, or the “LeBron lottery” as I like to call it, will no doubt highlight NBA execs and the like frothing at the mouth to pick up the Hummer-driving, largest-shoe-contract-in-the-universe possessing 18-year-old LeBron James of Akron.

Certainly, the draft doesn’t just end at the No. 1 pick, as some experts may have you believe. Superstar and All-World Carmelo Anthony – or just “Melo” if you are his friend – will also compete for the title of No.1 player taken in the upcoming draft.

Anthony carried Syracuse on its run through March and, as their stock rose, so did his. The championship ring is what puts Anthony at the top with James. The ring, his slender but quick 6-foot-8 frame, and one year of college basketball is enough to make the 19-year-old Anthony a more polished player than James.

James is only 18, but his physical traits are similar to that of Anthony.

James also stands 6 feet 8 inches, but is a little more muscular at 240 pounds. He averaged around 30 points and 10 rebounds a game in high school – you may have seen one of his Catholic League games on ESPN.

Both players are similar in size, but NBA execs believe that James has more potential.

No one will be able to pass on James when it comes time to pick. The Kobe Bryants, Tracy McGradys, and Kevin Garnetts of the world will prove that you can’t pass on James. You can’t pass on the next Jordan. You can’t pass on someone with so much undeniable talent – or can you?

Talent alone did not make Bryant or McGrady.

In fact, Bryant played behind Eddie Jones in Los Angeles his first couple of seasons. You know, that was before the league annually engraved the Lakers’ name on the trophy. Bryant had all of the hype coming out of high school, but none of the playing time.

It was Bryant who decided to work on his game and take it to the next level. It was Bryant’s drive to be the best that eventually allowed the Lakers to part with one of their best players in Jones. It is now Bryant who is going after his fourth straight NBA title since he entered the starting lineup.

McGrady also had a similar struggle coming out of high school. McGrady came in to Toronto with his highly-touted cousin Vince Carter. In McGrady’s first several seasons, he struggled to find his identity – understandable for a young athlete. Meanwhile, Carter thrived and became a fan favorite in Toronto. McGrady was improving but was on the “outs” with Raptor fans.

When McGrady finally put the entire package together at the end of his third season, he was one of the premier free agents in the league. He parted with Carter and Toronto to sign the highest free-agent contract allowed by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement and joined former Detroit Piston Grant Hill in Orlando.

While Hill has battled injuries, Orlando has seen the meteoric rise of McGrady as he surpassed Carter to become one of the premier players in the game.

Bryan and McGrady had the same kind of talent that James possesses coming into the league, but both Bryant and McGrady developed their games outside of the spotlight.

Countless players have been drafted and yet none have ever had the inherent pressure or hype provided by “King James” and his media men. James will certainly enjoy his first trip around the league, especially if he is drafted by his hometown. But what will James do the first time he plays in front of just 8,000 people at Gund Arena? Will James be able to handle the millions of dollars in endorsements long enough to help his own team win 30 games?

I am not so sure. The points will lie not in James’ talent as much as his desire. Desire is what made Bryant and McGrady.

Andy Schwartz is a senior in journalism who enjoys the rings of coffee left on all of his unread columns. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].