Victor Wembanyama had not yet been born when LeBron James made his NBA debut as the most hyped teenager in NBA history in 2003.

So, when the league’s most celebrated kid since then takes on the Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 ET, ESPN) on Friday, expect the 19-year-old to pick his 38-year-old counterpart’s brain.

“[James] is somebody that must have a lot of good advice, a lot of knowledge, probably the most knowledge out of every player in this league,” Wembanyama went on to say. “He’s an icon, definitely someone I could learn some stuff from.”

James, who recently won the inaugural In-Season Tournament MVP award, understands what the 2023 No. 1 overall pick may be feeling in the face of lofty expectations as a young, generational talent and potential franchise savior.

Wembanyama and the Spurs come into the game on a franchise-record 18-game losing streak.

James was ruled out of Wednesday’s game due to a left calf contusion, as the Lakers played the second game of a back-to-back after losing to Dallas on Tuesday.

What has changed in the NBA from 2003 and 2023?

NBA teams averaged 93.4 points per game in 2003.

So far in 2023, NBA clubs are averaging 114.3 points per game.

The current scoring frenzy can be attributed to regulation changes that limited how teams could defend, as well as the more open style that teams presently play. Except for two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21), team scoring averages have grown in every season since 2014-15. The league’s current average of 114.3 is slightly lower than previous season’s average of 114.7.

NBA clubs averaged 5.2 3-pointers per game in 2003.

NBA clubs are averaging 12.6 3-pointers per game in 2023.

Did you know that the last time a team won a game without making a 3-pointer was on February 5, 2016? Miami defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-95 despite missing all nine of its 3-point attempts.

As a rookie, James averaged 2.7 attempts from three attempts, and his current average of 5.6 is his lowest in seven seasons. Wembanyama is already averaging 5.1 three-pointers each game.

Changes in technology and media between 2003 and 2023

Nokia was the best-selling cell phone in 2003.

In 2023, Apple has recently introduced the iPhone 15, honoring the 16th anniversary of the first model’s debut in 2007.

In James’ rookie year, having email, images, calendars, and music on one device sounded revolutionary, and he took full advantage, according to this 2003 footage of him at WWE Monday Night Raw. There isn’t much we can’t do with handheld gadgets as Wembanyama’s debut season progresses.

MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) dominated mainstream culture in 2003. James (together with Magic Johnson) made a memorable visit on the hit show in June 2003.

TikTok and social media have become the century’s MTV by 2023. Viral dances and other trends…

At 38, James is the league’s oldest player, yet he’s remained at the forefront of today’s culture, generating plenty of viral moments as he’s grown up in front of our eyes. Wembanyama appears to be off to a good start in the viral category twenty-two games into his rookie season.

As teenagers, they are preparing for the NBA spotlight.

Both Wembanyama and James made their debuts as rookies in front of sold-out crowds roughly 20 years apart, and it’s evident they were well-prepared for the spotlight.

As a 17-year-old, James appeared in the first high school game broadcast on ESPN in 13 years, scoring 31 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out six assists as St. Vincent-St. Mary defeated Oak Hill Academy, the country’s top-ranked prep team at the time.

Wembanyama rose to prominence at the age of 14 when he helped France’s JSF Nanterre U18 team finish second in the French League, following in the footsteps of James. The 19-year-old made his professional debut with Nanterre in the EuroCup in 2019.

Three numbers to remember from LeBron’s first 20 games in 2003

The youngest player to score 40 points

At the age of 19, James scored 41 points in a 107-104 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

In 2003, he was named Rookie of the Month every month.

He and No. 3 overall pick Carmelo Anthony became the third and fourth rookies in NBA history to earn Rookie of the Month in each of their first seasons, joining San Antonio luminaries David Robinson (1989-90) and Tim Duncan (1997-98).

Slow start, but historic conclusion

During Cleveland’s first 20 games, James averaged 16.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. He finished strong, joining Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only rookies to average more than 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Three numbers to remember from Wemby’s first 20 games in 2023

The youngest player to record a 20/20 game.

That happened less than a week ago in a 121-112 defeat to Chicago, when Wembanyama became the team’s youngest player to record a 20-point, 20-rebound performance.

The first rookie in history to…

Wembanyama joins Evan Mobley, Lamar Odom, and David Robinson as the only players since 1983-84 to have 45 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and five steals in their first three professional games. But he’s the first to achieve it in under 100 minutes (80).

Top five in each of five categories

The French rookie ranks in the top five of five statistical categories, and leads his peers in three of them. He leads rookies in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounds (10.6), steals (1.2), and blocks (2.8). His 2.8 blocks per game are the second most in the NBA.