2002-03 NBA season

The 2002-03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4 games to 2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.

Notable occurrences

• The Hornets relocate from Charlotte, North Carolina to New Orleans, Louisiana, resulting in a two-year absence for the Carolinas, until the birth of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. They also play their first game at New Orleans Arena. A result is the NBA prohibits NBA games (except national games) from being broadcast in the Carolinas.
• The San Antonio Spurs played their first game at the SBC Center (now the AT&T Center).
• The All-Star Game was held at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The West won 155-145 in double overtime, the longest All-Star game in NBA history. Minnesota's Kevin Garnett took the game's MVP honors.
• Michael Jordan announces his third and final retirement. He plays his last game on April 16, 2003 in Philadelphia.
• The NBA on ABC begins (replacing The NBA on NBC) again after a 29 year hiatus when the NBA signs new television deals with TNT and the consortium of ABC and ESPN. This agreement significantly decreased the amount of games on network television, including the playoffs, in which very few games are shown on ABC, with the exception of the NBA Finals, which are shown entirely on ABC. Also, both conference finals are shown live on cable for the first time.
• For the first time in NBA history, two former ABA teams contest each other in the NBA Finals, the New Jersey Nets versus the San Antonio Spurs.
• A new instant replay rule is in effect to help officials in determining close calls.
• The NBA changes the first round format from a best of five game series to a best of seven game series for the 2003 NBA Playoffs.
• A new low in television ratings for the NBA Finals is reached, replacing the 1981 series as the least watched Finals.
• On January 7, Kobe Bryant scored 45 points against Seattle. Kobe made nine consecutive three-pointers and finished with 12 overall, a new NBA record for most "3's" in a game.

Final standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

C - NBA Champions

2002-03 NBA statistics leaders

NBA awards

• Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• Rookie of the Year: Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
• Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
• Sixth Man of the Year: Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings
• Most Improved Player: Gilbert Arenas, Golden State Warriors
• Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
• All-NBA First Team:
  • F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
  • C - Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
  • G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
  • G - Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
• All-NBA Second Team:
  • F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
  • F - Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings
  • C - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
  • G - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
  • G - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
• All-NBA Third Team:
  • F - Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
  • F - Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans Hornets
  • F - Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
  • G - Stephon Marbury, Phoenix Suns
  • G - Steve Nash, Dallas Mavericks
• All-Defensive First Team:
  • F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
  • F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • C - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
  • G - Doug Christie, Sacramento Kings
  • G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• All-Defensive Second Team:
  • F - Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
  • F - Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs
  • C - Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
  • G - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
  • G - Eric Snow, Philadelphia 76ers
• All-Rookie First Team:
  • Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
  • Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
  • Caron Butler, Miami Heat
  • Drew Gooden, Orlando Magic
  • Nenê Hilario, Denver Nuggets
• All-Rookie Second Team:
  • G - Emanuel Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
  • G - Gordan Giricek, Orlando Magic
  • F - Carlos Boozer, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • G - Jay Williams, Chicago Bulls
  • G - J. R. Bremer, Boston Celtics

Note: All information on this page were obtained on the History section on NBA.com

See also

• 2003 NBA Playoffs
• 2003 NBA Finals
• 2003 NBA Draft
• NBA Season

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