2002–03 NBA season

Infobox sports season
title =2002–03 NBA season
league =National Basketball Association
sport =Basketball
TV =ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV
season =Regular season
season_champ =San Antonio Spurs
MVP =flagicon|U.S. Virgin Islands Tim Duncan (San Antonio)
MVP_link =NBA MVP
top_scorer =flagicon|USA Tracy McGrady (Orlando)
playoffs =Playoffs
playoffs_link =2003 NBA Playoffs
conf1 =Eastern
conf1_link =Eastern Conference (NBA)
conf1_champ =New Jersey Nets
conf1_runner-up =Detroit Pistons
conf2 =Western
conf2_link =Western Conference (NBA)
conf2_champ =San Antonio Spurs
conf2_runner-up =Dallas Mavericks
finals =Finals
finals_link =2003 NBA Finals
finals_champ =San Antonio Spurs
finals_runner-up =New Jersey Nets
finals_MVP =flagicon|U.S. Virgin Islands Tim Duncan (San Antonio)
finals_MVP_link =NBA Finals MVP
seasonslist =List of NBA seasons
seasonslistnames =NBA
prevseason_link =2001–02 NBA season
prevseason_year =2001–02
nextseason_link =2003–04 NBA season
nextseason_year =2003–04The 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 4-2 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 Houston Rockets played their final game at the Compaq Center (formerly The Summit).
*The 2003 NBA 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. It was also the last time an Eastern Conference city hosted an All-Star Game.
*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 "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. The Nets became the only team in NBA Finals history to wear a throwback uniform in a Finals game, wearing their 1976 home uniforms in Game 5.
*A new instant replay rule is in effect to help officials in determining close calls. Bright red lights are installed on the backboards and scoring tables to make the shot easier to figure out.
*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, later tied by Donyell Marshall.
*Eight NBA teams (the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards) wore throwback uniforms to celebrate the first ever NBA Hardwood Classics Nights, commemorating either a player milestone, team anniversary or championship anniversary. The NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta featured NBA players wearing the 1987 All-Star uniforms as an extension.

Final standings

Eastern 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
*Executive of the Year: Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
*Sportsmanship Award: Ray Allen, Seattle SuperSonics
*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 [http://www.nba.com NBA.com] "

ee also