2002-03 NBA season
The 2002-03 NBA season is 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.
[edit] Notable occurrences
- The Hornets relocate from Charlotte, North Carolina to New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 play 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.
[edit] Final standings
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] Western Conference
C - NBA Champions
[edit] 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:
- All-NBA Second Team:
- All-NBA Third Team:
- 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:
- All-Rookie Second Team:
Note: All information on this page were obtained on the History section on NBA.com
[edit] See also
