2002–03 New Jersey Nets season

2002–03 New Jersey Nets season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach Byron Scott
Arena Continental Airlines Arena
Results
Record 49–33 (.598)
Place Division: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish NBA Finals
(Lost to Spurs 2–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television YES Network, WLNY
Radio WFAN

The 2002–03 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1] The Nets entered the season as runner-ups in the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in four games. During the offseason, the Nets acquired All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo from the Philadelphia 76ers,[2] and signed free agent Rodney Rogers. However, Mutombo only played just 24 games due to a wrist injury. The Nets got off a solid start with a 26–9 record, while posting a ten-game winning streak between December and January. The team finished their season first place in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, while posting a successful 33–8 home record. Jason Kidd was selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, leading the Nets with 18.7 points, 8.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, then swept the 6th-seeded Boston Celtics in four straight games in the semifinals, and then defeated the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in another four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals.

For the second consecutive year, they made it to the NBA Finals. However, they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a six-game series. Following the season, Mutombo was released and signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks.

Offseason

On August 1, the Nets re-signed Chris Childs as a free agent. Five days later, the organization traded Todd MacCulloch and F Keith Van Horn to the Philadelphia 76ers for Dikembe Mutombo. On August 14, the Nets signed Rodney Rogers as a free agent. On October 25, they signed Anthony Johnson as a free agent. Their final offseason transaction would come three days later, when they waived Donny Marshall.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 24 Nenad Krstić C  Serbia and Montenegro
2 54 Tamar Slay SG  United States Marshall

Roster

New Jersey Nets roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 1 United States Armstrong, Brandon 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Pepperdine
C 35 United States Collins, Jason 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Stanford
G 12 United States Harris, Lucious 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Long Beach State
F 24 United States Jefferson, Richard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 222 lb (101 kg) Arizona
G 2 United States Johnson, Anthony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) College of Charleston
G 5 United States Kidd, Jason 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 204 lb (93 kg) California
G 30 United States Kittles, Kerry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 179 lb (81 kg) Villanova
F 13 United States Marshall, Donny  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Connecticut
F 6 United States Martin, Kenyon 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 234 lb (106 kg) Cincinnati
C 55 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mutombo, Dikembe 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Georgetown
F 54 United States Rogers, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Wake Forest
F 21 United States Scalabrine, Brian 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 241 lb (109 kg) Southern California
G 8 United States Slay, Tamar 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Marshall
F/C 34 United States Williams, Aaron 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Xavier
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Note

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New Jersey Nets 4933.598–33–816–2516–8
x-Philadelphia 76ers 4834.585125–1623–1817–7
x-Boston Celtics 4438.537525–1619–2213–12
x-Orlando Magic 4240.512726–1516–2514–11
Washington Wizards 3745.4511223–1814–2711–13
New York Knicks 3745.4511224–1713–289–15
Miami Heat 2557.3052416–259–325–19

Record vs. opponents

2002–03 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —0–32–24–00–22–01–30–21–12–22–01–11–11–32–20–21–32–21–32–13–10–20–21–11–11–11–31–12–2
Boston 3–0—2–24–00–21–12–21–10–22–22–01–12–02–21–22–01–33–14–03–22–20–21–10–20–22–01–21–11–3
Chicago 2–22–2—3–10–21–10–41–11–12–20–21–11–11–22–20–22–21–32–11–31–31–11–10–20–20–22–21–11–3
Cleveland 0–40–41–3—0–21–10–41–11–10–42–01–10–21–20–40–22–21–31–20–40–40–20–20–20–21–13–11–10–4
Dallas 2–02–02–02–0—4–02–04–04–01–14–01–34–02–00–22–22–02–02–01–12–02–22–21–32–22–22–02–22–0
Denver 0–21–11–11–10–4—0–20–40–41–11–30–42–22–01–10–40–20–20–20–20–21–32–20–41–31–31–10–41–1
Detroit 3–12–24–04–00–22–0—1–12–02–21–11–12–03–11–31–12–12–22–22–12–21–10–21–10–21–13–12–03–1
Golden State 2–01–11–11–10–44–01–1—1–31–12–22–22–21–10–21–31–11–12–01–12–02–20–40–41–32–22–02–22–0
Houston 1–12–01–11–10–44–00–23–1—1–12–22–23–11–11–12–21–11–10–22–02–03–11–32–21–32–22–01–31–1
Indiana 2–22–22–24–01–11–12–21–11–1—2–00–21–14–03–12–01–23–13–12–12–21–10–20–20–22–03–11–12–2
L.A. Clippers 0–20–22–00–20–43–11–12–22–20–2—0–42–22–01–11–31–11–11–11–10–21–31–31–31–31–31–11–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–13–14–01–12–22–22–04–0—4–01–12–02–20–21–11–11–11–13–12–22–20–42–22–03–11–1
Memphis 1–10–21–12–00–42–20–22–21–31–12–20–4—2–02–00–41–11–11–12–00–21–31–30–41–31–31–11–31–1
Miami 3–12–22–12–10–20–21–31–11–10–40–21–10–2—1–31–10–40–42–20–40–42–00–21–10–20–24–00–21–3
Milwaukee 2–22–12–24–02–01–13–12–01–11–31–10–20–23–1—0–22–22–23–12–22–20–22–00–20–21–12–20–22–1
Minnesota 2–00–22–02–02–24–01–13–12–20–23–12–24–01–12–0—0–21–12–01–11–13–13–12–22–22–21–11–32–0
New Jersey 3–13–12–22–20–22–01–21–11–12–11–12–01–14–02–22–0—2–23–12–21–31–12–00–21–11–14–00–23–1
New Orleans 2–21–33–13–10–22–02–21–11–11–31–11–11–14–02–21–12–2—3–11–32–12–00–21–10–22–04–02–02–1
New York 3–10–41–22–10–22–02–20–22–01–31–11–11–12–21–30–21–31–3—2–22–22–00–21–12–01–13–11–12–2
Orlando 1–22–33–14–01–12–01–21–10–21–21–11–10–24–02–21–12–23–12–2—2–20–20–21–10–22–02–21–12–2
Philadelphia 1–32–23–14–00–22–02–20–20–22–22–01–12–04–02–21–13–11–22–22–2—0–22–00–21–11–13–01–14–0
Phoenix 2–02–01–12–02–23–11–12–21–31–13–11–33–10–22–01–31–10–20–22–02–0—3–12–23–11–31–11–31–1
Portland 2–01–11–12–02–22–22–04–03–12–03–12–23–12–00–21–30–22–02–02–00–21–3—1–32–24–02–01–31–1
Sacramento 1–12–02–02–03–14–01–14–02–22–03–12–24–01–12–02–22–01–11–11–12–02–23–1—1–33–11–13–12–0
San Antonio 1–12–02–02–02–23–12–03–13–12–03–14–03–12–02–02–21–12–00–22–01–11–32–23–1—3–12–04–01–1
Seattle 1–10–22–01–12–23–11–12–22–20–23–12–23–12–01–12–21–10–21–10–21–13–10–41–31–3—2–02–21–1
Toronto 3–12–12–21–30–21–11–30–20–21–31–10–21–10–42–21–10–40–41–32–20–31–10–21–10–20–2—0–23–1
Utah 1–11–11–11–12–24–00–22–23–11–13–11–33–12–02–03–12–00–21–11–11–13–13–11–30–42–22–0—1–1
Washington 2–23–13–14–00–21–11–30–21–12–22–01–11–13–11–20–21–31–22–22–20–41–11–10–21–11–11–31–1—

Transactions

Trades

August 6, 2002 To Philadelphia 76ers
Todd MacCulloch
Keith Van Horn		 To New Jersey Nets
Dikembe Mutombo

Free agents

Additions
Player Date signed Former team
Chris Childs August 1 Toronto Raptors
Rodney Rogers August 14 Boston Celtics
Anthony Johnson October 25 New Jersey Nets
Donny Marshall March 11 New Jersey Nets
Subtractions
Player Date signed New Team
Donny Marshall October 28 New Jersey Nets
Chris Childs March 7 none (retired)

Playoffs

East First Round

(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference First Round (Milwaukee won 3–0)

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(MIL-NJN)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 April 19 Milwaukee 96 New Jersey 109 0–1 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey ESPN 12:30et Recap
2 April 22 Milwaukee 88 New Jersey 85 1–1 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey TNT 7:00et Recap
3 April 24 New Jersey 103 Milwaukee 101 1–2 Bradley Center, Milwaukee TNT 8:30et/7:30ct Recap
4* April 26 New Jersey 114 Milwaukee 119 2–2 Bradley Center, Milwaukee TNT 5:00et/4:00ct Recap
5 April 29 Milwaukee 82 New Jersey 89 2–3 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey TNT 7:00et Recap
6 May 1 New Jersey 113 Milwaukee 101 2–4 Bradley Center, Milwaukee TNT 6:00et/5:00ct Recap
New Jersey wins series 4–2

*Required overtime.

East Conference Semifinals

(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (6) Boston Celtics Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Eastern Conference Finals (New Jersey won 4-2)

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(BOS-NJN)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 May 5 Boston 93 New Jersey 97 0–1 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey TNT 7:00et Recap
2 May 7 Boston 95 New Jersey 104 0–2 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey TNT 7:00et Recap
3 May 9 New Jersey 94 Boston 76 0–3 FleetCenter, Boston TNT 8:00et Recap
4** May 12 New Jersey 110 Boston 101 0–4 FleetCenter, Boston TNT 8:00et Recap
New Jersey wins series 4–0

East Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) New Jersey Nets Last Playoff Meeting: 1985 Eastern Conference First Round (Detroit won 3–0)

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(NJN-DET)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 May 18 New Jersey 76 Detroit 74 1–0 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills ABC 1:00et Recap
2 May 20 New Jersey 88 Detroit 86 2–0 The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills ESPN 8:00et Recap
3 May 22 Detroit 85 New Jersey 97 3–0 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey ABC 8:00et Recap
4 May 24 Detroit 82 New Jersey 102 4–0 Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey ESPN 8:00et Recap
New Jersey wins Eastern Conference Championship series 4–0

NBA Finals

(W1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (E2) New Jersey Nets Last Playoff Meeting: 1976 ABA Semifinals (Nets won 4-3; they were based in Uniondale, New York)

Game Date Visitor Score Home Score Record

(NJN-SAS)

 Venue TV Time Recap
1 June 4 New Jersey 89 San Antonio 101 0–1 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas ABC 8:00et/7:00ct Recap
2 June 6 New Jersey 87 San Antonio 85 1–1 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas ABC 8:00et/7:00ct Recap
3 June 8 San Antonio 84 New Jersey 79 1–2 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey ABC 8:00et/7:00ct Recap
4 June 11 San Antonio 76 New Jersey 77 2–2 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey ABC 8:00et/7:00ct Recap
5 June 13 San Antonio 93 New Jersey 83 2–3 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey ABC 8:00et/7:00ct Recap
6 June 15 New Jersey 77 San Antonio 88 2–4 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas ABC 8:00et/7:00ct Recap
San Antonio wins NBA Championship series 4–2

Awards and records

References

  1. ↑ 2002–03 New Jersey Nets
  2. ↑ "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Get Mutombo From 76ers For Van Horn and MacCulloch". New York Times. August 7, 2002. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
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