stringtranslate.com

2002–03 Sacramento Kings season

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Kings' 54th season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in Sacramento.[1] The Kings were coming off their controversial Western Conference Finals defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the series in seven games. During the off-season, the Kings signed free agent Keon Clark,[2][3] and later on in December signed Jim Jackson.[4] Throughout the season, none of the Kings' players played a full season via suspension or injury,[5] but they still managed to hold a successful 34–17 record at the All-Star break,[6] and post a 59–23 record,[7] two games less than their previous output in which they went 61–21, thus repeating as Pacific Division Champions once again.

Chris Webber averaged 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Peja Stojaković averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and Mike Bibby provided the team with 15.9 points and 5.2 assists per game, but only played 55 games due to a foot injury.[8][9] In addition, Bobby Jackson contributed 15.2 points per game in 59 games, starting in 26 of them, and was named Sixth Man of the Year,[10][11] while Vlade Divac provided with 9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Doug Christie contributed 9.4 points, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.[12] Webber and Stojaković were both voted to play in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta. However, this time, Stojakovic was the only team representative as Webber was forced to withdraw due to a sprained ankle.[13] Head coach Rick Adelman was selected to coach the Western Conference All-Stars.[14] Webber also finished in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Christie finished in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[15][16]

After easily dispatching the Utah Jazz in five games in the Western Conference First Round, the team started to look like a title contender,[17][18][19] but in Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semi-finals, their title hopes took a serious blow, when Webber suffered a knee injury while trying to catch a lob pass from Bibby, ending his season.[20][21] Webber's knee required microfracture surgery in the following off-season.[22] Without their team captain and MVP, the Kings lost the series in seven games.[23][24][25] Following the season, Hedo Türkoğlu was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, while Scot Pollard was traded to the Indiana Pacers,[26][27] Clark was dealt to the Utah Jazz, and Jackson signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.[28][29]

For the season, the team sported new uniforms, adding purple primary road jerseys.[30][31] The new uniforms would remain in use until 2008. This would be the last season the Kings would win the Pacific Division until the 2022-23 season.

Offseason

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 2002-03 Sacramento Kings
  2. ^ "Kings Sign Keon Clark". United Press International. August 14, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "WESTERN CONFERENCE: Team-by-Team Preview". The New York Times. October 28, 2002. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kings Sign Jim Jackson". United Press International. December 1, 2002. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Brown, Tim (March 20, 2003). "Hype Is Off for Lakers, Kings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "2002–03 Sacramento Kings Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Kings' Bibby Has Foot Surgery". Associated Press. October 12, 2002. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "Kings Get Bibby Back, But Finally Lose at Home". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 20, 2002. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Sixth Man Award to a King". The New York Times. April 30, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "NBA & ABA Sixth Man of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  12. ^ "2002–03 Sacramento Kings Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Webber Out Three Weeks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 30, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  15. ^ "Wallace Chosen Best Defender". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 24, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "2002–03 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Wise, Mike (May 2, 2003). "Embraces, But No Fanfare, for Jazz's Stockton". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "Kings Get Rid of All That Jazz". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 1, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "Kings Bring an End to the Jazz Age". The Washington Post. May 2, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  20. ^ "Mavericks Rout Kings, Who May Lose Webber". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 9, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  21. ^ Crowe, Jerry (May 11, 2003). "With Webber Out, Kings Left Hurting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  22. ^ Fernas, Rob (May 10, 2003). "Kings Lose Webber for Rest of Playoffs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  23. ^ Broussard, Chris (May 18, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Mavs Are No Softies, Ousting Kings". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  24. ^ Crowe, Jerry (May 18, 2003). "Mavericks Apply the Chokehold". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  25. ^ Wilbon, Michael (May 18, 2003). "Nowitzki, Mavericks March On". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "BASKETBALL; 3-Team Deal Gives Kings Brad Miller". The New York Times. July 25, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "Sacramento Reacts, Gets Miller". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 25, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  28. ^ "SPORTS BRIEFING: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Trade Rice to Jazz for Amaechi". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 1, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  29. ^ "Rockets Sign Jackson, Trade Rice". United Press International. September 30, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  30. ^ "Sacramento Kings Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  31. ^ "Sacramento Kings Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.

See also