The 2002–03 NBA season was the 36th season of the franchise, 30th in San Antonio, and 27th in the National Basketball Association.[1] This was also the Spurs' first season playing at the SBC Center (now AT&T Center). During the off-season, the team signed free agents Kevin Willis,[2] acquired second-year guard Speedy Claxton from the Philadelphia 76ers,[3] and re-acquired former Spurs guard and three-point specialist Steve Kerr from the Portland Trail Blazers.[4][5] Argentinian future star Manu Ginóbili, who was drafted by the team in 1999, would make his debut for his first NBA season.[6] This would also be the fourteenth and final season for former All-Star center, and long-time Spurs star David Robinson.[7][8][9] The Spurs played strong basketball, posting a nine-game winning streak at midseason, holding a 33–16 record at the All-Star break,[10] then winning eleven straight games near the end of the season. The Spurs would win 60 games for only the second time in franchise history, finishing with a league-best 60–22 record.[11]
The season saw Tim Duncan earn his second consecutive NBA MVP Award, averaging 23.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.[12][13][14] He was named to the All-NBA First Team, the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.[15] In addition, second-year guard Tony Parker showed improvement, averaging 15.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, while Stephen Jackson provided the team with 11.8 points and 1.6 steals per game, and sixth man Malik Rose contributed 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game off the bench. Robinson averaged 8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, which were career lows, while Ginóbili contributed 7.6 points per game off the bench, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and Bruce Bowen provided with 7.1 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.[16] Head coach Gregg Popovich was named Coach of the Year.[17][18] Duncan also finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[19] while Parker finished in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting.[20] This season marked the official beginning of the Big Three era, and the end of the Twin Towers era. The trio of Duncan, Parker, and Ginóbili would lead the Spurs to win 3 more championships (2005, 2007, and 2014).
In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games after losing Game 1 in overtime,[21][22][23] then defeated the defending three-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-finals in six games.[24][25][26] In the Western Conference Finals, they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in six games to advance to the NBA Finals,[27][28][29] where they beat the New Jersey Nets in six games and won their second championship, their first title since 1999 NBA Finals.[7][30][31] Following the season, Jackson signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks,[32] while Steve Smith signed with the New Orleans Hornets,[33] and Robinson, Kerr and Danny Ferry all retired.
For the season, the Spurs changed their primary logo, adding black and silver colors,[34] and slightly changed their uniforms.[35][36] The primary logo remained in use until 2017, while the uniforms lasted until 2010.
NBA draft
Roster
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
October
Record: 1–1; Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0
November
Record: 10–6; Home: 6–2; Road: 4–4
December
Record: 8–6; Home: 5–1; Road: 3–5
January
Record: 11–3; Home: 5–1; Road: 6–2
February
Record: 9–1; Home: 3–0; Road: 6–1
March
Record: 14–3; Home: 9–3; Road: 5–0
April
Record: 7–2; Home: 3–1; Road: 6–1
Playoffs
Player statistics
Regular season
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.
Playoffs
NBA Finals
Summary
The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.
Schedule
Game 1 – June 4: Wednesday 8:00pm EST @San Antonio San Antonio 101, New Jersey 89: San Antonio leads series 1–0
Game 2 – June 6: Friday 8:00pm EST @San Antonio New Jersey 87, San Antonio 85: Series tied 1–1
Game 3 – June 8: Sunday 8:00pm EST @New Jersey San Antonio 84, New Jersey 79: San Antonio leads series 2–1
Game 4 – June 11: Wednesday 8:00pm EST @New Jersey New Jersey 77, San Antonio 76: Series tied 2–2
Game 5 – June 13: Friday 8:00pm EST @New Jersey San Antonio 93, New Jersey 83: San Antonio leads series 3–2
Game 6 – June 15 Sunday 8:00pm EST @San Antonio San Antonio 88, New Jersey 77: San Antonio wins series 4–2
^"Spurs Sign C-F Kevin Willis". United Press International. August 27, 2002. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
^"NBA Draft". Los Angeles Times. June 28, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
^"Blazers Acquire Daniels from Spurs". United Press International. August 5, 2002. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
^"Spurs Trade Daniels to Portland". CBC. August 6, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
^"WESTERN CONFERENCE: Team-by-Team Preview". The New York Times. October 28, 2002. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
^ a b"Spurs Defeat Nets to Win N.B.A. Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2003. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
^Wilbon, Michael (March 30, 2003). "San Antonio Salutes Its Admiral One Last Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
^Wilbon, Michael (June 8, 2003). "Admiral Won't Be Setting Sail Anytime Soon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
^"NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
^"2002–03 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
^"PRO BASKETBALL; Duncan Is M.V.P. Once Again". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 5, 2003. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^Teaford, Elliott (May 4, 2003). "Duncan to Win Second MVP in a Row". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
^"NBA MVP & ABA Most Valuable Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
^"2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^"2002–03 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
^"N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Popovich Is Coach of the Year". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 29, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
^"NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
^"Wallace Chosen Best Defender". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 24, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
^"2002–03 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
^"PRO BASKETBALL; Spurs Finish Suns' Season". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 2, 2003. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^Teaford, Elliott (May 2, 2003). "Another Shot at Champs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
^Magruder, Jack (May 2, 2003). "Duncan Dominates, Suns Eliminated". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^Broussard, Chris (May 16, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Spurs End Lakers' Dream Run". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^Brown, Tim (May 16, 2003). "Fourclosed!: Three-Year Championship Run Comes to a Stunning End as Duncan Plays Like the MVP, and Spurs Makes It a Blowout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
^Neiman, David (May 16, 2003). "A Four-Gone Conclusion". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^"Kerr's Shooting Helps Spurs Advance Past Mavericks, 90-78". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 29, 2003. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^Heisler, Mark (May 30, 2003). "Mavericks Collapse in Biggest of Ways". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
^Wyche, Steve (May 30, 2003). "Spurs Rally, Finish the Mavericks". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^Heisler, Mark (June 16, 2003). "Spurs Reduce the 'Risk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
^"San Antonio 88, New Jersey 77". United Press International. June 15, 2003. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
^"Hawks Ink Stephen Jackson". United Press International. October 3, 2003. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
^"Transactions". The New York Times. October 30, 2003. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
^"San Antonio Spurs Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^"San Antonio Spurs Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^"San Antonio Spurs Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^"2002–03 San Antonio Spurs Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.