2002–03 Seattle SuperSonics season explained

The 2002–03 NBA season was the SuperSonics' 36th season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Sonics acquired Kenny Anderson and Vitaly Potapenko from the Boston Celtics.^{[2] [3] [4]} The Sonics got off to a solid start winning eight of their first ten games, but then lost six of their next seven games, then posted six-game losing streaks in January and February, holding a 21–27 record at the All-Star break.^[5] At midseason, before the trading deadline, the team traded All-Star point guard Gary Payton and Desmond Mason to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen.^{[6] [7] [8]} More changes continued as Anderson was traded to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Elden Campbell.^{[9] [10]} Payton also represented the Western Conference for the final time in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.^[11]

The Sonics, now led by the newly acquired Allen, finished the season fifth in the Pacific Division with a 40–42 record, missing the playoffs.^[12] Rashard Lewis averaged 18.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while Brent Barry averaged 10.3 points, 5.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game, second-year forward Vladimir Radmanović provided the team with 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and second-year center Predrag Drobnjak contributed 9.4 points per game.^[13]

Following the season, Drobnjak signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers,^{[14] [15]} and Campbell signed with the Detroit Pistons.^{[16] [17]}

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: 2002 NBA draft.

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2002-03 NBA Records
width=100	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	–	0–3	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–0	–	2–2	4–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–2	2–0	1–3	3–1	4–0	3–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–2	1–1	1–3
Chicago	2–2	2–2	–	3–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–3
Cleveland	0–4	0–4	1–3	–	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–4
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	–	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–0
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	–	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–4	1–1
Detroit	3–1	2–2	4–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	–	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–0	3–1
Golden State	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1	–	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–0
Houston	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2	3–1	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–3	1–1
Indiana	2–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–2	3–1	3–1	2–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–2
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	–	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	–	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–1
Memphis	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	0–4	–	2–0	2–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–1
Miami	3–1	2–2	2–1	2–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	–	1–3	1–1	0–4	0–4	2–2	0–4	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	0–2	1–3
Milwaukee	2–2	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	–	0–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	2–1
Minnesota	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	–	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–0
New Jersey	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	–	2–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	3–1
New Orleans	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	2–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–1
New York	3–1	0–4	1–2	2–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	–	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–2
Orlando	1–2	2–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–2	1–1	0–2	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–2
Philadelphia	1–3	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–2	2–2	2–2	–	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–0	1–1	4–0
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	–	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–1
Portland	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–3	–	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–0	1–3	1–1
Sacramento	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	–	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–0
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	–	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–3	1–3	–	2–0	2–2	1–1
Toronto	3–1	2–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	3–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	–	1–1
Washington	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–2	0–2	1–3	1–2	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	—

Game log

Player statistics

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Ray Allen	29	29	41.3	.441	.351	.920	5.6	5.9	1.6	0.1	24.5
Gary Payton	52	52	40.8	.448	.298	.692	4.8	8.8	1.8	0.2	20.8
Rashard Lewis	77	77	39.5	.452	.346	.820	6.5	1.7	1.3	0.5	18.1
Desmond Mason	52	15	34.8	.436	.291	.740	6.4	1.8	0.9	0.4	14.1
Brent Barry	75	68	33.1	.458	.403	.795	4.0	5.1	1.5	0.2	10.3
Kevin Ollie	29	1	26.6	.441	1.000	.759	2.9	3.8	1.1	0.0	8.0
Vladimir Radmanović	72	16	26.5	.410	.355	.706	4.5	1.3	0.9	0.3	10.1
Predrag Drobnjak	82	69	24.2	.412	.353	.791	3.9	1.0	0.6	0.5	9.4
Reggie Evans	67	60	20.4	.471		.519	6.6	0.5	0.6	0.2	3.2
Kenny Anderson	38	1	18.1	.440	.000	.829	2.3	3.2	1.1	0.0	6.1
Vitaly Potapenko	26	2	15.5	.441		.759	3.4	0.2	0.3	0.3	4.0
Jerome James	51	16	15.0	.478		.587	4.2	0.5	0.2	1.6	5.4
Elden Campbell	15	0	12.3	.333		.762	2.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	3.2
Calvin Booth	47	0	12.2	.437	.000	.723	2.3	0.3	0.2	0.7	2.9
Ronald Murray	2	0	10.0	.400	.000		1.5	1.0	0.0	0.0	2.0
Ansu Sesay	45	4	10.0	.383		.571	1.6	0.5	0.3	0.1	2.1
Joseph Forte	17	0	5.1	.286	.000	.667	0.6	0.6	0.2	0.0	1.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 2/17/2017.

Awards and records

• Ray Allen, Player of the Week (Mar. 2)
• Ray Allen, Three-Point Field Goal Leader
• Rashard Lewis, Player of the Week (Nov. 17)

See also

• 2002-03 NBA season

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2002-03 Seattle SuperSonics . Basketball-reference.com . 2012-06-11.
2. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; Baker Goes to Boston in a Five-Player Trade . The New York Times . July 23, 2002 . June 12, 2022.
3. News: Associated Press . Baker Traded to the Celtics . Los Angeles Times . July 23, 2002 . November 30, 2022.
4. News: WESTERN CONFERENCE: Team-by-Team Preview . The New York Times . October 28, 2002 . July 16, 2022.
5. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003 . Basketball-Reference . September 13, 2022.
6. News: Heisler . Mark . Losses Will Fit Seattle Like a Glove . Los Angeles Times . February 21, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
7. News: Nichols . Rachel . Sonics Trade Payton to Bucks . The Washington Post . February 21, 2003 . July 2, 2022.
8. News: Payton, Mason Traded to Milwaukee for Ray Allen . The Seattle Times . February 20, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
9. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics Deal Payton to Bucks for Allen . The New York Times . February 21, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
10. News: Hornets Trade Campbell for Kenny Anderson . Associated Press . February 20, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
11. News: 2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT) . Basketball-Reference . January 13, 2022.
12. Web site: 2002–03 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
13. Web site: 2002–03 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 13, 2022.
14. News: Crowe . Jerry . Drobnjak Is Acquired in a Sign-and-Trade Deal . Los Angeles Times . September 29, 2003 . July 14, 2022.
15. News: Transactions . The New York Times . September 29, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
16. News: Associated Press . Campbell Signs with the Pistons . Deseret News . July 27, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
17. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; Season Preview . The New York Times . October 28, 2003 . October 27, 2022.