2002–03 Washington Wizards season explained

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Wizards' 42nd season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Wizards acquired All-Star guard Jerry Stackhouse from the Detroit Pistons,[2] [3] [4] and signed free agents Larry Hughes, Bryon Russell, and Charles Oakley.[5] [6] [7] [8] Retired All-Star center Patrick Ewing was hired as the team's assistant coach.[9] [10] The Wizards got off to a 6–4 start to the season, but then struggled losing six straight games afterwards, and held a 24–25 record at the All-Star break.[11] The team finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 37–45 record, which was the same as the previous season.[12]

Stackhouse averaged 21.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, while Hughes averaged 12.8 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Tyronn Lue contributed 8.6 points and 3.5 assists per game. In addition, Christian Laettner provided the team with 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while second-year forward Kwame Brown provided 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and second-year center Brendan Haywood contributed 6.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.[13]

This marked the final season for All-Star guard Michael Jordan, who retired for the third and final time, playing his final game in a 107–87 road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on April 16, 2003.[14] [15] [16] [17] Jordan averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game in all 82 games, starting in 67 of them.[18] He also made his final All-Star appearance in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta.[19] [20] [21] Following the season, Russell signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, while Tyronn Lue signed with the Orlando Magic, Oakley was released to free agency, and head coach Doug Collins was fired after two seasons.[22] (See 2002–03 Washington Wizards season#Regular season)

Offseason

NBA draft

See main article: 2002 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
111Jared JeffriesForwardIndiana
117Juan DixonGuardMaryland
238Rod GrizzardGuardAlabama
239Juan Carlos NavarroGuardFC Barcelona (Spain)

Regular season

Jordan announced he would return for the 2002–03 season, and this time he was determined to be equipped with reinforcements, as he traded for All-Star Jerry Stackhouse and signed budding star Larry Hughes. Jordan even accepted a sixth-man role on the bench in order for his knee to survive the rigors of an 82-game season. Heading into the season, as he was still dealing with injuries, Jordan started the first 15 games coming off from the bench. However, a combination of numerous team injuries and uninspired play led to Jordan's return to the starting lineup, where he tried to rebound the franchise from its early-season struggles after a 6–9 start. The move led to mixed results, as several of Jordan's younger teammates complained about playing in Jordan's shadow and his unfair expectations of them.[23]

By the end of the season, the Wizards finished with a 37–45 record once again. At the age of 40, Jordan ended the season as the only Wizard to play in all 82 games, as he averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 37.0 minutes per game. He also became the only 40-year-old in NBA history to score over 40 points in a game,[24] which he did several times during the season.[25] In addition, Jordan became the oldest NBA player in NBA history to average at least 20 points at the age of 40.[26] This was also the first season in which Jordan was not the team's best scorer, as Stackhouse averaged 1.5 more point per game. However, Jordan still led the team in steals at 1.5 per game, while Christian Laettner led the team in rebounds at 6.6, Stackhouse led in assists at 4.5, and Brendan Haywood led in blocks at 1.5.[27]

After the season, Wizards' majority owner Abe Pollin fired Jordan as team president, much to the shock of teammates, associates, and the public. Jordan felt he was betrayed, thinking that he would get his ownership back after his playing days ended, but Pollin justified Jordan's dismissal by noting that Jordan had detrimental effects on the team, such as benching Larry Hughes for Tyronn Lue, making poor trades, and squandering the teams' first round pick at the 2001 NBA draft on high schooler Kwame Brown who never panned out. Without Jordan in the fold the following year, the Wizards were not expected to win, and they did not. Despite the signing of future All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas, which had been made possible by Jordan's previous cap-clearing maneuvers as a team executive, the team stumbled to a 25–57 record in the 2003–04 season.

Jordan's stint with the Wizards was closely watched by both fans and the media. While the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in either of Jordan's two seasons as a player, the team was competitive and sold-out arenas around the league.[28] The Wizards replaced Jordan's managerial role with general manager Ernie Grunfeld. Although the organization fielded a competitive team built around Arenas for several years, the team again stumbled into the lower echelon of the league in the years following Arenas' numerous off the court issues.

Record vs. opponents

2002-03 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMEMMIAMILMINNJNNOHNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAWAS
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
Boston3–0 – 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
Chicago2–2 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
Cleveland0–4 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
Dallas2–0 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
Denver0–2 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
Detroit3–1 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 State2–0 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
Houston1–1 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
Indiana2–2 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. Clippers0–2 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. Lakers1–1 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
Memphis1–1 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
Miami3–1 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
Milwaukee2–2 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
Minnesota2–0 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 Jersey3–1 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 Orleans2–2 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 York3–1 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
Orlando1–2 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
Philadelphia1–3 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
Phoenix2–0 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
Portland2–0 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
Sacramento1–1 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 Antonio1–1 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
Seattle1–1 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
Toronto3–1 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
Utah1–1 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
Washington2–2 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 —

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 80 || 20 || 22.2 || .446 || .000 || .668 || 5.3 || .7 || .6 || 1.0 || 7.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 5 || 0 || 3.0 || .250 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .2 || .0 || .0 || .8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 42 || 3 || 15.4 || .384 || .298 || .804 || 1.7 || 1.0 || .6 || .1 || 6.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 5 || 0 || 6.8 || .571 || 1.000 || .800 || .6 || .2 || .0 || .0 || 2.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 81 || 69 || 23.8 || .510 || || .633 || 5.0 || .4 || .4 || 1.5 || 6.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 67 || 56 || 31.9 || .467 || .367 || .731 || 4.6 || 3.1 || 1.3 || .4 || 12.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 20 || 1 || 14.6 || .476 || .500 || .552 || 2.9 || .8 || .4 || .3 || 4.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 67 || 37.0 || .445 || .291 || .821 || 6.1 || 3.8 || 1.5 || .5 || 20.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 76 || 66 || 29.1 || .494 || .125 || .833 || 6.6 || 3.1 || 1.1 || .5 || 8.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 75 || 24 || 26.5 || .433 || .341 || .875 || 2.0 || 3.5 || .6 || .0 || 8.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 42 || 1 || 12.2 || .418 || || .824 || 2.5 || 1.0 || .3 || .1 || 1.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 70 || 23 || 19.8 || .353 || .329 || .768 || 3.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .1 || 4.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 36 || 2 || 10.5 || .393 || .000 || .914 || 2.1 || .6 || .3 || .1 || 3.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 70 || 70 || 39.2 || .409 || .290 || .878 || 3.7 || 4.5 || .9 || .4 || 21.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 38 || 0 || 13.5 || .492 || || .638 || 4.3 || .1 || .2 || .6 || 4.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 16 || 8 || 14.4 || .472 || || .680 || 4.6 || .1 || .1 || .8 || 4.2|}

Award winners

References

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2003.html 2002-03 Washington Wizards
  2. News: PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons' Stackhouse Traded to Wizards . The New York Times . September 12, 2002 . January 13, 2022.
  3. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Stackhouse Goes to Wizards . Los Angeles Times . September 12, 2002 . November 30, 2022.
  4. News: Wyche . Steve . Wizards Get Stackhouse from Detroit . The Washington Post . September 12, 2002 . July 15, 2022.
  5. News: Wizards Sign Guard Larry Hughes . Associated Press . July 18, 2002 . January 13, 2022.
  6. News: Wyche . Steve . Wizards Expected to Sign Russell . The Washington Post . September 10, 2002 . January 13, 2022.
  7. News: Wyche . Steve . Oakley Signs with Wizards . The Washington Post . October 13, 2002 . June 12, 2022.
  8. News: Smith . Sam . Eastern Conference Capsules . Chicago Tribune . October 30, 2002 . July 16, 2022.
  9. News: Wyche . Steve . Wizards Add Ewing as Coach . The Washington Post . September 18, 2002 . July 16, 2022.
  10. News: Litsky . Frank . PRO BASKETBALL; Only Smiles, No Scowls, as Ewing Says Goodbye . The New York Times . September 18, 2002 . July 16, 2022.
  11. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003 . Basketball-Reference . September 13, 2022.
  12. Web site: 2002–03 Washington Wizards Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
  13. Web site: 2002–03 Washington Wizards Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
  14. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Bows Out for a Third Time . The New York Times . April 17, 2003 . January 13, 2022.
  15. News: Wyche . Steve . The Air Finally Runs Out . The Washington Post . April 17, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
  16. News: Jordan Starts 'Final Retirement' . Los Angeles Times . April 17, 2003 . July 15, 2022.
  17. News: Smith . Sam . MJ Really Means it This Time . Chicago Tribune . April 17, 2003 . July 16, 2022.
  18. Web site: 2002–03 Washington Wizards Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
  19. News: Associated Press . Garnett Is the M.V.P. in Jordan's Final All-Star Game . The New York Times . February 9, 2003 . January 13, 2022.
  20. News: Wyche . Steve . Passing the Torch . The Washington Post . February 10, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
  21. News: 2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT) . Basketball-Reference . January 13, 2022.
  22. News: Wyche . Steve . Collins Fired as Wizards Coach . The Washington Post . May 31, 2003 . July 15, 2022.
  23. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10511-2005Apr22.html?nav=rss_sports/leaguesandsports/nba/19992000/washingtonwizards M. Jordan's Legacy Is a Vastly Different Tale of Two Cities
  24. News: Jordan becomes oldest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in a game. May 18, 2021. United Press International. February 21, 2003.
  25. Web site: Michael Jordan 2002-03 Game Log. May 18, 2021. Basketball-Reference.com.
  26. Web site: May 8, 2018. The 25 oldest NBA players with the highest scoring averages (>20 ppg). Interbasket. May 18, 2021.
  27. Web site: 2002–03 Washington Wizards Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
  28. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-09-10/news/0909100001_1_wizards-player-endings-washington-wizards-president His playing career ends -- with frustration, betrayal and flashes of brilliance

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