2002–03 Houston Rockets season explained

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Rockets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association, and 32nd season in the city of Houston.^[1] This was their final season playing at the Compaq Center. The Rockets won the Draft Lottery,^[2] where they selected 7'6" Chinese sensation Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} In December, the Rockets acquired James Posey from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team trade, which sent Kenny Thomas to the Philadelphia 76ers.^{[7] [8]}

The Rockets got off to a 9–6 start, and played .500 basketball for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–22 record at the All-Star break.^[9] With Yao teamed up with captain Steve Francis, they gelled their first season together, being named as starters for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.^[10] On January 17, 2003, Francis gained national media attention, scoring a career-high 44 points in a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers.^{[11] [12] [13]} The Rockets finished the season fifth in the Midwest Division with a 43–39 record without clinching a playoff spot,^[14] finishing just one game behind the 8th-seeded Phoenix Suns, although they improved on last season, where they won just 28 games. Yao averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting,^{[15] [16] [17]} while Francis averaged 21.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Cuttino Mobley provided the team with 17.5 points per game. In addition, Glen Rice contributed 9.0 points per game, while second-year forward Eddie Griffin provided with 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Maurice Taylor averaged 8.4 points per game off the bench.^[18]

This season was also head coach Rudy Tomjanovich's last as he would step down following the season due to health issues,^{[19] [20]} though he would return in 2004 to coach the Lakers. Also following the season, Posey signed as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies,^{[21] [22]} while Griffin was released to free agency, and Rice was traded to the Utah Jazz,^[23] but was released and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Draft picks

See main article: 2002 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	1	Yao Ming	(C)
1	15		(SF)
2	37	Tito Maddox	(PG)		Fresno State So.

Roster

Note

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season

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
	—	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Rockets score	Opponents	Record	Streak	OT
1	October 30		Loss	82	91	0-1	Lost 1
2	November 1		Win	83	74	1-1	Won 1
3	November 2		Win	88	76	2-1	Won 2
4	November 5		Loss	97	104	2-2	Lost 1
5	November 9		Win	111	104	3-2	Won 1
6	November 12		Win	86	83	4-2	Won 2
7	November 15		Loss	87	88	4-3	Lost 1
8	November 17		Win	93	89	5-3	Won 1
9	November 19		Win	97	80	6-3	Won 2
10	November 21		Loss	90	103	6-4	Lost 1
11	November 22		Win	93	86	7-4	Won 1
12	November 24		Loss	89	90	7-5	Lost 1
13	November 26		Loss	71	77	7-6	Lost 2
14	November 27		Win	91	84	8-6	Won 1
15	November 29		Win	83	72	9-6	Won 2
16	December 1		Loss	84	103	9-7	Lost 1
17	December 3		Win	89	75	10-7	Won 1
18	December 6		Loss	96	98	10-8	Lost 1	OT
19	December 7		Win	97	72	11-8	Won 1
20	December 10		Win	103	96	12-8	Won 2
21	December 13		Loss	109	114	12-9	Lost 1	OT
22	December 14		Loss	83	94	12-10	Lost 2
23	December 16		Win	105	100	13-10	Won 1	OT
24	December 18		Win	95	83	14-10	Won 2
25	December 20		Win	101	82	15-10	Won 3
26	December 21		Loss	86	98	15-11	Lost 1
27	December 23		Loss	91	96	15-12	Lost 2
28	December 27		Loss	83	99	15-13	Lost 3
29	December 29		Win	97	85	16-13	Won 1
30	December 31		Win	103	80	17-13	Won 2
31	January 4		Loss	84	86	17-14	Lost 1
32	January 7		Win	94	86	18-14	Won 1
33	January 8		Win	91	81	19-14	Won 2
34	January 10		Loss	75	84	19-15	Lost 1
35	January 11		Win	87	85	20-15	Won 1
36	January 13		Win	101	92	21-15	Won 2
37	January 15		Win	102	96	22-15	Won 3
38	January 17		Win	108	104	23-15	Won 4	OT
39	January 20		Loss	82	87	23-16	Lost 1
40	January 21		Loss	86	107	23-17	Lost 2
41	January 24		Loss	74	98	23-18	Lost 3
42	January 26		Loss	98	100	23-19	Lost 4
43	January 27		Win	100	95	24-19	Won 1
44	January 29		Loss	81	104	24-20	Lost 1
45	January 31		Win	121	101	25-20	Won 1
46	February 2		Win	105	89	26-20	Won 2
47	February 4		Loss	89	103	26-21	Lost 1
48	February 5		Loss	102	105	26-22	Lost 2
49	February 11		Loss	101	103	26-23	Lost 3	OT
50	February 12		Win	106	76	27-23	Won 1
51	February 14		Loss	82	94	27-24	Lost 1
52	February 18		Loss	99	106	27-25	Lost 2	2OT
53	February 19		Win	107	89	28-25	Won 1
54	February 21		Loss	85	100	28-26	Lost 1
55	February 22		Win	93	82	29-26	Won 1
56	February 24		Win	101	95	30-26	Won 2	OT
57	February 25		Loss	95	102	30-27	Lost 1
58	February 27		Loss	98	100	30-28	Lost 2	OT
59	March 2		Loss	88	97	30-29	Lost 3
60	March 4		Loss	83	96	30-30	Lost 4
61	March 5		Win	97	95	31-30	Won 1
62	March 8		Win	83	71	32-30	Won 2
63	March 12		Win	118	114	33-30	Won 3	OT
64	March 14		Win	121	91	34-30	Won 4
65	March 16		Win	85	75	35-30	Won 5
66	March 18		Loss	94	100	35-31	Lost 1
67	March 19		Loss	83	94	35-32	Lost 2
68	March 21		Win	117	107	36-32	Won 1
69	March 23		Loss	108	109	36-33	Lost 1
70	March 24		Win	108	90	37-33	Won 1
71	March 26		Loss	93	96	37-34	Lost 1
72	March 27		Loss	85	98	37-35	Lost 2
73	March 29		Win	102	89	38-35	Won 1
74	March 31		Loss	86	110	38-36	Lost 1
75	April 2		Loss	99	106	38-37	Lost 2
76	April 4		Win	88	79	39-37	Won 1
77	April 6		Win	114	93	40-37	Won 2
78	April 8		Loss	66	81	40-38	Lost 1
79	April 9		Loss	73	94	40-39	Lost 2
80	April 12		Win	101	86	41-39	Won 1
81	April 15		Win	97	86	42-39	Won 2
82	April 16		Win	89	84	43-39	Won 3

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	73	5	17.1	.520	.000	.532	5.9	.3	.5	1.2	4.5
	13	3	8.0	.472		1.000	2.2	.1	.2	.1	2.8
	81	81	41.0	.435	.354	.800	6.2	6.2	1.7	.5	21.0
	77	66	24.5	.400	.333	.617	6.0	1.1	.7	1.4	8.6
	58	10	11.8	.385	.417	.500	1.3	.8	.5	.1	2.3
	9	0	3.9	.250	.000	.625	.8	.6	.3	.1	1.2
	82	72	29.0	.498	.500	.811	8.2	1.7	.4	1.8	13.5
	73	73	41.7	.434	.352	.858	4.2	2.8	1.3	.5	17.5
	49	0	12.9	.466	.219	.786	2.6	.5	.2	.3	3.7
	14	1	5.5	.355	.200	.500	.8	.2	.1	.1	2.1
	82	3	16.8	.406	.244	.684	1.9	2.4	.7	.0	4.4
^†	58	47	28.4	.439	.326	.826	4.8	1.8	1.3	.2	9.3
	62	26	24.7	.429	.398	.759	2.5	1.0	.4	.1	9.0
	67	9	20.6	.432	.000	.725	3.6	1.0	.3	.3	8.4
^†	20	14	29.3	.432		.733	6.9	2.0	.8	.3	9.9

Awards and records

Awards

• Yao Ming, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Records

Transactions

Free agents

Subtractions

See also

• 2002–03 NBA season

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2003.html 2002-03 Houston Rockets
2. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Win Lottery with a Francis Assist . The New York Times . May 20, 2002 . August 24, 2017.
3. News: Passan . Jeff . Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft . The Washington Post . June 27, 2002 . July 15, 2022.
4. News: Povtak . Tim . Foreign Players Make Move . Orlando Sentinel . June 27, 2002 . November 27, 2022.
5. News: Rockets Make Yao Ming First Overall Pick . ESPN . June 26, 2002 . January 14, 2022.
6. News: 2002 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
7. News: Posey Involved in Three-Team Trade . United Press International . December 18, 2002 . October 27, 2022.
8. News: Nuggets, Rockets, 76ers Agree to 3-Way Trade . Arizona Daily Sun . December 18, 2002 . June 22, 2022.
9. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003 . Basketball-Reference . September 13, 2022.
10. News: 2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT) . Basketball-Reference . January 13, 2022.
11. News: Brown . Tim . Rockets Take Center Stage . Los Angeles Times . January 18, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
12. News: Houston 108, L.A. Lakers 104 (OT) . United Press International . January 18, 2003 . November 27, 2022.
13. News: Nichols . Rachel . Francis on Centers' Stage . The Washington Post . January 19, 2003 . November 27, 2022.
14. Web site: 2002–03 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
15. News: Associated Press . PLUS: N.B.A.; Stoudemire Named Rookie of the Year . The New York Times . April 25, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
16. News: Stoudemire Is Rookie of Year . Deseret News . April 25, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
17. News: 2002–03 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . June 12, 2022.
18. Web site: 2002–03 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
19. News: Associated Press . Rockets' Tomjanovich Resigns . Los Angeles Times . May 24, 2003 . November 27, 2022.
20. News: Grateful Tomjanovich Says He's Cancer-Free . Los Angeles Times . October 14, 2003 . November 27, 2022.
21. News: Times Wire Services . Sprewell Is Part of 4-Team Trade . Los Angeles Times . July 24, 2003 . November 27, 2022.
22. News: Posey Signs Offer Sheet . United Press International . July 23, 2003 . July 14, 2022.
23. News: Associated Press . SPORTS BRIEFING: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Trade Rice to Jazz for Amaechi . The New York Times . October 1, 2003 . November 27, 2022.