2002–03 Philadelphia 76ers season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 76ers 54th season in the National Basketball Association, and 40th season in Philadelphia. During the off-season, the Sixers acquired Keith Van Horn and former 76ers center Todd MacCulloch from the New Jersey Nets; Van Horn was originally drafted by the Sixers as the second pick in the 1997 NBA draft. The Sixers got off to a fast start winning 15 of their first 19 games, but would then lose 14 of their next 18 games, holding a 25–24 record at the All-Star break. In December, the team acquired Kenny Thomas from the Houston Rockets in a three-team trade. The Sixers improved on their last season posting a nine-game winning streak at midseason, finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 48–34 record, with the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
| 2002–03 Philadelphia 76ers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Larry Brown |
| General manager | Billy King |
| Owners | Comcast Spectacor |
| Arena | First Union Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 48–34 (.585) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 4th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Conference semifinals (lost to Pistons 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television |
|
| Radio | WIP |
For the first time in his career, Allen Iverson played a full 82-game season, averaging 27.6 points, 5.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game (he would have another in 2007–08 while with the Denver Nuggets). He was named to the All-NBA Second Team, was selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, and also finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting. In addition, Van Horn averaged 15.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while Eric Snow provided the team with 12.9 points, 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, Derrick Coleman provided with 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and Aaron McKie contributed 9.0 points and 1.6 steals per game.
The Sixers defeated the New Orleans Hornets led by Baron Davis in six games in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, but they could not go further in the next round, as they lost to the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. Following the season, Van Horn was traded to the New York Knicks.
This season was head coach Larry Brown's last in Philadelphia as he resigned on Memorial Day, 2003. Brown would later go on to coach the Detroit Pistons, where he helped the team win the 2004 NBA Championship. He led the team to another Finals appearance in 2005. The Sixers wouldn't advance past the First Round again until 2012 when they defeated the Bulls in 6 games.