2002–03 New Jersey Nets season
The 2002–03 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Nets entered the season as runners-up in the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in four games. During the off-season, the Nets acquired All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo from the Philadelphia 76ers, and signed free agent Rodney Rogers. However, Mutombo only played just 24 games due to a wrist injury. The Nets got off a solid start with a 26–9 record, while posting a ten-game winning streak between December and January, and holding a 34–15 record at the All-Star break. However, the team played below .500 for the remainder of the season, but finished in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, while posting a successful 33–8 home record.
| 2002–03 New Jersey Nets season | |
|---|---|
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Byron Scott |
| Arena | Continental Airlines Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 49–33 (.598) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 2nd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Spurs 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | YES Network, WLNY |
| Radio | WFAN |
Jason Kidd averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and was selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, In addition, Kenyon Martin averaged 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while second-year forward Richard Jefferson showed improvement averaging 15.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and Kerry Kittles provided with 13.0 points and 1.6 steals per game. Sixth man Lucious Harris contributed 10.3 points per game, while Rogers provided with 7.0 points per game off the bench, and Mutombo averaged 5.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Kidd also finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, then swept the 6th-seeded Boston Celtics in four straight games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, and then defeated the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in another four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals. For the second consecutive year, they made it to the NBA Finals. However, they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in a six-game series. Following the season, Mutombo was released to free agency, and signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks.