2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Lakers' 55th season in the National Basketball Association, and 43rd in the city of Los Angeles.[1] The Lakers entered the season as the three-time defending champions, having defeated the New Jersey Nets in four straight games in the 2002 NBA Finals, winning their fourteenth NBA championship. With All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal sidelined after an off-season foot-surgery, the Lakers started 3–9.[2] After he returned, the team only improved slowly, having an 11–19 record thirty games into the season,[3] their worst start in ten years. However, the Lakers won 11 of their final 13 games ending the season with a 50–32 record, finishing fifth in the Western Conference.[4]

2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers season
Head coachPhil Jackson
General managerMitch Kupchak
Owner(s)Jerry Buss
ArenaStaples Center
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Spurs 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioAM 570 KLAC

The season saw co-captain Kobe Bryant play all 82 games for the first time in his career, as he averaged 30.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game, while O'Neal averaged 27.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. In addition, Derek Fisher provided the team with 10.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, and Rick Fox contributed 9.0 points per game.[5] Kobe and Shaq were both named to the All-NBA First Team, and were both selected to play in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta.[6] Kobe was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and finished in third place in MVP voting with 8 first-place votes, while Shaq was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and finished in fifth place in MVP voting with 3 first-place votes.[7]

Facing an uphill battle without home-court advantage, the Lakers managed to beat the 4th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs,[8] but fell to the top-seeded and eventual champion San Antonio Spurs in six games in the Western Conference Semi-finals.[9] Following the season, Robert Horry signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs, while Mark Madsen signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Samaki Walker signed with the Miami Heat, and Brian Shaw retired.

The season was overshadowed by the death of long-time Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn, who died after a fall in the summer of 2002.[10] To pay tribute, the Lakers donned an alternate white uniform, which can be only worn on Christmas and Sunday home games.[11] The uniforms made its debut in a home loss against the Sacramento Kings on Christmas Day. They were designed by late owner Jerry Buss' daughter, who is now the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jeanie.

Draft picks
Main article: 2002 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
127Chris JefferiesSF United StatesFresno State

Roster
2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 8 Bryant, Kobe (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1978–08–23 Lower Merion HS
G 2 Fisher, Derek 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1974–08–09 Little Rock
F 17 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
F 3 George, Devean 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1977–08–29 Augsburg
F 5 Horry, Robert 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
F 35 Madsen, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976–01–28 Stanford
F 14 Medvedenko, Slava 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 1979–04–04 Ukraine
F 30 Murray, Tracy  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–07–25 UCLA
C 34 O'Neal, Shaquille (C) 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU
G 12 Pargo, Jannero 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1979–10–22 Arkansas
G 21 Rush, Kareem 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1980–10–30 Missouri
G 20 Shaw, Brian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–03–22 UC Santa Barbara
F/C 52 Walker, Samaki 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1976–02–25 Louisville
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: December 6, 2002

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Sacramento Kings 5923.720–35–624–1717–7
x-Los Angeles Lakers 5032.610931–1019–2215–9
x-Portland Trail Blazers 5032.610927–1423–1815–9
x-Phoenix Suns 4438.5371530–1114–2712–12
Seattle SuperSonics 4042.4881925–1615–2611–13
Golden State Warriors 3844.4632124–1714–278–16
Los Angeles Clippers 2755.3293216–2511–306–18
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs6022.732–
2 y-Sacramento Kings5923.7201
3 x-Dallas Mavericks6022.732–
4 x-Minnesota Timberwolves5131.6229
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers5032.61010
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers5032.61010
7 x-Utah Jazz4735.57313
8 x-Phoenix Suns4438.53716
9 Houston Rockets4339.52417
10 Seattle SuperSonics4042.48820
11 Golden State Warriors3844.46322
12 Memphis Grizzlies2854.34132
13 Los Angeles Clippers2755.32933
14 Denver Nuggets1765.20743
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
2002-03 NBA Records
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 –0–32–24–00–22–01–30–21–12–22–01–11–11–32–20–21–32–21–32–13–10–20–21–11–11–11–31–12–2
Boston 3–0–2–24–00–21–12–21–10–22–22–01–12–02–21–22–01–33–14–03–22–20–21–10–20–22–01–21–11–3
Chicago 2–22–2–3–10–21–10–41–11–12–20–21–11–11–22–20–22–21–32–11–31–31–11–10–20–20–22–21–11–3
Cleveland 0–40–41–3–0–21–10–41–11–10–42–01–10–21–20–40–22–21–31–20–40–40–20–20–20–21–13–11–10–4
Dallas 2–02–02–02–0–4–02–04–04–01–14–01–34–02–00–22–22–02–02–01–12–02–22–21–32–22–22–02–22–0
Denver 0–21–11–11–10–4–0–20–40–41–11–30–42–22–01–10–40–20–20–20–20–21–32–20–41–31–31–10–41–1
Detroit 3–12–24–04–00–22–0–1–12–02–21–11–12–03–11–31–12–12–22–22–12–21–10–21–10–21–13–12–03–1
Golden State 2–01–11–11–10–44–01–1–1–31–12–22–22–21–10–21–31–11–12–01–12–02–20–40–41–32–22–02–22–0
Houston 1–12–01–11–10–44–00–23–1–1–12–22–23–11–11–12–21–11–10–22–02–03–11–32–21–32–22–01–31–1
Indiana 2–22–22–24–01–11–12–21–11–1–2–00–21–14–03–12–01–23–13–12–12–21–10–20–20–22–03–11–12–2
L.A. Clippers 0–20–22–00–20–43–11–12–22–20–2–0–42–22–01–11–31–11–11–11–10–21–31–31–31–31–31–11–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–13–14–01–12–22–22–04–0–4–01–12–02–20–21–11–11–11–13–12–22–20–42–22–03–11–1
Memphis 1–10–21–12–00–42–20–22–21–31–12–20–4–2–02–00–41–11–11–12–00–21–31–30–41–31–31–11–31–1
Miami 3–12–22–12–10–20–21–31–11–10–40–21–10–2–1–31–10–40–42–20–40–42–00–21–10–20–24–00–21–3
Milwaukee 2–22–12–24–02–01–13–12–01–11–31–10–20–23–1–0–22–22–23–12–22–20–22–00–20–21–12–20–22–1
Minnesota 2–00–22–02–02–24–01–13–12–20–23–12–24–01–12–0–0–21–12–01–11–13–13–12–22–22–21–11–32–0
New Jersey 3–13–12–22–20–22–01–21–11–12–11–12–01–14–02–22–0–2–23–12–21–31–12–00–21–11–14–00–23–1
New Orleans 2–21–33–13–10–22–02–21–11–11–31–11–11–14–02–21–12–2–3–11–32–12–00–21–10–22–04–02–02–1
New York 3–10–41–22–10–22–02–20–22–01–31–11–11–12–21–30–21–31–3–2–22–22–00–21–12–01–13–11–12–2
Orlando 1–22–33–14–01–12–01–21–10–21–21–11–10–24–02–21–12–23–12–2–2–20–20–21–10–22–02–21–12–2
Philadelphia 1–32–23–14–00–22–02–20–20–22–22–01–12–04–02–21–13–11–22–22–2–0–22–00–21–11–13–01–14–0
Phoenix 2–02–01–12–02–23–11–12–21–31–13–11–33–10–22–01–31–10–20–22–02–0–3–12–23–11–31–11–31–1
Portland 2–01–11–12–02–22–22–04–03–12–03–12–23–12–00–21–30–22–02–02–00–21–3–1–32–24–02–01–31–1
Sacramento 1–12–02–02–03–14–01–14–02–22–03–12–24–01–12–02–22–01–11–11–12–02–23–1–1–33–11–13–12–0
San Antonio 1–12–02–02–02–23–12–03–13–12–03–14–03–12–02–02–21–12–00–22–01–11–32–23–1–3–12–04–01–1
Seattle 1–10–22–01–12–23–11–12–22–20–23–12–23–12–01–12–21–10–21–10–21–13–10–41–31–3–2–02–21–1
Toronto 3–12–12–21–30–21–11–30–20–21–31–10–21–10–42–21–10–40–41–32–20–31–10–21–10–20–2–0–23–1
Utah 1–11–11–11–12–24–00–22–23–11–13–11–33–12–02–03–12–00–21–11–11–13–13–11–30–42–22–0–1–1
Washington 2–23–13–14–00–21–11–30–21–12–22–01–11–13–11–20–21–31–22–22–20–41–11–10–21–11–11–31–1—

Playoffs
2003 playoff game log
First round: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 20 @ Minnesota W 117–98 Kobe Bryant (39) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Bryant, Horry (8) Target Center
17,097		 1–0
2 April 22 @ Minnesota L 91–119 Bryant, O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (8) Target Center
17,132		 1–1
3 April 24 Minnesota L 110–114 (OT) Kobe Bryant (30) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Kobe Bryant (6) Staples Center
18,997		 1–2
4 April 27 Minnesota W 102–97 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Shaquille O'Neal (23) Shaquille O'Neal (6) Staples Center
18,997		 2–2
5 April 29 @ Minnesota W 120–90 Kobe Bryant (32) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Devean George (6) Target Center
20,098		 3–2
6 May 1 Minnesota W 101–85 Kobe Bryant (31) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Shaquille O'Neal (9) Staples Center
18,997		 4–2
Conference Semi-finals: 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5 @ San Antonio L 82–87 Kobe Bryant (37) Shaquille O'Neal (21) Shaquille O'Neal (3) SBC Center
18,797		 0–1
2 May 7 @ San Antonio L 95–114 Bryant, O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Jannero Pargo (3) SBC Center
18,797		 0–2
3 May 9 San Antonio W 110–95 Kobe Bryant (39) Shaquille O'Neal (16) Shaquille O'Neal (8) Staples Center
18,997		 1–2
4 May 11 San Antonio W 99–95 Kobe Bryant (35) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Shaquille O'Neal (5) Staples Center
18,997		 2–2
5 May 13 @ San Antonio L 94–96 Kobe Bryant (36) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Kobe Bryant (6) SBC Center
18,797		 2–3
6 May 15 San Antonio L 82–110 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Kobe Bryant (6) Staples Center
18,997		 2–4
2003 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kobe Bryant 828241.5.451.383.8436.95.92.2.830.0
Derek Fisher 828234.5.437.401.8002.93.61.1.210.5
Rick Fox 767528.7.422.375.7544.33.3.9.29.0
Devean George 71722.7.390.371.7904.01.3.8.56.9
Robert Horry 802629.3.387.288.7696.42.91.2.86.5
Mark Madsen 542214.5.423..5902.9.7.3.43.2
Stanislav Medvedenko 581010.7.434.000.7212.4.3.2.14.4
Tracy Murray 3106.2.324.211.778.7.4.2.12.0
Shaquille O'Neal 676637.8.574..62211.13.1.62.427.5
Jannero Pargo 34010.1.398.2921.0001.11.1.4.12.5
Kareem Rush 76011.5.393.279.6961.2.9.1.13.0
Soumaila Samake 1315.9.417.1.0001.8.3.0.41.7
Brian Shaw 72012.5.387.349.6671.71.4.4.23.5
Samaki Walker 673918.6.420.000.6535.51.0.3.84.4

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kobe Bryant 121244.3.432.403.8275.15.21.2.132.1
Derek Fisher 121235.3.520.617.8183.01.81.5.112.8
Rick Fox 4419.8.444.500.7501.51.8.3.36.0
Devean George 11728.9.449.333.8894.52.21.0.48.0
Robert Horry 121031.1.319.053.5566.73.11.31.05.6
Mark Madsen 12214.1.419.000.4382.31.0.3.22.8
Stanislav Medvedenko 908.1.556..6672.0.1.1.13.8
Shaquille O'Neal 121240.1.535..62114.83.7.62.827.0
Jannero Pargo 11011.7.333.267.750.81.3.7.12.1
Kareem Rush 907.1.379.3641.000.3.2.1.03.3
Brian Shaw 12117.9.306.391.6673.22.0.3.43.2
Samaki Walker 905.4.400..1.4.2.1.2.4

Awards and records

References
  1. 2002-03 Los Angeles Lakers
  2. "Something Is Wrong". The New York Times. December 19, 2002.
  3. "Jrue Holiday powers Sixers past Lakers". USA Today. Associated Press. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013.
  4. "2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  5. "2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  6. "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  7. "2002–03 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking Like Champs, Lakers Advance". New York Times. May 2, 2003. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  9. "PRO BASKETBALL; Spurs End Lakers' Dream Run". New York Times. May 16, 2003. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. "Lakers Announcer Chick Hearn Dead at 85". New York Times. August 5, 2002. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. "Los Angeles Lakers Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
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