NBA professional basketball team season
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 .
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2002–03 Houston Rockets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F/C
13
Cato, Kelvin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
Iowa State
C
52
Collier, Jason
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
Georgia Tech
G
3
Francis , Steve
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Maryland
F/C
33
Griffin, Eddie
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Seton Hall
G
1
Hawkins, Juaquin
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Long Beach State
G
6
Maddox, Tito
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Fresno State
G/F
5
Mobley, Cuttino
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Rhode Island
F
44
Morris, Terence
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
221 lb (100 kg)
Maryland
F
9
Nachbar, Boštjan
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
221 lb (100 kg)
Slovenia
G
12
Norris, Moochie
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
West Florida
G/F
55
Posey, James
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Xavier
F
41
Rice, Glen
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Michigan
F/C
2
Taylor, Maurice
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
Michigan
C
11
Yao Ming
7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
310 lb (141 kg)
China
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Bold = All-Star selection
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
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
—
0–3
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
Boston
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
Chicago
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
Cleveland
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
Dallas
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
Denver
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
Detroit
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
Golden State
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
Indiana
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
L.A. Clippers
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
Memphis
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
Miami
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
Milwaukee
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
Minnesota
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
New Jersey
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
New Orleans
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
New York
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
Orlando
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
Philadelphia
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
Phoenix
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
Portland
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
Sacramento
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
San Antonio
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
Seattle
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
Toronto
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
Utah
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
Date
Opponent
Result
Rockets score
Opponents
Record
Streak
OT
1
October 30
@ Indiana
Loss
82
91
0-1
Lost 1
2
November 1
@ Denver
Win
83
74
1-1
Won 1
3
November 2
Toronto
Win
88
76
2-1
Won 2
4
November 5
Seattle
Loss
97
104
2-2
Lost 1
5
November 9
Golden State
Win
111
104
3-2
Won 1
6
November 12
Portland
Win
86
83
4-2
Won 2
7
November 15
@ Phoenix
Loss
87
88
4-3
Lost 1
8
November 17
@ LA Lakers
Win
93
89
5-3
Won 1
9
November 19
Cleveland
Win
97
80
6-3
Won 2
10
November 21
@ Dallas
Loss
90
103
6-4
Lost 1
11
November 22
Washington
Win
93
86
7-4
Won 1
12
November 24
@ LA Clippers
Loss
89
90
7-5
Lost 1
13
November 26
@ Portland
Loss
71
77
7-6
Lost 2
14
November 27
@ Golden State
Win
91
84
8-6
Won 1
15
November 29
@ Seattle
Win
83
72
9-6
Won 2
16
December 1
@ Sacramento
Loss
84
103
9-7
Lost 1
17
December 3
San Antonio
Win
89
75
10-7
Won 1
18
December 6
@ New Orleans
Loss
96
98
10-8
Lost 1
OT
19
December 7
Philadelphia
Win
97
72
11-8
Won 1
20
December 10
Sacramento
Win
103
96
12-8
Won 2
21
December 13
@ Memphis
Loss
109
114
12-9
Lost 1
OT
22
December 14
LA Clippers
Loss
83
94
12-10
Lost 2
23
December 16
@ Miami
Win
105
100
13-10
Won 1
OT
24
December 18
Indiana
Win
95
83
14-10
Won 2
25
December 20
Atlanta
Win
101
82
15-10
Won 3
26
December 21
@ Minnesota
Loss
86
98
15-11
Lost 1
27
December 23
Utah
Loss
91
96
15-12
Lost 2
28
December 27
New York
Loss
83
99
15-13
Lost 3
29
December 29
New Orleans
Win
97
85
16-13
Won 1
30
December 31
Milwaukee
Win
103
80
17-13
Won 2
31
January 4
Golden State
Loss
84
86
17-14
Lost 1
32
January 7
Minnesota
Win
94
86
18-14
Won 1
33
January 8
@ Orlando
Win
91
81
19-14
Won 2
34
January 10
@ Atlanta
Loss
75
84
19-15
Lost 1
35
January 11
Denver
Win
87
85
20-15
Won 1
36
January 13
Boston
Win
101
92
21-15
Won 2
37
January 15
Phoenix
Win
102
96
22-15
Won 3
38
January 17
LA Lakers
Win
108
104
23-15
Won 4
OT
39
January 20
@ San Antonio
Loss
82
87
23-16
Lost 1
40
January 21
@ Dallas
Loss
86
107
23-17
Lost 2
41
January 24
Detroit
Loss
74
98
23-18
Lost 3
42
January 26
@ Chicago
Loss
98
100
23-19
Lost 4
43
January 27
@ Memphis
Win
100
95
24-19
Won 1
44
January 29
Dallas
Loss
81
104
24-20
Lost 1
45
January 31
Minnesota
Win
121
101
25-20
Won 1
46
February 2
Sacramento
Win
105
89
26-20
Won 2
47
February 4
@ Minnesota
Loss
89
103
26-21
Lost 1
48
February 5
@ Cleveland
Loss
102
105
26-22
Lost 2
49
February 11
Utah
Loss
101
103
26-23
Lost 3
OT
50
February 12
@ Utah
Win
106
76
27-23
Won 1
51
February 14
Miami
Loss
82
94
27-24
Lost 1
52
February 18
@ LA Lakers
Loss
99
106
27-25
Lost 2
2OT
53
February 19
@ Phoenix
Win
107
89
28-25
Won 1
54
February 21
Dallas
Loss
85
100
28-26
Lost 1
55
February 22
Memphis
Win
93
82
29-26
Won 1
56
February 24
@ Boston
Win
101
95
30-26
Won 2
OT
57
February 25
@ New York
Loss
95
102
30-27
Lost 1
58
February 27
@ Washington
Loss
98
100
30-28
Lost 2
OT
59
March 2
San Antonio
Loss
88
97
30-29
Lost 3
60
March 4
@ Detroit
Loss
83
96
30-30
Lost 4
61
March 5
@ Toronto
Win
97
95
31-30
Won 1
62
March 8
New Jersey
Win
83
71
32-30
Won 2
63
March 12
LA Clippers
Win
118
114
33-30
Won 3
OT
64
March 14
Chicago
Win
121
91
34-30
Won 4
65
March 16
Phoenix
Win
85
75
35-30
Won 5
66
March 18
@ Seattle
Loss
94
100
35-31
Lost 1
67
March 19
@ Portland
Loss
83
94
35-32
Lost 2
68
March 21
@ Golden State
Win
117
107
36-32
Won 1
69
March 23
@ Sacramento
Loss
108
109
36-33
Lost 1
70
March 24
@ LA Clippers
Win
108
90
37-33
Won 1
71
March 26
LA Lakers
Loss
93
96
37-34
Lost 1
72
March 27
@ San Antonio
Loss
85
98
37-35
Lost 2
73
March 29
Denver
Win
102
89
38-35
Won 1
74
March 31
@ New Jersey
Loss
86
110
38-36
Lost 1
75
April 2
@ Milwaukee
Loss
99
106
38-37
Lost 2
76
April 4
@ Philadelphia
Win
88
79
39-37
Won 1
77
April 6
Orlando
Win
114
93
40-37
Won 2
78
April 8
Portland
Loss
66
81
40-38
Lost 1
79
April 9
@ Utah
Loss
73
94
40-39
Lost 2
80
April 12
Seattle
Win
101
86
41-39
Won 1
81
April 15
Memphis
Win
97
86
42-39
Won 2
82
April 16
@ Denver
Win
89
84
43-39
Won 3
Player
Signed
Former team
^ 2002-03 Houston Rockets
^ Broussard, Chris (May 20, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Win Lottery with a Francis Assist" . The New York Times . Retrieved August 24, 2017 .
^ Passan, Jeff (June 27, 2002). "Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 15, 2022 .
^ Povtak, Tim (June 27, 2002). "Foreign Players Make Move" . Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
^ "Rockets Make Yao Ming First Overall Pick" . ESPN . June 26, 2002. Retrieved January 14, 2022 .
^ "2002 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "Posey Involved in Three-Team Trade" . United Press International . December 18, 2002. Retrieved October 27, 2022 .
^ "Nuggets, Rockets, 76ers Agree to 3-Way Trade" . Arizona Daily Sun . December 18, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved September 13, 2022 .
^ "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 13, 2022 .
^ Brown, Tim (January 18, 2003). "Rockets Take Center Stage" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 12, 2022 .
^ "Houston 108, L.A. Lakers 104 (OT)" . United Press International . January 18, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
^ Nichols, Rachel (January 19, 2003). "Francis on Centers' Stage" . The Washington Post . Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
^ "2002–03 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022 .
^ "PLUS: N.B.A.; Stoudemire Named Rookie of the Year" . The New York Times . Associated Press. April 25, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2022 .
^ "Stoudemire Is Rookie of Year" . Deseret News . April 25, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022 .
^ "2002–03 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved June 12, 2022 .
^ "2002–03 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022 .
^ "Rockets' Tomjanovich Resigns" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 24, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
^ "Grateful Tomjanovich Says He's Cancer-Free" . Los Angeles Times . October 14, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
^ "Sprewell Is Part of 4-Team Trade" . Los Angeles Times . Times Wire Services. July 24, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
^ "Posey Signs Offer Sheet" . United Press International . July 23, 2003. Retrieved July 14, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS BRIEFING: PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Trade Rice to Jazz for Amaechi" . The New York Times . Associated Press. October 1, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022 .
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