2002–03 Detroit Pistons season

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Pistons' 62nd season as a franchise, the 55th in the National Basketball Association, and the 46th in the Detroit area.[1] During the off-season, the Pistons acquired Richard Hamilton from the Washington Wizards,[2][3][4] and signed free agent Chauncey Billups.[5][6] With the acquisitions of Hamilton and Billups, the Pistons got off to a solid start winning 12 of their first 16 games, and held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break.[7] However, the team suffered a 7-game losing streak between February and March, but managed to finish first place in the Eastern Conference with a 50–32 record, which tied the 1977 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record by a number one-seeded team in the history of the league.[8] The Pistons were the only team in the Eastern Conference with 50 or more wins this season.

2002–03 Detroit Pistons season
Division champions
Head coachRick Carlisle
General managerJoe Dumars
PresidentJoe Dumars
Owner(s)Bill Davidson
ArenaThe Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to Nets 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWDFN

Ben Wallace averaged 6.9 points, 15.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, and was voted to play in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his career.[9] He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the second year in a row,[10][11] and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team, and also finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting.[12] In addition, Hamilton led the team in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game, while Billups provided them with 16.2 points and 3.9 assists per game, Clifford Robinson contributed 12.2 points per game, and sixth man Corliss Williamson provided with 12.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game off the bench.[13]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons faced elimination trailing 3–1 to the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic,[14][15] but managed to win the next three games, thus the series.[16][17][18] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Pistons defeated Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in six games, and were a serious title contender, reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1991.[19][20][21] Instead, they had their season ended with a sweep to the 2nd-seeded New Jersey Nets in four straight Eastern Conference Final games.[22][23][24] The Nets would reach the Finals for the second consecutive year, but would lose in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.[25][26][27]

Following the season, Pistons head coach Rick Carlisle was fired after just two seasons with the team and was replaced by Larry Brown, who had resigned from the 76ers' head coaching position on Memorial Day.[28][29] Carlisle would go on to coach the Indiana Pacers as he replaced Isiah Thomas, who was fired after failing to reach the second round for three consecutive seasons in the playoffs.[30] Also following the season, Robinson was traded to the Golden State Warriors,[31][32] while three-point specialist Jon Barry signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets,[33] and Michael Curry was dealt to the Toronto Raptors.

Draft picks
Main article: 2002 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
123Tayshaun PrinceSF United StatesKentucky

Roster
2002–03 Detroit Pistons roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 7 Atkins, Chucky 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1974–08–14 South Florida
G 20 Barry, Jon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1969–07–25 Georgia Tech
G 1 Billups, Chauncey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1976–09–25 Colorado
G/F 12 Curry, Michael 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1968–08–22 Georgia Southern
G 44 Davis, Hubert 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1970–05–17 North Carolina
G 32 Hamilton, Richard 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1978–02–14 Connecticut
F 5 Manning, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–05–17 Kansas
F/C 13 Okur, Mehmet 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 290 lb (132 kg) 1979–05–26 Turkey
F 22 Prince, Tayshaun 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980–02–28 Kentucky
C 39 Rebrača, Željko 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1972–04–09 Serbia
F 52 Reid, Don 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1973–12–30 Georgetown
F 30 Robinson, Clifford 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–12–16 Connecticut
G 6 Sánchez, Pepe 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1977–05–08 Temple
F/C 3 Wallace, Ben (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1974–09–10 Virginia Union
F 34 Williamson, Corliss 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–12–04 Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 5, 2003

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 5032.610–30–1120–2119–9
x-Indiana Pacers 4834.585232–916–2519–9
x-New Orleans Hornets 4735.573329–1218–2317–11
x-Milwaukee Bucks 4240.512825–1617–2416–12
Atlanta Hawks 3547.4271526–159–3214–14
Chicago Bulls 3052.3662027–143–3812–16
Toronto Raptors 2458.2932615–269–3210–18
Cleveland Cavaliers 1765.2073314–273–385–23
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Detroit Pistons5032.610–
2 y-New Jersey Nets4933.5981
3 x-Indiana Pacers4834.5852
4 x-Philadelphia 76ers4834.5852
5 x-New Orleans Hornets4735.5733
6 x-Boston Celtics4438.5376
7 x-Milwaukee Bucks4240.5128
8 x-Orlando Magic4240.5128
9 New York Knicks3745.45113
10 Washington Wizards3745.45113
11 Atlanta Hawks3547.42715
12 Chicago Bulls3052.36620
13 Miami Heat2557.30525
14 Toronto Raptors2458.29326
15 Cleveland Cavaliers1765.20733
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—

Game log

Playoffs
2003 playoff game log
First Round: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 20 Orlando L 94–99 Richard Hamilton (28) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,261		 0–1
2 April 23 Orlando W 89–77 Richard Hamilton (30) Ben Wallace (16) Richard Hamilton (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–1
3 April 25 @ Orlando L 80–89 Richard Hamilton (22) Ben Wallace (22) Chauncey Billups (5) TD Waterhouse Centre
17,283		 1–2
4 April 27 @ Orlando L 92–100 Chauncey Billups (25) Ben Wallace (24) Barry, Billups (3) TD Waterhouse Centre
17,283		 1–3
5 April 30 Orlando W 98–67 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (21) Billups, Robinson (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–3
6 May 2 @ Orlando W 103–88 Chauncey Billups (40) Ben Wallace (17) Chauncey Billups (4) TD Waterhouse Centre
16,909		 3–3
7 May 4 Orlando W 108–93 Chauncey Billups (37) Ben Wallace (12) Michael Curry (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 4–3
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 6 Philadelphia W 98–87 Richard Hamilton (25) Ben Wallace (12) Billups, Robinson (4) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–0
2 May 8 Philadelphia W 104–97 (OT) Atkins, Hamilton (23) Ben Wallace (15) Richard Hamilton (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 2–0
3 May 10 @ Philadelphia L 83–93 Richard Hamilton (24) Mehmet Okur (10) Billups, Robinson (4) First Union Center
20,743		 2–1
4 May 11 @ Philadelphia L 82–95 Richard Hamilton (30) Ben Wallace (15) three players tied (3) First Union Center
20,549		 2–2
5 May 14 Philadelphia W 78–77 Richard Hamilton (20) Ben Wallace (17) Atkins, Hamilton (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 3–2
6 May 16 @ Philadelphia W 93–89 (OT) Chauncey Billups (28) Ben Wallace (18) Chauncey Billups (5) First Union Center
20,888		 4–2
Conference finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 18 New Jersey L 74–76 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (22) Chauncey Billups (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 0–1
2 May 20 New Jersey L 86–88 Richard Hamilton (24) Ben Wallace (19) Chauncey Billups (10) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 0–2
3 May 22 @ New Jersey L 85–97 Richard Hamilton (21) Ben Wallace (15) five players tied (3) Continental Airlines Arena
19,923		 0–3
4 May 24 @ New Jersey L 82–102 Clifford Robinson (21) Ben Wallace (13) Chauncey Billups (6) Continental Airlines Arena
19,923		 0–4
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

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Atkins 65721.5.361.355.8161.52.70.40.17.1
Jon Barry 80018.4.450.407.8602.32.60.80.26.9
Chauncey Billups 747431.4.421.392.8783.73.90.90.216.2
Michael Curry 787719.9.402.296.8001.61.30.60.13.0
Hubert Davis 4317.6.392.333.8330.80.70.10.01.8
Richard Hamilton 828232.2.443.269.8333.92.50.80.219.7
Danny Manning 1306.8.406.375.8331.40.50.70.22.6
Mehmet Okur 72919.0.426.339.7734.71.00.30.56.9
Tayshaun Prince 42510.4.449.426.6471.10.60.20.33.3
Željko Rebrača 301216.3.552----.7923.10.30.20.66.6
Don Reid 1010.0.000---.5000.00.00.00.01.0
Clifford Robinson 816934.9.398.336.6763.93.31.11.112.2
Pepe Sánchez 904.1.000-------0.70.90.60.00.0
Ben Wallace 737339.4.481.167.45015.41.61.43.26.9
Corliss Williamson 82125.1.453.182.7904.41.30.50.312.0

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Atkins
Jon Barry
Chauncey Billups
Michael Curry
Richard Hamilton
Danny Manning
Mehmet Okur
Tayshaun Prince
Željko Rebrača
Clifford Robinson
Ben Wallace
Corliss Williamson

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades
September 11, 2002 To Washington Wizards
Brian Cardinal
Jerry Stackhouse
Ratko Varda
 To Detroit Pistons
Hubert Davis
Richard Hamilton
Bobby Simmons
October 1, 2002 To Denver Nuggets
Rodney White
 To Detroit Pistons
Mengke Bateer
Don Reid
2004 first-round pick
October 3, 2002 To San Antonio Spurs
Mengke Bateer
 To Detroit Pistons
2003 second-round pick

Free agents
Additions
Player Date signed Former team
Chauncey Billups July 17 Minnesota Timberwolves
Pepe Sánchez October 10 Panathinaikos
Danny Manning February 5 Dallas Mavericks
Subtractions
Player Date signed New Team
Mikki Moore August 5 Boston Celtics
Bobby Simmons September 24 Washington Wizards

Player Transactions Citation:[34]

References
  1. 2002-03 Detroit Pistons
  2. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons' Stackhouse Traded to Wizards". The New York Times. September 12, 2002. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. "Stackhouse Goes to Wizards". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 12, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  4. Wyche, Steve (September 12, 2002). "Wizards Get Stackhouse from Detroit". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  5. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Sign Billups, But Not to Start". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 18, 2002. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  6. Smith, Sam (October 30, 2002). "Eastern Conference Capsules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  7. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  8. "2002–03 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  9. "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. "Wallace Chosen Best Defender". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 24, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  11. "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  12. "2002–03 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. "2002–03 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  14. Nobles, Charlie (April 28, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Magic Nearing Upset of Pistons". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  15. "Magic Takes 3-1 Lead in Series". The Washington Post. April 28, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  16. Lapointe, Joe (May 5, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Thank the N.B.A. for Those Two Extra Games". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  17. "Pistons Get Past the Magic". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 5, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  18. Schmitz, Brian (May 5, 2003). "Magic Fall Flat". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  19. Popper, Steve (May 17, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Billups Hits Sixers Late and Pistons March On". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  20. Maaddi, Rob (May 17, 2003). "Billups Back, Pistons Go Forward". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  21. "Detroit Sends 76ers Packing". Tampa Bay Times. May 17, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  22. "Nets Sweep Pistons and Return to Finals". The New York Times. May 25, 2003. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  23. "Nets Punch Return Ticket to the Finals". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 25, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  24. Nichols, Rachel (May 25, 2003). "Nets Are Worth a Return Trip". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  25. "Spurs Defeat Nets to Win N.B.A. Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  26. Heisler, Mark (June 16, 2003). "Spurs Reduce the 'Risk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  27. "San Antonio 88, New Jersey 77". United Press International. June 15, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  28. "PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Oust Carlisle and Want to Talk to Brown". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 1, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  29. "Brown Expected to Replace Carlisle". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 1, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  30. Robbins, Liz (August 28, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; With Bird in Charge, Pacers Fire Thomas". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  31. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Liberty Rallies to Beat Mystics". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 22, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  32. "Warriors Acquire F-C Robinson from Pistons for G Sura". ESPN. August 21, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  33. "Nuggets Sign Voshon Lenard". Associated Press. September 12, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  34. "2002–03 Detroit Pistons Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.

See also
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