2002–03 Denver Nuggets season

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Nuggets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 36th season as a franchise.[1] The Nuggets had the fifth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and selected Nikoloz Tskitishvili from the Republic of Georgia.[2][3][4][5] Prior to the start of the season, the Nuggets acquired Marcus Camby and top draft pick Nenê Hilario from the New York Knicks,[6] acquired second-year guard Rodney White from the Detroit Pistons, signed free agents Mark Blount and undrafted rookie Junior Harrington, and acquired Chris Whitney from the Washington Wizards. After a 2–9 start to the season with new head coach Jeff Bzdelik, the Nuggets won three straight games, but then lost 15 of their next 16 games, which included a ten-game losing streak, as Camby only played just 29 games due to ankle and hip injuries. In December, James Posey was traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-team trade,[7] while Blount was traded back to his former team, the Boston Celtics in exchange for Shammond Williams in February. Also, that same month, Whitney was released and signed with the Orlando Magic for the rest of the season.

2002–03 Denver Nuggets season
Head coachJeff Bzdelik
General managerKiki VanDeWeghe
Owner(s)Stan Kroenke
ArenaPepsi Center
Results
Record17–65 (.207)
PlaceDivision: 7th (Midwest)
Conference: 14th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioKKFN
< 2001–02 2003–04 >

However, the team struggled posting a 14-game losing streak between February and March. They lost their final eight games finishing last place in the Midwest Division and in the league with 17 wins and 65 losses, the franchise's worst record since 1997–98.[8] They also missed the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons. Juwan Howard led the team with 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while Nenê averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[9] Following the season, Howard signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic, and Williams, Harrington and Donnell Harvey were all released to free agency.

Draft picks edit

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 5 Nikoloz Tskitishvili F/C   Georgia
1 25 Frank Williams PG   United States Illinois
2 33 Vincent Yarbrough SF   United States Tennessee

Roster edit

2002–03 Denver Nuggets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
F/C 15 Andersen, Chris 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Blinn
G/F 32 Bowen, Ryan   6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Iowa
F/C 23 Camby, Marcus 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UMass
G 21 Harrington, Adam 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Auburn
G 6 Harrington, Junior 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Wingate
F 1 Harvey, Donnell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Florida
F/C 5 Howard, Juwan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Michigan
F/C 31 Nenê 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Brazil
G 4 Savović, Predrag   6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Hawaiʻi
G 20 Trepagnier, Jeff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) USC
F 22 Tskitishvili, Nikoloz 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Republic of Georgia
G/F 7 White, Rodney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 238 lb (108 kg) Charlotte
G 11 Williams, Shammond 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 201 lb (91 kg) North Carolina
G 3 Yarbrough, Vincent 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Tennessee
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Roster Notes edit

  • Point guard Shammond Williams holds American and Georgian dual citizenship. He played for the Georgian national team although he was born in the United States.

Regular season edit

Season standings edit

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 60 22 .732 33–8 27–14 17–7
x-Dallas Mavericks 60 22 .732 33–8 27–14 18–6
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 51 31 .622 9 33–8 18–23 15–9
x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 13 29–12 18–23 15–9
Houston Rockets 43 39 .524 17 28–13 15–26 11–13
Memphis Grizzlies 28 54 .341 32 20–21 8–33 5–17
Denver Nuggets 17 65 .207 43 13–28 4–37 3–21
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs 60 22 .732
2 y-Sacramento Kings 59 23 .720 1
3 x-Dallas Mavericks 60 22 .732
4 x-Minnesota Timberwolves 51 31 .622 9
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers 50 32 .610 10
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 50 32 .610 10
7 x-Utah Jazz 47 35 .573 13
8 x-Phoenix Suns 44 38 .537 16
9 Houston Rockets 43 39 .524 17
10 Seattle SuperSonics 40 42 .488 20
11 Golden State Warriors 38 44 .463 22
12 Memphis Grizzlies 28 54 .341 32
13 Los Angeles Clippers 27 55 .329 33
14 Denver Nuggets 17 65 .207 43
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

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 log edit

Player statistics edit

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 edit

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Juwan Howard 77 77 35.5 .450 .500 .803 7.6 3.0 1.0 0.4 18.4
James Posey 25 24 34.9 .373 .273 .843 5.8 3.1 1.2 0.2 14.1
Nenê 80 53 28.2 .519 .000 .578 6.1 1.9 1.6 0.8 10.5
Chris Whitney 29 20 26.3 .360 .336 .807 1.6 4.3 0.6 0.0 9.6
Shammond Williams 27 9 26.4 .390 .363 .667 2.3 5.1 0.6 0.1 9.4
Rodney White 72 19 21.7 .408 .239 .784 3.0 1.7 0.6 0.4 9.0
Donnell Harvey 77 27 20.9 .446 .143 .670 5.3 1.3 0.6 0.4 7.9
Marcus Camby 29 9 21.2 .410 .400 .660 7.2 1.6 0.7 1.4 7.6
Vincent Yarbrough 59 39 23.4 .393 .269 .790 2.7 2.2 1.0 0.6 6.9
Devin Brown 3 2 23.7 .280 .000 .667 3.7 1.7 1.3 0.3 6.0
Kenny Satterfield 22 6 19.1 .309 .179 .696 1.6 2.4 0.8 0.1 5.6
Jeff Trepagnier 8 0 12.1 .425 .500 1.000 2.0 0.8 1.0 0.0 5.6
Mark Blount 54 24 16.4 .393 .717 3.4 0.6 0.4 0.9 5.2
Chris Andersen 59 3 15.4 .400 .000 .550 4.6 0.5 0.5 1.0 5.2
Junior Harrington 82 51 24.4 .362 .250 .652 3.0 3.4 1.0 0.2 5.1
Nikoloz Tskitishvili 81 16 16.3 .293 .243 .738 2.2 1.1 0.4 0.4 3.9
Ryan Bowen 62 31 16.1 .492 .286 .659 2.5 0.9 1.0 0.5 3.6
John Crotty 12 0 15.0 .341 .308 .600 1.3 2.4 0.3 0.0 3.4
Adam Harrington 6 0 12.3 .350 .364 .500 1.0 1.7 0.2 0.0 3.2
Predrag Savović 27 0 9.5 .312 .154 .724 0.9 0.8 0.5 0.0 3.1
Mark Bryant 3 0 4.7 .000 .500 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.3

Player Statistics Citation:[9]

Awards and records edit

Transactions edit

References edit

  1. ^ 2002-03 Denver Nuggets
  2. ^ Passan, Jeff (June 27, 2002). "Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Povtak, Tim (June 27, 2002). "Foreign Players Make Move". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rockets Make Yao Ming First Overall Pick". ESPN. June 26, 2002. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "2002 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "WESTERN CONFERENCE: Team-by-Team Preview". The New York Times. October 28, 2002. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nuggets, Rockets, 76ers Agree to 3-Way Trade". Arizona Daily Sun. December 18, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "2002–03 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "2002–03 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

See also edit