2002–03 Chicago Bulls season

2002–03 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachBill Cartwright
General managerJerry Krause
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
ArenaUnited Center
Results
Record30–52 (.366)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Central)
Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net Chicago, WGN, WCIU
RadioWMVP

The 2002–03 Chicago Bulls season was the 37th season for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bulls received the second overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and selected point guard Jay Williams out of Duke University.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Donyell Marshall, and former Bulls forward Corie Blount.[5]

With the addition of Williams and Marshall, the Bulls got off to a 4–6 start to the regular season, but then posted a 9-game losing streak between November and December. However, the team won six of their next eight games, and later on held a 17–32 record at the All-Star break.[6] The Bulls posted an 8-game losing streak between January and February, but won four of their final six games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Central Division with a 30–52 record, and missing the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. The team posted a 27–14 home record at the United Center, but struggled posting a franchise worst road record at 3–38 during the regular season.[7]

Jalen Rose averaged 22.1 points and 4.8 assists per game, and led the Bulls with 133 three-point field goals, while Marshall averaged 13.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and Marcus Fizer provided the team with 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. In addition, Jamal Crawford contributed 10.7 points and 4.2 assists per game, while second-year center Eddy Curry provided with 10.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, and Williams contributed 9.5 points and 4.7 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Meanwhile, second-year center Tyson Chandler averaged 9.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, Eddie Robinson contributed 5.7 points per game, second-round draft pick Lonny Baxter provided with 4.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, second-year guard Trenton Hassell contributed 4.2 points per game, and Blount averaged 3.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.[8]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Williams and Chandler were both selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as Williams was a member of the Rookies team, while Chandler was a member of the Sophomores team.[9][10] The Bulls finished fifth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 804,309 at the United Center during the regular season.[8][11]

Following the season, Williams suffered a career-ending motorcycle accident after only one season with the Bulls, while Hassell and Fred Hoiberg both signed as free agents with the Minnesota Timberwolves. (See 2002–03 Chicago Bulls season#Regular season)

NBA draft

Main article: 2002 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Club Team
1 2 Jay Williams PG  United States Duke
2 31 Roger Mason, Jr. SG  United States Virginia
2 44 Lonny Baxter PF  United States Maryland

Roster

2002–03 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
C 11 Dalibor Bagaric 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1980-02-07 Croatia
F/C 35 Lonny Baxter 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1979-01-27 Maryland
F/C 43 Corie Blount 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969-01-04 Cincinnati
G 9 Rick Brunson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1972-06-14 Temple
F/C 3 Tyson Chandler  7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1982-10-02 Dominguez HS (CA)
G 1 Jamal Crawford 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1980-03-20 Michigan
C 2 Eddy Curry 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1982-12-05 Thornwood HS (IL)
F 21 Marcus Fizer  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 262 lb (119 kg) 1978-08-10 Iowa State
G 44 Trenton Hassell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1979-03-04 Austin Peay
G 20 Fred Hoiberg 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1972-10-15 Iowa State
F 42 Donyell Marshall  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1973-05-18 Connecticut
G/F 31 Roger Mason 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1980-09-10 Virginia
F 32 Eddie Robinson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1976-04-19 Central Oklahoma
G/F 5 Jalen Rose 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973-01-30 Michigan
G 22 Jay Williams 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1981-09-10 Duke
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: September 18, 2002

Regular season

The Bulls entered the 2002-03 NBA season with an eager sense of anticipation on what the prior year’s moves would become.

Jalen Rose was expected to have a big year in his first full season with the club. The addition of Jay Williams, selected by the Bulls with the second overall pick in 2002 NBA draft, was expected to provide the team with an extra scoring punch. Plus, the team’s two young big men, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, each had a year of pro experience.

General Manager Jerry Krause had what many considered at the time to be a very successful offseason. Besides Williams, the Bulls also added Roger Mason, Jr. and Lonny Baxter via the draft. Veteran forward Donyell Marshall—signed with the team’s mid-level exception—brought size and versatility to the team, and the shape of a solid squad was beginning to form.

In the end, though, having Rose, Marshall and an abundance of talented youth did not equate to winning games. After starting the season 2–0 for the first time since the 1996–97 campaign, Chicago garnered a franchise-worst 3–38 road record. The Bulls held a 19–game road losing streak from 11/02/02–01/18/03 and the team’s 30–52 record qualified it for a fifth–consecutive NBA Draft Lottery appearance.

The franchise was ready to head in a new direction and the beginning of that movement started with the resignation of long–time executive Jerry Krause on April 7. Krause, then 64, played a major role in building Bulls World Championship teams and was a two–time NBA Executive of the Year.

“Jerry Krause is one of a kind,” Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf stated. “He brought with him a vision of how to build a champion and he proceeded to create one of the most dominant champions of all time. No basketball fan in America can begin to imagine the World Champion Chicago Bulls without his imprint.”

One week later, the Bulls named John Paxson EVP of Basketball Operations. Paxson had spent the previous seven seasons as a color analyst on both the Bulls Radio and TV networks, providing expert analysis to the broadcasts. He spent one season (1995–96) as Assistant Coach, helping the Bulls to a then NBA-record 72–10 record and the 1996 NBA Finals.

“I am really excited to accept this challenge and look forward to working with the basketball operations staff,” said Paxson. “The Bulls organization has meant a lot to me over the years, and getting the chance to help lead the team back to the upper echelon of the NBA is a true honor.”

Other Notes: Jay Williams authored his first career triple–double, recording season highs of 26 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in 45 minutes versus New Jersey (11/9) ... Marcus Fizer suffered a torn ACL at Portland on 01/31/03 and was forced to miss the final 36 games of the season ... Chicago appeared in a franchise-record nine overtime games (1–8).

Honors: Tyson Chandler (sophomore team) participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend ... Jay Williams was named the NBA’s “got milk?” Rookie of the Month for December ... Williams (freshman team) also participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend and was named to the got milk? NBA All–Rookie Second Team ... Eddy Curry led the league in field goal percentage with .585 shooting from the floor ... the Bulls drew an average of 19,617 fans through 41 home games (fifth in the NBA in attendance) and had 20 home crowds of 20,000+ (14–6 record), including 12 sellouts.

Season standings

Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 – 30–11 20–21 19–9
x-Indiana Pacers 48 34 .585 2 32–9 16–25 19–9
x-New Orleans Hornets 47 35 .573 3 29–12 18–23 17–11
x-Milwaukee Bucks 42 40 .512 8 25–16 17–24 16–12
e-Atlanta Hawks 35 47 .427 15 26–15 9–32 14–14
e-Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 20 27–14 3–38 12–16
e-Toronto Raptors 24 58 .293 26 15–26 9–32 10–18
e-Cleveland Cavaliers 17 65 .207 33 14–27 3–38 5–23
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 –
2 y-New Jersey Nets 49 33 .598 1
3 x-Indiana Pacers 48 34 .585 2
4 x-Philadelphia 76ers 48 34 .585 2
5 x-New Orleans Hornets 47 35 .573 3
6 x-Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 6
7 x-Milwaukee Bucks 42 40 .512 8
8 x-Orlando Magic 42 40 .512 8
9 e-New York Knicks 37 45 .451 13
10 e-Washington Wizards 37 45 .451 13
11 e-Atlanta Hawks 35 47 .427 15
12 e-Chicago Bulls 30 52 .366 20
13 e-Miami Heat 25 57 .305 25
14 e-Toronto Raptors 24 58 .293 26
15 e-Cleveland Cavaliers 17 65 .207 33

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
Dalibor Bagarić 10 0 7.6 .308 .750 2.0 .4 .3 .3 1.9
Lonny Baxter 55 0 12.4 .466 .000 .680 3.0 .3 .2 .4 4.8
Corie Blount 50 3 16.7 .485 .571 4.1 1.0 .7 .4 3.0
Rick Brunson 17 0 11.5 .460 .667 .833 1.1 2.1 .6 .2 3.5
Tyson Chandler 75 68 24.4 .531 .608 6.9 1.0 .5 1.4 9.2
Jamal Crawford 80 31 24.9 .413 .355 .806 2.3 4.2 1.0 .3 10.7
Eddy Curry 81 48 19.4 .585 .624 4.4 .5 .2 .8 10.5
Marcus Fizer 38 0 21.3 .465 .167 .657 5.7 1.3 .4 .4 11.7
Trenton Hassell 82 53 24.4 .367 .325 .745 3.1 1.8 .5 .7 4.2
Fred Hoiberg 63 0 12.4 .389 .238 .820 2.2 1.1 .6 .1 2.3
Donyell Marshall 78 53 30.5 .459 .379 .756 9.0 1.8 1.2 1.1 13.4
Roger Mason Jr. 17 0 6.6 .355 .333 1.000 .7 .7 .2 .0 1.8
Eddie Robinson 64 18 21.2 .492 .214 .810 3.1 1.0 1.0 .2 5.7
Jalen Rose 82 82 40.9 .406 .370 .854 4.3 4.8 .9 .3 22.1
Jay Williams 75 54 26.1 .399 .322 .640 2.6 4.7 1.1 .2 9.5

Player statistics citation:[8]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ "2002-03 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com".
  2. ^ Passan, Jeff (June 27, 2002). "Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Rockets Make Yao Ming First Overall Pick". ESPN. June 26, 2002. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "2002 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Smith, Sam (October 30, 2002). "Eastern Conference Capsules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  7. ^ "2002–03 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "2002–03 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "Basketball". The Madison Courier. February 8, 2003. p. A8. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  10. ^ "2003 NBA Rising Stars: Sophomores 132, Rookies 112". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  11. ^ "2002–03 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2026.

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.