2002–03 Detroit Pistons season

2002–03 Detroit Pistons season
Division champions
Head coachRick Carlisle
PresidentJoe Dumars
General managerJoe Dumars
OwnerBill 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
Local media
Television
RadioWDFN

The 2002–03 Detroit Pistons season was the 62nd season for the Detroit Pistons as a franchise, their 55th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 46th season in Detroit, Michigan.[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 addition of Hamilton and Billups, the Pistons got off to a fast start by winning 12 of their first 16 games of the regular season. The team posted two six-game winning streaks in December, and between January and February, and held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break.[7] However, the Pistons suffered a 7-game losing streak between February and March, and lost six of their final nine games of the season, but managed to finish in first place in the Central Division with a 50–32 record, and earned the first seed in the Eastern Conference.[8] The team's record tied the 1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record by a number one-seeded team in NBA history; the Pistons were also the only team in the Eastern Conference with 50 or more wins this season, while the Western Conference had six teams with 50 or more wins during the regular season.

Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game, while Billups averaged 16.2 points and 3.9 assists per game, and led the team with 149 three-point field goals, and Clifford Robinson provided the team with 12.2 points per game. In addition, and off the bench, sixth man Corliss Williamson provided with 12.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while Chucky Atkins contributed 7.1 points and 2.7 assists per game, and starting center Ben Wallace averaged 6.9 points, 15.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 3.2 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, and was also named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.[9][10] Meanwhile, three-point specialist Jon Barry contributed 6.9 points per game, Turkish rookie center Mehmet Okur averaged 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and starting small forward Michael Curry provided with 3.0 points per game.[11]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Wallace was selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.[12][13][14] Wallace also finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[15] while Billups finished in sixth place in Most Improved Player voting,[15] Williamson finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, with Barry finishing in ninth place,[15] and head coach Rick Carlisle finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting.[15]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2003 NBA playoffs, the Pistons faced off against the 8th–seeded Orlando Magic, a team that featured All-Star guard Tracy McGrady, rookie power forward Drew Gooden, and Darrell Armstrong. Despite having home-court advantage in the series, the Pistons struggled and faced elimination as the Magic took a 3–1 series lead, after the Pistons lost Game 4 on the road, 100–92 at the TD Waterhouse Centre.[16][17] However, the Pistons managed to win the next three games, which included a Game 7 home win over the Magic at The Palace of Auburn Hills, 108–93 to win in a hard-fought seven-game series.[18][19][20]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 4th–seeded Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by All-Star guard Allen Iverson, Keith Van Horn and Eric Snow. The Pistons took a 2–0 series lead over the 76ers, but then lost the next two games on the road, which included a Game 4 loss to the 76ers at the First Union Center, 95–82. The Pistons managed to win the next two games, including a Game 6 win over the 76ers at the First Union Center in overtime, 93–89 to win the series in six games, and advance to the Conference Finals for the first time since the 1990–91 season.[21][22][23]

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons then faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion New Jersey Nets, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, and second-year star Richard Jefferson. The Pistons lost the first two games to the Nets at The Palace of Auburn Hills, before losing the next two games on the road, including a Game 4 loss to the Nets at the Continental Airlines Arena, 102–82, thus losing the series in a four-game sweep.[24][25][26] The Nets would advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year, but would lose to the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the 2003 NBA Finals.[27][28][29]

The Pistons led the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 839,278 at The Palace of Auburn Hills during the regular season.[11][30] Following the season, Carlisle was fired after two seasons with the Pistons, and would take a coaching job with the Indiana Pacers.[31][32][33] Also following the season, Robinson was traded to the Golden State Warriors,[34][35] while Barry signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets,[36] and Curry was traded to the Toronto Raptors.

Draft picks

Main article: 2002 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 23 Tayshaun Prince SF  United States Kentucky

Roster

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

Roster
Updated: February 5, 2003

Regular season

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
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Playoffs

2003 playoff game log
First Round: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Atkins 65 7 21.5 .361 .355 .816 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 7.1
Jon Barry 80 0 18.4 .450 .407 .860 2.3 2.6 0.8 0.2 6.9
Chauncey Billups 74 74 31.4 .421 .392 .878 3.7 3.9 0.9 0.2 16.2
Michael Curry 78 77 19.9 .402 .296 .800 1.6 1.3 0.6 0.1 3.0
Hubert Davis 43 1 7.6 .392 .333 .833 0.8 0.7 0.1 0.0 1.8
Richard Hamilton 82 82 32.2 .443 .269 .833 3.9 2.5 0.8 0.2 19.7
Danny Manning 13 0 6.8 .406 .375 .833 1.4 0.5 0.7 0.2 2.6
Mehmet Okur 72 9 19.0 .426 .339 .773 4.7 1.0 0.3 0.5 6.9
Tayshaun Prince 42 5 10.4 .449 .426 .647 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.3 3.3
Željko Rebrača 30 12 16.3 .552 ---- .792 3.1 0.3 0.2 0.6 6.6
Don Reid 1 0 10.0 .000 --- .500 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Clifford Robinson 81 69 34.9 .398 .336 .676 3.9 3.3 1.1 1.1 12.2
Pepe Sánchez 9 0 4.1 .000 --- ---- 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.0 0.0
Ben Wallace 73 73 39.4 .481 .167 .450 15.4 1.6 1.4 3.2 6.9
Corliss Williamson 82 1 25.1 .453 .182 .790 4.4 1.3 0.5 0.3 12.0

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Atkins 17 3 18.4 .352 .367 .808 1.2 1.5 1.0 .0 6.1
Jon Barry 14 0 12.3 .426 .455 1.000 1.7 1.4 .6 .1 5.0
Chauncey Billups 14 14 34.6 .374 .310 .933 3.4 4.7 .6 .1 18.0
Michael Curry 15 14 18.3 .364 .333 .857 1.1 1.1 .5 .1 2.7
Richard Hamilton 17 17 38.8 .442 .333 .906 3.9 2.6 .8 .1 22.5
Danny Manning 4 0 3.5 .333 .000 .8 .0 .0 .3 .5
Mehmet Okur 17 0 19.0 .438 .538 .531 4.1 .8 .7 .7 5.5
Tayshaun Prince 15 3 25.5 .426 .292 .763 3.8 1.5 .5 .9 9.4
Željko Rebrača 4 0 7.3 .353 .714 1.3 .0 .0 .0 4.3
Clifford Robinson 17 17 30.9 .358 .373 .595 2.7 2.9 .9 .8 9.3
Ben Wallace 17 17 42.5 .486 .000 .446 16.3 1.6 2.5 3.1 8.9
Corliss Williamson 15 0 15.5 .411 .741 2.2 1.0 .3 .2 7.8

Player statistics citation:[11]

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:[37]

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. ^ "Wallace Chosen Best Defender". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 24, 2003. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  10. ^ "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "2002–03 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  12. ^ Sheridan, Chris (February 9, 2003). "Something Old, Something New on Court at All-Star Game". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  13. ^ "2003 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  14. ^ "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  15. ^ a b c d "2002–03 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  16. ^ Nobles, Charlie (April 28, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Magic Nearing Upset of Pistons". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  17. ^ "Magic Takes 3-1 Lead in Series". The Washington Post. April 28, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Pistons Get Past the Magic". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 5, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  20. ^ "2003 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Magic vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  21. ^ Popper, Steve (May 17, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; Billups Hits Sixers Late and Pistons March On". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  22. ^ Maaddi, Rob (May 17, 2003). "Billups Back, Pistons Go Forward". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  23. ^ "2003 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: 76ers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  24. ^ "Nets Sweep Pistons and Return to Finals". The New York Times. May 25, 2003. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  25. ^ Nichols, Rachel (May 25, 2003). "Nets Are Worth a Return Trip". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "2003 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Nets vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  27. ^ "Spurs Defeat Nets to Win N.B.A. Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  28. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 16, 2003). "Spurs Reduce the 'Risk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  29. ^ "2003 NBA Finals: Nets vs. Spurs". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  30. ^ "2002–03 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  31. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Oust Carlisle and Want to Talk to Brown". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 1, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  32. ^ "Brown Expected to Replace Carlisle". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 1, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  33. ^ Robbins, Liz (August 28, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; With Bird in Charge, Pacers Fire Thomas". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  34. ^ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Liberty Rallies to Beat Mystics". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 22, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  35. ^ "Warriors Acquire F-C Robinson from Pistons for G Sura". ESPN. August 21, 2003. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  36. ^ "Nuggets Sign Voshon Lenard". Associated Press. September 12, 2003. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  37. ^ "2002–03 Detroit Pistons Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.

See also

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