2002–03 Houston Rockets season

2002–03 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
ArenaCompaq Center
Results
Record43–39 (.524)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 9th
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKNWS-TV
KHWB
Fox Sports Net Southwest
RadioKILT

The 2002–03 Houston Rockets season was the 36th season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 32nd season in Houston, Texas.[1] This was the team's final season playing at the Compaq Center. After finishing with a 28–54 record the previous season, the Rockets won the NBA draft lottery,[2] and selected 7'6" center, and Chinese basketball star Yao Ming with the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft.[3][4][5] In December, the Rockets traded Kenny Thomas to the Philadelphia 76ers, and acquired James Posey from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team trade.[6][7]

With the addition of Yao, the Rockets got off to a 9–6 start to the regular season, and played .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, holding a 26–22 record at the All-Star break.[8] The team posted a five-game winning streak in March, and won five of their final seven games of the season. The Rockets finished in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 43–39 record, which was a 15-game improvement over the previous season; however, the team missed the NBA playoffs by finishing just one game behind the 8th–seeded Phoenix Suns.[9]

Yao averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, 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 and 1.3 steals game, and also led them with 118 three-point field goals. In addition, Posey provided with 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 58 games after the trade, while Glen Rice contributed 9.0 points per game and 101 three-point field goals, and second-year forward Eddie Griffin provided with 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Maurice Taylor averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, Kelvin Cato provided with 5.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and Moochie Norris contributed 4.4 points and 2.4 assists per game.[10]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Francis and Yao were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Yao's first ever All-Star appearance.[11][12][13] Yao also finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Amar'e Stoudemire of the Suns,[14][15] while head coach Rudy Tomjanovich finished tied in 15th place in Coach of the Year voting.[15] One notable highlight of the regular season occurred on January 17, 2003, in a home game against the 3-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers at the Compaq Center. Francis posted a double-double of 44 points and 11 assists, and also made 6 out of 8 three-point field-goal attempts, as the Rockets defeated the Lakers in overtime, 108–104.[16][17][18]

The Rockets finished 27th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 565,166 at the Compaq Center during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league.[10][19] Following the season, Tomjanovich resigned as head coach due to health issues,[20][21] although he would return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. Also following the season, Posey signed as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies,[22][23] while Griffin was released to free agency, and Rice was traded to the Utah Jazz,[24] but was released and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Draft picks

Main article: 2002 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 1 Yao Ming C  China Shanghai Sharks (China)
1 15 Boštjan Nachbar (from Toronto) SF  Slovenia Benetton Treviso (Italy)
2 37 Tito Maddox PG  United States Fresno State So.

Roster

2002–03 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
F/C 13 Kelvin Cato 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Iowa State
C 52 Jason Collier 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Georgia Tech
G 3 Steve Francis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Maryland
F/C 33 Eddie Griffin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Seton Hall
G 1 Juaquin Hawkins 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Long Beach State
G 6 Tito Maddox 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fresno State
G/F 5 Cuttino Mobley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Rhode Island
F 44 Terence Morris 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Maryland
F 9 Boštjan Nachbar 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Slovenia
G 12 Moochie Norris 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) West Florida
G/F 55 James Posey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Xavier
F 41 Glen Rice 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
F/C 2 Maurice Taylor 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(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Note

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 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
e-Houston Rockets 43 39 .524 17 28–13 15–26 11–13
e-Memphis Grizzlies 28 54 .341 32 20–21 8–33 5–17
e-Denver Nuggets 17 65 .207 43 13–28 4–37 3–21
#
Western Conference
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 e-Houston Rockets 43 39 .524 17
10 e-Seattle SuperSonics 40 42 .488 20
11 e-Golden State Warriors 38 44 .463 22
12 e-Memphis Grizzlies 28 54 .341 32
13 e-Los Angeles Clippers 27 55 .329 33
14 e-Denver Nuggets 17 65 .207 43

Game log

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 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% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Kelvin Cato 73 5 17.1 .520 .000 .532 5.9 .3 .5 1.2 4.5
Jason Collier 13 3 8.0 .472 1.000 2.2 .1 .2 .1 2.8
Steve Francis 81 81 41.0 .435 .354 .800 6.2 6.2 1.7 .5 21.0
Eddie Griffin 77 66 24.5 .400 .333 .617 6.0 1.1 .7 1.4 8.6
Juaquin Hawkins 58 10 11.8 .385 .417 .500 1.3 .8 .5 .1 2.3
Tito Maddox 9 0 3.9 .250 .000 .625 .8 .6 .3 .1 1.2
Yao Ming 82 72 29.0 .498 .500 .811 8.2 1.7 .4 1.8 13.5
Cuttino Mobley 73 73 41.7 .434 .352 .858 4.2 2.8 1.3 .5 17.5
Terence Morris 49 0 12.9 .466 .219 .786 2.6 .5 .2 .3 3.7
Boštjan Nachbar 14 1 5.5 .355 .200 .500 .8 .2 .1 .1 2.1
Moochie Norris 82 3 16.8 .406 .244 .684 1.9 2.4 .7 .0 4.4
James Posey† 58 47 28.4 .439 .326 .826 4.8 1.8 1.3 .2 9.3
Glen Rice 62 26 24.7 .429 .398 .759 2.5 1.0 .4 .1 9.0
Maurice Taylor 67 9 20.6 .432 .000 .725 3.6 1.0 .3 .3 8.4
Kenny Thomas† 20 14 29.3 .432 .733 6.9 2.0 .8 .3 9.9

Player statistics citation:[10]

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

See also

References

  1. ^ 2002-03 Houston Rockets
  2. ^ Broussard, Chris (May 20, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Rockets Win Lottery with a Francis Assist". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  3. ^ Passan, Jeff (June 27, 2002). "Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 15, 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. ^ "Posey Involved in Three-Team Trade". United Press International. December 18, 2002. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nuggets, Rockets, 76ers Agree to 3-Way Trade". Arizona Daily Sun. December 18, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "2002–03 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "2002–03 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  11. ^ Sheridan, Chris (February 9, 2003). "Something Old, Something New on Court at All-Star Game". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  12. ^ "2003 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  13. ^ "2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  14. ^ "PLUS: N.B.A.; Stoudemire Named Rookie of the Year". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 25, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "2002–03 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  16. ^ Brown, Tim (January 18, 2003). "Rockets Take Center Stage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  17. ^ Nichols, Rachel (January 19, 2003). "Francis on Centers' Stage". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Box Score, January 17, 2003". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  19. ^ "2002–03 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  20. ^ "Rockets' Tomjanovich Resigns". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 24, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  21. ^ "Grateful Tomjanovich Says He's Cancer-Free". Los Angeles Times. October 14, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  22. ^ "Sprewell Is Part of 4-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. July 24, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  23. ^ "Posey Signs Offer Sheet". United Press International. July 23, 2003. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  24. ^ "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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