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2002–03 Denver Nuggets season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Denver Nuggets

| end_year = 2003

| wins = 17

| losses = 65

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 7

| conf_place = 14

| coach = Jeff Bzdelik

| gm = Kiki VanDeWeghe

| owner = Stan Kroenke

| arena = Pepsi Center

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| bbr_team = DEN

| television =

| radio = KKFN

}}

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Nuggets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and 36th season as a franchise.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2003.html 2002-03 Denver Nuggets] The Nuggets had the fifth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and selected Nikoloz Tskitishvili from the Republic of Georgia.{{cite news | last = Passan | first = Jeff | title = Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft | work = The Washington Post | date = June 27, 2002 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/06/27/rockets-select-yao-no-1-overall-in-draft/514fd892-fe37-4595-aed2-c42c53b509fb/ | access-date = July 15, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Povtak | first = Tim | title = Foreign Players Make Move | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = June 27, 2002 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2002-06-27-0206270244-story.html | access-date = November 27, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Rockets Make Yao Ming First Overall Pick | work = ESPN | date = June 26, 2002 | url = https://www.espn.com/nbadraft/story?id=1399417 | access-date = January 14, 2022}}{{cite news | title = 2002 NBA Draft | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2002.html | access-date = December 1, 2022}} Prior to the start of the season, the Nuggets acquired Marcus Camby and top draft pick Nenê Hilario from the New York Knicks,{{cite news | last = | first = | title = WESTERN CONFERENCE: Team-by-Team Preview | work = The New York Times | date = October 28, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/28/sports/basketball/teambyteam-preview-2002102890660337665.html | access-date = July 16, 2022}} 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,{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Nuggets, Rockets, 76ers Agree to 3-Way Trade | work = Arizona Daily Sun | date = December 18, 2002 | url = https://azdailysun.com/nuggets-rockets-76ers-agree-to-3-way-trade/article_df6c9f6c-533b-5bbb-b916-24583a16af95.html | access-date = June 22, 2022}} 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.

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.{{cite web|title=2002–03 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2003_games.html|access-date=January 14, 2022}} 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.{{cite web|title=2002–03 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/.html|access-date=January 14, 2022}} 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

{{main|2002 NBA draft}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="7%"| Round

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="7%"| Pick

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="20%"| Player

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="20%"| School/Club Team

style="text-align: center"

| 1

5Nikoloz TskitishviliF/C{{GEO}}
style="text-align: center"

| 1

25Frank WilliamsPG{{USA}}Illinois
style="text-align: center"

| 2

33Vincent YarbroughSF{{USA}}Tennessee

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Denver Nuggets|season=2002–03

| bg1 = #002147 | color1 = #C39953

| bg2 = #A50021 | color2 = #FFFFFF

}}

{{player2 | num = 15 | first = Chris | last = Andersen | pos = C/F | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 230 | college = Blinn }}

{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Ryan | last = Bowen | pos = F/G | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | college = Iowa | inj = yes }}

{{player2 | num = 23 | first = Marcus | last = Camby | pos = C/F | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 220 | college = Massachusetts }}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Adam | last = Harrington | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 200 | college = Auburn }}

{{player2 | num = 6 | first = Junior | last = Harrington | link = Lorinza Harrington | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 180 | college = Wingate }}

{{player2 | num = 1 | first = Donnell | last = Harvey | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 220 | college = Florida }}

{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Juwan | last = Howard | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 240 | college = Michigan }}

{{player2 | num = 31 | name = Nenê | pos = C/F | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 260 | from = Brazil }}

{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Predrag | last = Savović | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 225 | college = Hawaii | inj = yes }}

{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Jeff | last = Trepagnier | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 200 | college = USC }}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Nikoloz | last = Tskitishvili | pos = F | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 225 | from = Georgia (country){{!}}Republic of Georgia }}

{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Rodney | last = White | pos = F/G | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 238 | college = Charlotte }}

{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Shammond | last = Williams | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 201 | college = North Carolina }}

{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Vincent | last = Yarbrough | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 210 | college = Tennessee }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

  • Jarinn Akana ({{college|Hawaii}})
  • Bill Branch ({{college|Lenoir-Rhyne}}) (assistant coach/scout)
  • T. R. Dunn ({{college|Alabama}})
  • John MacLeod ({{college|Bellarmine}})
  • Mark Randall ({{college|Kansas}}) (player development)

| str_cond =

| ath_train =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2003.html

| transaction_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2003_transactions.html

}}

=Roster Notes=

  • 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

=Season standings=

{{2002–03 NBA Midwest standings|team=DEN}}

{{2002–03 NBA West standings|team=DEN}}

:z - clinched division title

:y - clinched division title

:x - clinched playoff spot

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
colspan=30|2002-03 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#000000;color:#5787DC;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#0055BA;color:#898D8F;width=35"|DAL

!style="background:#141A44;color:#BC2224;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#006BB7;color:#ED164B;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#072E63;color:#DC5A34;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#002366;color:#FF0000;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#F9160D;color:#1A2E8B;width=35"|LAC

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#000000;color:#0CB2AC;width=35"|MEM

!style="background:#000000;color:#8B0000;width=35"|MIA

!style="background:#00471B;color:#5C378A;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#044D80;color:#000000;width=35"|MIN

!style="background:#12305B;color:#C4CED4;width=35"|NJN

!style="background:#0093B1;color:#FDB827;width=35"|NOH

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#000000;width=35"|ORL

!style="background:#000000;color:#BB9754;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#6846A8;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|SAC

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#7436BF;color:#BE0F34;width=35"|TOR

!style="background:#644A9C;color:#149BC7;width=35"|UTA

!style="background:#044D7D;color:#BC7A44;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | 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
style="text-align:left;" | Boston3–0–2–24–00–21–12–21–10–22–22–01–12–02–21–22–01–33–14–03–22–20–21–10–20–22–01–21–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago2–22–2–3–10–21–10–41–11–12–20–21–11–11–22–20–22–21–32–11–31–31–11–10–20–20–22–21–11–3
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland0–40–41–3–0–21–10–41–11–10–42–01–10–21–20–40–22–21–31–20–40–40–20–20–20–21–13–11–10–4
style="text-align:left;" | Dallas2–02–02–02–0–4–02–04–04–01–14–01–34–02–00–22–22–02–02–01–12–02–22–21–32–22–22–02–22–0
style="text-align:left;" | Denver0–21–11–11–10–4–0–20–40–41–11–30–42–22–01–10–40–20–20–20–20–21–32–20–41–31–31–10–41–1
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit3–12–24–04–00–22–0–1–12–02–21–11–12–03–11–31–12–12–22–22–12–21–10–21–10–21–13–12–03–1
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State2–01–11–11–10–44–01–1–1–31–12–22–22–21–10–21–31–11–12–01–12–02–20–40–41–32–22–02–22–0
style="text-align:left;" | Houston1–12–01–11–10–44–00–23–1–1–12–22–23–11–11–12–21–11–10–22–02–03–11–32–21–32–22–01–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana2–22–22–24–01–11–12–21–11–1–2–00–21–14–03–12–01–23–13–12–12–21–10–20–20–22–03–11–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | L.A. Clippers0–20–22–00–20–43–11–12–22–20–2–0–42–22–01–11–31–11–11–11–10–21–31–31–31–31–31–11–30–2
style="text-align:left;" | L.A. Lakers1–11–11–11–13–14–01–12–22–22–04–0–4–01–12–02–20–21–11–11–11–13–12–22–20–42–22–03–11–1
style="text-align:left;" | Memphis1–10–21–12–00–42–20–22–21–31–12–20–4–2–02–00–41–11–11–12–00–21–31–30–41–31–31–11–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Miami3–12–22–12–10–20–21–31–11–10–40–21–10–2–1–31–10–40–42–20–40–42–00–21–10–20–24–00–21–3
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee2–22–12–24–02–01–13–12–01–11–31–10–20–23–1–0–22–22–23–12–22–20–22–00–20–21–12–20–22–1
style="text-align:left;" | Minnesota2–00–22–02–02–24–01–13–12–20–23–12–24–01–12–0–0–21–12–01–11–13–13–12–22–22–21–11–32–0
style="text-align:left;" | New Jersey3–13–12–22–20–22–01–21–11–12–11–12–01–14–02–22–0–2–23–12–21–31–12–00–21–11–14–00–23–1
style="text-align:left;" | New Orleans2–21–33–13–10–22–02–21–11–11–31–11–11–14–02–21–12–2–3–11–32–12–00–21–10–22–04–02–02–1
style="text-align:left;" | New York3–10–41–22–10–22–02–20–22–01–31–11–11–12–21–30–21–31–3–2–22–22–00–21–12–01–13–11–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | Orlando1–22–33–14–01–12–01–21–10–21–21–11–10–24–02–21–12–23–12–2–2–20–20–21–10–22–02–21–12–2
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia1–32–23–14–00–22–02–20–20–22–22–01–12–04–02–21–13–11–22–22–2–0–22–00–21–11–13–01–14–0
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix2–02–01–12–02–23–11–12–21–31–13–11–33–10–22–01–31–10–20–22–02–0–3–12–23–11–31–11–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Portland2–01–11–12–02–22–22–04–03–12–03–12–23–12–00–21–30–22–02–02–00–21–3–1–32–24–02–01–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Sacramento1–12–02–02–03–14–01–14–02–22–03–12–24–01–12–02–22–01–11–11–12–02–23–1–1–33–11–13–12–0
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio1–12–02–02–02–23–12–03–13–12–03–14–03–12–02–02–21–12–00–22–01–11–32–23–1–3–12–04–01–1
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle1–10–22–01–12–23–11–12–22–20–23–12–23–12–01–12–21–10–21–10–21–13–10–41–31–3–2–02–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Toronto3–12–12–21–30–21–11–30–20–21–31–10–21–10–42–21–10–40–41–32–20–31–10–21–10–20–2–0–23–1
style="text-align:left;" | Utah1–11–11–11–12–24–00–22–23–11–13–11–33–12–02–03–12–00–21–11–11–13–13–11–30–42–22–0–1–1
style="text-align:left;" | Washington2–23–13–14–00–21–11–30–21–12–22–01–11–13–11–20–21–31–22–22–20–41–11–10–21–11–11–31–1—

=Game log=

{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

Player statistics

{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

=Regular season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#002147;color:#C39953;" width="6%" | 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:{{cite web|title=2002–03 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/.html|access-date=January 14, 2022}}

Awards and records

Transactions

{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

References

{{reflist}}

See also

{{2002-03 NBA season by team}}

{{Denver Nuggets}}

{{Denver Nuggets seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002-03 Denver Nuggets Season}}

Category:Denver Nuggets seasons

Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets

Denver Nug