2003–04 NBA season
| 2003–04 NBA season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | October 28, 2003 – April 14, 2004 April 17 – June 1, 2004 (Playoffs) June 6 – 15, 2004 (Finals) |
| Number of teams | 29 |
| TV partner(s) | ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | LeBron James |
| Picked by | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Regular season | |
| Top seed | Indiana Pacers |
| Season MVP | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) |
| Top scorer | Tracy McGrady (Orlando) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Detroit Pistons |
| Eastern runners-up | Indiana Pacers |
| Western champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Western runners-up | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Finals | |
| Champions | Detroit Pistons |
| Runners-up | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Finals MVP | Chauncey Billups (Detroit) |
The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the 2004 NBA Finals.
Events
This was the final season for the original two-division format in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, before each of the conferences added a third division the following season. As a result, this would also be the final season for the NBA Midwest Division, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were that division's last champion, the only division title the franchise has won in their twenty-nine seasons in the NBA.
The All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The West won 136-132; Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was named Most Valuable Player.
For the first time in 21 years the Portland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs, ending the second longest streak in NBA history. For the first time in 20 years the Utah Jazz did not make the playoffs, ending the third longest streak in NBA history.
The Houston Rockets played their first game at the Toyota Center. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and lose to eventual Conference champions Lakers in five games marked the only playoff appearance of Steve Francis career.
Prior to the start of the season, Karl Malone and Gary Payton took major paycuts to leave their teams and join Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers for a chance at a possible NBA title. However, that title chase came to an end in the NBA Finals, as the Detroit Pistons won 4-1. The Minnesota Timberwolves, behind their "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, and Sam Cassell, amassed the best record in the Western Conference, and were expected to finally win a first round playoff series. They won two and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers. It would be their last playoff appearance until the 2017–18 season.
LeBron James (1st overall to Cleveland), Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall to Denver), Chris Bosh (4th overall to Toronto), and Dwyane Wade (5th overall to Miami), among others, formed one of the strongest drafts in NBA history. Among the highly touted rookies, Anthony and Wade led their teams to the playoffs, and Wade's play pushed the Heat into the second round. James went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Anthony became the first NBA rookie to lead a playoff team in scoring since David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs during the 1989–90 season.
The Memphis Grizzlies qualified for the postseason for the first time in the franchise's then 9 year history, dating back to their days in Vancouver. With a record of 50-32, it was also the first time they posted a winning season. It was also their final season played at Pyramid Arena.
Tracy McGrady was the first scoring leader since Bernard King in 1984–85 whose team did not make the playoffs.
Coaching
Standings
By division
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By conference
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Notes
- z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
- c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
Playoffs
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.
Statistics leaders
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | Tracy McGrady | Orlando Magic | 28.0 |
| Rebounds per game | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | 13.9 |
| Assists per game | Jason Kidd | New Jersey Nets | 9.2 |
| Steals per game | Baron Davis | New Orleans Hornets | 2.36 |
| Blocks per game | Theo Ratliff | Portland Trail Blazers | 3.61 |
| FG% | Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers | .584 |
| FT% | Peja Stojaković | Sacramento Kings | .927 |
| 3FG% | Anthony Peeler | Sacramento Kings | .482 |
Awards
Yearly awards
- Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
- Sixth Man of the Year: Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks
- Most Improved Player: Zach Randolph, Portland Trail Blazers
- Coach of the Year: Hubie Brown, Memphis Grizzlies
- Executive of the Year: Jerry West, Memphis Grizzlies
- Sportsmanship Award: P. J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
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Players of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.
| Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets) (1/1) | Peja Stojaković (Sacramento Kings) (1/1) |
| December | Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers) (1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/4) |
| January | Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks) (1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (2/4) |
| February | Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets) (1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (3/4) |
| March | Lamar Odom (Miami Heat) (1/1) | Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) |
| April | Jamaal Magloire (New Orleans Hornets) (1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) (4/4) |
Rookies of the month
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.
| Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (1/6) |
| December | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (2/6) |
| January | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (3/6) |
| February | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (4/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (4/6) |
| March | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (5/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (5/6) |
| April | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (6/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) (6/6) |
Coaches of the month
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.
| Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers) (1/1) | Phil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) |
| December | Byron Scott (New Jersey Nets) (1/1) | Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) (1/1) |
| January | Larry Brown (Detroit Pistons) (1/2) | Rick Adelman (Sacramento Kings) (1/1) |
| February | Lawrence Frank (New Jersey Nets) (1/1) | Hubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies) (1/2) |
| March | Stan Van Gundy (Miami Heat) (1/1) | Hubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies) (2/2) |
| April | Larry Brown (Detroit Pistons) (2/2) | Flip Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) |