A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 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 (NBA). The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the 2004 NBA Finals.[1]
Events
This was the last 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 lost to the eventual Conference champion Lakers in five games. This marked the only playoff appearance of Steve Francis NBA 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 last 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.
General Motors ended its sponsorship deal with the NBA after this season (having rotated among all eight of its U.S. divisions, including Saturn and Hummer), after which Toyota would become the new official partner.
Coaching
2003–04 NBA changes
- Cleveland Cavaliers – added new logo and new uniforms, brought back the original wine and gold to their color scheme, added dark navy blue trim to their color scheme replacing black, light blue and orange, also added side panels to their jerseys and shorts.
- Denver Nuggets – added new logo and new uniforms, replacing dark navy blue, red and gold with light blue and gold, added side panels to their jerseys and shorts.
- Dallas Mavericks – added new grey road alternate uniforms.
- Houston Rockets – added new logo and new uniforms, replacing dark navy blue, red and grey colors with remained red and grey, and moved into their new arena the Toyota Center.
- Orlando Magic – changed their uniforms and wordmarks on their jerseys.
- Phoenix Suns – added new orange road alternate uniforms with grey side panels to their jerseys and shorts.
- Portland Trail Blazers – slightly once again changed their primary logo.
- Toronto Raptors – added new red road alternate uniforms with black and grey side panels to their jerseys and shorts.
Standings
By division
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-New Jersey Nets | 47 | 35 | .573 | – | 28–13 | 19–22 | 18–7 |
| x-Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 5 | 29–12 | 13–28 | 15–10 |
| x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 8 | 23–18 | 16–25 | 15–7 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 11 | 19–22 | 17–24 | 14–10 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 14 | 21–20 | 12–29 | 10–14 |
| Washington Wizards | 25 | 57 | .305 | 22 | 17–24 | 8–33 | 3–21 |
| Orlando Magic | 21 | 61 | .256 | 26 | 11–30 | 10–31 | 8–16 |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 34–7 | 27–14 | 20–8 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 | 31–10 | 23–18 | 17–11 |
| x-New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 14–14 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 27–14 | 14–27 | 15–13 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 | 23–18 | 12–29 | 14–14 |
| Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | 18–23 | 15–26 | 11–17 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 | 18–23 | 10–31 | 10–18 |
| Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 | 14–27 | 9–32 | 11–17 |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 31–10 | 27–14 | 14–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 | 33–8 | 24–17 | 15–9 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 | 36–5 | 16–25 | 14–10 |
| x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 | 31–10 | 19–22 | 12–12 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | 27–14 | 18–23 | 8–16 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–13 |
| Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 | 28–13 | 14–27 | 10–14 |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | – | 34–7 | 22–19 | 15–9 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 1 | 34–7 | 21–20 | 16–8 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 15 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 13–11 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 37 | 45 | .451 | 19 | 21–20 | 16–25 | 11–13 |
| Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 19 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 12–12 |
| Phoenix Suns | 29 | 53 | .354 | 27 | 18–23 | 11–30 | 9–15 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | 18–23 | 10–31 | 8–16 |