2002–03 Boston Celtics season


The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Celtics acquired Vin Baker from the Seattle SuperSonics. The Celtics posted a six-game winning streak after losing their first two games, and got off to a solid 16–7 start. However, they lost six straight games in March, and finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record. The team made the playoffs for the second time with team captain Paul Pierce, but this time as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Pierce and Antoine Walker were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. After defeating the 3rd-seeded Indiana Pacers four games to two in the first round, they were unable to stop the New Jersey Nets as they were swept in four straight Conference Semifinal games. This was also Walker's final season with the Celtics, as he was traded along with Tony Delk to the Dallas Mavericks the following offseason. He would return to Boston midway during the 2004–05 season.
The franchise gained new owners that season when Paul Gaston sold the team to the Boston Basketball Partners, represented by Wyc Grousbeck, in the fall of 2002.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
250Darius Songaila PFWake Forest

Roster

Note

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

East First Round

Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics
Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Eastern Conference First Round

East Conference Semifinals

New Jersey Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Eastern Conference Finals