2002–03 Philadelphia 76ers season


The 2002–03 NBA season was the 76ers 54th season in the National Basketball Association, and 40th season in Philadelphia. During the offseason, the Sixers acquired Keith Van Horn from the New Jersey Nets. Van Horn was originally drafted by the Sixers as the second pick in the 1997 NBA draft. The Sixers got off to a fast start winning 15 of their first 19 games, but would then lose 14 of their next 18 games. The team improved on their last season posting a nine-game winning streak at midseason, finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 48–34 record, with the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers defeated the New Orleans Hornets led by Baron Davis in six games in the first round of the playoffs, but they could not go further in the next round as they lost to the Detroit Pistons in six games. Following the season, Van Horn was traded to the New York Knicks.
This season was head coach Larry Brown's last in Philadelphia as he resigned on Memorial Day, 2003. Brown would later go on to coach the Detroit Pistons, where he helped the team win the 2004 NBA Championship. He led the team to another Finals appearance in 2005. As of 2019, the Sixers have advanced past the first round of the playoffs three times since this 2003 playoff victory over New Orleans
For the first time in his career, Allen Iverson played a full 82-game season. He would have another in 2007–08 while with the Denver Nuggets. He was also selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.

Offseason

In the 2002 NBA draft, the 76ers drafted Czech swingman Jiří Welsch and forward-center Sam Clancy. The Sixers also made three trades on draft day. Their first trade was with the Golden State Warriors. They traded their first round pick, Jiří Welsch, for a 2004 2nd round draft pick and a 2005 1st round draft pick. In their second trade, they traded Speedy Claxton to the San Antonio Spurs for Mark Bryant, Randy Holcomb, and John Salmons. Their third and final trade of the night was with the Atlanta Hawks. They traded a 2004 2nd round draft pick and a 2006 2nd round draft pick to the Hawks for Efthimios Rentzias.
On July 25, the 76ers signed Greg Buckner and Monty Williams.
On August 6, the Sixers traded Dikembe Mutombo to the New Jersey Nets for Todd MacCulloch and Keith Van Horn. This trade marked the beginning of MacCulloch's second tenure with the franchise.
On August 27, the Sixers signed Brian Skinner.
On September 30, the Sixers signed Art Long and William Avery. Avery would not play any games with Philadelphia.
On October 11, the Sixers waived Alvin Jones. On the 23rd, they waived Damone Brown.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
116Jiří WelschSG/SFUnion Olimpija
245Sam ClancyPF/CUnited States

Roster

Note

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

East First Round

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Orleans Hornets
Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Eastern Conference First Round

East Conference Semifinals

Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Last Playoff Meeting: 1955 NBA Finals
*Required overtime.

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records