2002–03 Sacramento Kings season


The 2002–03 NBA season was the Kings' 54th season in the National Basketball Association, and 18th season in Sacramento. The Kings were coming off their controversial Western Conference Finals defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the series in seven games. During the offseason, the Kings signed free agent Keon Clark and later on in December signed Jim Jackson. Throughout the season, none of the Kings' players played a full season via suspension or injury, but they still managed to post a 59–23 record, two games less than their previous output in which they went 61–21, thus repeating as Pacific Division Champions once again. Bobby Jackson was named Sixth Man of The Year.
After easily dispatching the Utah Jazz in five games in the first round, the team started to look like a title contender, but in Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks in the second round, their title hopes took a serious blow when star forward Chris Webber suffered a knee injury while trying to catch a lob pass from teammate Mike Bibby, ending his season. Webber's knee required microfracture surgery in the following off-season. Without their team captain and MVP, the Kings lost the series in seven games. Following the season, Hedo Türkoğlu was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, Scot Pollard was traded to the Indiana Pacers, Clark was dealt to the Utah Jazz, and Jackson signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.
Webber and Peja Stojaković were both voted to play in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta. However, this time, Stojakovic was the only team representative as Webber was forced to withdraw due to a sprained ankle in a home loss against the Utah Jazz. Head coach Rick Adelman was selected to coach the Western Conference All-Stars.
For the season, the team sported new uniforms which would remain until 2008.

Offseason

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
128Dan DickauPGUnited StatesGonzaga
257Corsley EdwardsUnited StatesCentral Connecticut State

Roster

Note

Bold = All-Star selection

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

West First Round

Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz
Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Western Conference First Round

West Conference Semifinals

Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks
Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Western Conference Semifinals
**Required double-overtime.

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records