2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2002–03 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 55th season for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, and their 43rd season in Los Angeles, California.^[1] The Lakers entered the regular season as the 3-time defending NBA champions, having defeated the New Jersey Nets in a four-game sweep in the 2002 NBA Finals, winning their 14th NBA championship.

With All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal sidelined early into the regular season after an off-season right foot and toe surgery,^[2][3][4] the Lakers struggled losing nine of their first twelve games.^[5] O'Neal eventually returned, but the team still struggled with an 11–19 record 30 games into the season, which was their worst start since the 1993–94 season.^[6][7] However, the Lakers soon recovered from their slow start, playing above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, and holding a 24–23 record at the All-Star break, which was ninth place in the Western Conference at the time, and out of playoff position.^[8] The Lakers won 11 of their final 13 games of the season, and finished in second place in the Pacific Division with a solid 50–32 record, earning the fifth seed in the Western Conference;^[9][10] the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the ninth consecutive year.^[1]

This season saw co-captain Kobe Bryant play all 82 games for the first time in his NBA career, as he averaged 30.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and also led the Lakers with 124 three-point field goals, while O'Neal averaged 27.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. In addition, Derek Fisher provided the team with 10.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, while Rick Fox contributed 9.0 points per game and 105 three-point field goals, and Robert Horry provided with 6.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Samaki Walker averaged 4.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Brian Shaw contributed 3.5 points per game, and Mark Madsen provided with 3.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.^[11]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Bryant and O'Neal were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team.^[12][13][14] Bryant and O'Neal were both named to the All-NBA First Team, while Bryant was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and O'Neal was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Bryant finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting with 8 first-place votes, while O'Neal finished in fifth place with 3 first-place votes;^[15][16] Bryant also finished in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while O'Neal finished tied in 13th place,^[16] and head coach Phil Jackson finished in 14th place in Coach of the Year voting.^[16]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 2003 NBA playoffs, the Lakers faced off against the 4th–seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who were led by All-Star forward Kevin Garnett, All-Star forward Wally Szczerbiak, and Troy Hudson. Starting the first round of the NBA playoffs without home-court advantage for the first time since the 1994–95 season, the Lakers won Game 1 over the Timberwolves on the road, 117–98 at the Target Center, but then lost the next two games, which included a Game 3 home loss at the Staples Center in overtime, 114–110 as the Timberwolves took a 2–1 series lead. However, the Lakers managed to win the next three games, including a Game 6 win over the Timberwolves at the Staples Center, 101–85 to win the series in six games.^[17][18][19]

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, and for the second consecutive year, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Tim Duncan, second-year star Tony Parker, and David Robinson. The Lakers lost the first two games to the Spurs on the road at the SBC Center, but managed to win the next two games at home, which included a Game 4 win over the Spurs at the Staples Center, 99–95 to even the series. However, the Lakers lost the next two games, including a Game 6 loss to the Spurs at the Staples Center, 110–82, thus losing the series in six games.^[20][21][22] The Spurs would go on to defeat the New Jersey Nets in six games in the 2003 NBA Finals, winning their second NBA championship in franchise history.^[23][24][25]

The Lakers finished ninth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 777,888 at the Staples Center during the regular season.^[11][26] Following the season, Horry signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs,^[27][28] while Madsen signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves,^[29] Walker signed with the Miami Heat,^[30] and Shaw retired.

This season was overshadowed by the death of long-time Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn, who died at the age of 85 after a fall during the summer of 2002.^[31][32][33] To pay tribute, the Lakers donned an alternate white uniform with golden yellow side panels, which was only worn on Christmas and Sunday home games.^[34] The uniforms made its debut in a home loss against the Sacramento Kings on Christmas Day; they were designed by late owner Jerry Buss' daughter, who is now the controlling owner and president of the Lakers, Jeanie.^{[citation needed]}