2002–03 Miami Heat season

The 2002–03 Miami Heat season was the 15th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Heat received the tenth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and selected small forward Caron Butler from the University of Connecticut,^[2][3][4] and signed free agent Travis Best during the off-season. However, due to the continuing effects of his kidney ailment, All-Star center Alonzo Mourning underwent a kidney transplant, and would miss the entire regular season.^[5]

Without Mourning, and despite the addition of Caron Butler and Best, the Heat struggled losing 10 of their first 12 games of the regular season. After a 6–18 start to the season, the team won six of their next seven games, but then posted a six-game losing streak afterwards, and held a 17–32 record at the All-Star break.^[6] The Heat lost 18 of their final 23 games of the season, and finished in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 25–57 record, their worst since the 1990–91 season.^[7]

Eddie Jones averaged 18.5 points and 1.4 steals per game, but only played just 47 games due to a season-ending groin injury, while Caron Butler averaged 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and Brian Grant provided the team with 10.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In addition, second-year forward Malik Allen provided with 9.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Best contributed 8.4 points and 3.5 assists per game, and second-year guard Mike James contributed 7.8 points and 3.2 assists per game. Meanwhile, rookie small forward, and second-round draft pick Rasual Butler averaged 7.5 points per game, Eddie House contributed 7.5 points per game, Vladimir Stepania averaged 5.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, LaPhonso Ellis provided with 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, and Anthony Carter contributed 4.1 points and 4.1 assists per game.^[8]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Caron Butler was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Rookies team. Butler scored 23 points along with 7 assists, despite the Rookies losing to the Sophomores team, 132–112.^[9][10] Butler also finished in third place in Rookie of the Year voting.^[11] The Heat finished 22nd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 628,242 at the American Airlines Arena during the regular season.^[8][12]

Following the season, Mourning signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets after eight seasons with the Heat,^[13] while Best signed with the Dallas Mavericks, Ellis retired, and head coach Pat Riley resigned, although he would later on return to coach the Heat midway through the 2005–06 season.