| 2003–04 NBA season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | October 28, 2003 – April 14, 2004 April 17 – June 1, 2004 (Playoffs) June 6 – 15, 2004 (Finals) |
| Teams | 29 |
| TV partner(s) | ABC,TNT,ESPN,NBA TV |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | LeBron James |
| Picked by | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Regular season | |
| Top seed | Indiana Pacers |
| SeasonMVP | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) |
| Top scorer | Tracy McGrady (Orlando) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Detroit Pistons |
| Eastern runners-up | Indiana Pacers |
| Western champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Western runners-up | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Finals | |
| Venue | |
| Champions | Detroit Pistons |
| Runners-up | Los Angeles Lakers |
| FinalsMVP | Chauncey Billups (Detroit) |
| NBA seasons | |
The2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The season ended with theDetroit Pistons defeating theLos Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the2004 NBA Finals.[1]
The 2003–04 NBA season was the culmination of the "dead-ball" era of the league, in which the NBA saw its lowest offensive rating since the1998–99 season, at 102.9. The 2004 Eastern Conference Finals between the Pistons andIndiana Pacers saw scoring totals and efficiency hit historic lows, prompting the NBA to swiftly implement rule changes the following offseason in order to make it easier for offenses moving forward.
As of 2025, the only active player in the NBA who has played games in the 2003–04 season isLeBron James.
This was the last season for the original two-division format in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, before each of the conferences added a third division the following season. As a result, this would also be the final season for theNBA Midwest Division, as theMinnesota Timberwolves were that division's last champion, the only division title the franchise has won in their twenty-nine seasons in theNBA.
TheAll-Star Game was held at theStaples Center inLos Angeles.The West won 136–132; Lakers centerShaquille O'Neal was named Most Valuable Player.
For the first time in 21 years thePortland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs, ending the second longest streak in NBA history. For the first time in 20 years theUtah Jazz did not make the playoffs, ending the third longest streak in NBA history.
TheHouston Rockets played their first game at theToyota Center. They reached the playoffs for the first time since1999 and lost to the eventual Conference champion Lakers in five games. This marked the only playoff appearance ofSteve Francis NBA career.
Prior to the start of the season,Karl Malone andGary Payton took major paycuts to leave their teams and joinKobe Bryant andShaquille O'Neal on the Lakers for a chance at a possible NBA title. However, that title chase came to an end in the NBA Finals, as the Detroit Pistons won 4–1. TheMinnesota Timberwolves, behind their "Big Three" ofKevin Garnett,Latrell Sprewell, andSam Cassell, amassed the best record in the Western Conference, and were expected to finally win a first round playoff series. They won two and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers. It would be their last playoff appearance until the2017–18 season.
LeBron James (1st overall to Cleveland),Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall to Denver),Chris Bosh (4th overall to Toronto), andDwyane Wade (5th overall to Miami), among others, formed one of the strongest drafts in NBA history. Among the highly touted rookies, Anthony and Wade led their teams to the playoffs, and Wade's play pushed the Heat into the second round. James went on to winNBA Rookie of the Year. Anthony became the first NBA rookie to lead a playoff team in scoring sinceDavid Robinson of theSan Antonio Spurs during the1989–90 season.
TheMemphis Grizzlies qualified for the postseason for the first time in the franchise's then 9 year history, dating back to their days in Vancouver. With a record of 50–32, it was also the first time they posted a winning season. It was also their last season played atPyramid Arena.
Tracy McGrady was the firstscoring leader sinceBernard King in1984–85 whose team did not make the playoffs.
General Motors ended its sponsorship deal with the NBA after this season (having rotated among all eight of its U.S. divisions, includingSaturn andHummer), after whichToyota would become the new official partner.
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-New Jersey Nets | 47 | 35 | .573 | – | 28–13 | 19–22 | 18–7 |
| x-Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 5 | 29–12 | 13–28 | 15–10 |
| x-New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 8 | 23–18 | 16–25 | 15–7 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 11 | 19–22 | 17–24 | 14–10 |
| e-Philadelphia 76ers | 33 | 49 | .402 | 14 | 21–20 | 12–29 | 10–14 |
| e-Washington Wizards | 25 | 57 | .305 | 22 | 17–24 | 8–33 | 3–21 |
| e-Orlando Magic | 21 | 61 | .256 | 26 | 11–30 | 10–31 | 8–16 |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Indiana Pacers | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 34–7 | 27–14 | 20–8 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 7 | 31–10 | 23–18 | 17–11 |
| x-New Orleans Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 14–14 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | 27–14 | 14–27 | 15–13 |
| e-Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 47 | .427 | 26 | 23–18 | 12–29 | 14–14 |
| e-Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | 18–23 | 15–26 | 11–17 |
| e-Atlanta Hawks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 | 18–23 | 10–31 | 10–18 |
| e-Chicago Bulls | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 | 14–27 | 9–32 | 11–17 |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Minnesota Timberwolves | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 31–10 | 27–14 | 14–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 57 | 25 | .695 | 1 | 33–8 | 24–17 | 15–9 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 52 | 30 | .634 | 6 | 36–5 | 16–25 | 14–10 |
| x-Memphis Grizzlies | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 | 31–10 | 19–22 | 12–12 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | 27–14 | 18–23 | 8–16 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 15 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–13 |
| e-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 | 28–13 | 14–27 | 10–14 |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | – | 34–7 | 22–19 | 15–9 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 1 | 34–7 | 21–20 | 16–8 |
| e-Portland Trail Blazers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 15 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 13–11 |
| e-Seattle SuperSonics | 37 | 45 | .451 | 19 | 21–20 | 16–25 | 11–13 |
| e-Golden State Warriors | 37 | 45 | .451 | 19 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 12–12 |
| e-Phoenix Suns | 29 | 53 | .354 | 27 | 18–23 | 11–30 | 9–15 |
| e-Los Angeles Clippers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | 18–23 | 10–31 | 8–16 |
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Notes
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk.Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.
| Conference Quarterfinals | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E8 | Boston | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Miami | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Miami | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | New Orleans | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Indiana* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | Milwaukee | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | New Jersey* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | New Jersey* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E7 | New York | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | LA Lakers* | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W8 | Denver | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Sacramento | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Sacramento | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W5 | Dallas | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Minnesota* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | San Antonio | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W6 | Memphis | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | San Antonio | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W7 | Houston | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | Tracy McGrady | Orlando Magic | 28.0 |
| Rebounds per game | Kevin Garnett | Minnesota Timberwolves | 13.9 |
| Assists per game | Jason Kidd | New Jersey Nets | 9.2 |
| Steals per game | Baron Davis | New Orleans Hornets | 2.36 |
| Blocks per game | Theo Ratliff | Portland Trail Blazers | 3.61 |
| FG% | Shaquille O'Neal | Los Angeles Lakers | .584 |
| FT% | Peja Stojaković | Sacramento Kings | .927 |
| 3FG% | Anthony Peeler | Sacramento Kings | .482 |
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The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.
| Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets)(1/1) | Peja Stojaković (Sacramento Kings)(1/1) |
| December | Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers)(1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)(1/4) |
| January | Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks)(1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)(2/4) |
| February | Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets)(1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)(3/4) |
| March | Lamar Odom (Miami Heat)(1/1) | Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)(1/1) |
| April | Jamaal Magloire (New Orleans Hornets)(1/1) | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)(4/4) |
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.
| Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)(1/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)(1/6) |
| December | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)(2/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)(2/6) |
| January | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)(3/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)(3/6) |
| February | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)(4/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)(4/6) |
| March | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)(5/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)(5/6) |
| April | LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)(6/6) | Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)(6/6) |
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.
| Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers)(1/1) | Phil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers)(1/1) |
| December | Byron Scott (New Jersey Nets)(1/1) | Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)(1/1) |
| January | Larry Brown (Detroit Pistons)(1/2) | Rick Adelman (Sacramento Kings)(1/1) |
| February | Lawrence Frank (New Jersey Nets)(1/1) | Hubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies)(1/2) |
| March | Stan Van Gundy (Miami Heat)(1/1) | Hubie Brown (Memphis Grizzlies)(2/2) |
| April | Larry Brown (Detroit Pistons)(2/2) | Flip Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves)(1/1) |