Record 42–40 (.512) | ||
Playoff finish East First Round(eliminated 2–4) | ||
The 2002–03 NBA season was the Bucks' 35th season in the NBA. During the offseason, the Bucks acquired Toni Kukoč from the Atlanta Hawks. In a year of transition, the Bucks hovered around .500 almost all season. In February 2003, just before the trading deadline, the Bucks dealt three-time All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen to the Seattle SuperSonics, in exchange for 34-year-old point guard Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. The Bucks finished fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record. However, they did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs, losing 2–4 to the New Jersey Nets. Following the season, Payton signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson were both traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bucks head coach George Karl was fired, and the late Anthony Mason retired.
East First Round
(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Eastern Conference First Round (Milwaukee won 3–0)
*Required overtime.