Head coach Gregg Popovich Arena SBC Center | Owner(s) Peter Holt Record 60–22 (.732) | |
 | ||
Place Division: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 1st (Western) Playoff finish NBA Champions
(Defeated Nets 4-2) | ||
The 2002–03 San Antonio Spurs season is the 36th season of the franchise, 30th in San Antonio and 27th in the NBA. The Spurs would win 60 games for only the second time in franchise history as they attempted to win a second title in the midst of David Robinson's imminent retirement following this season. For the season, the Spurs changed their logo, which remains in use today, and played in a new arena, the SBC Center (now AT&T Center). The season saw Tim Duncan earn his second consecutive NBA MVP award. In the first round of the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Phoenix Suns, then defeated the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals. In the Western Conference Finals, they defeated the Dallas Mavericks to advanced to the NBA Finals, where they beat the New Jersey Nets and won their second championship. Following the season, Stephen Jackson signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks, Steve Smith signed with the New Orleans Hornets, and Steve Kerr retired.
Contents
October
Record: 0–0; Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0
November
Record: 10–6; Home: 6–2; Road: 4–4
December
Record: 8–6; Home: 5–1; Road: 3–5
January
Record: 11–3; Home: 5–1; Road: 6–2
February
Record: 9–1; Home: 3–0; Road: 6–1
March
Record: 14–3; Home: 9–3; Road: 5–0
April
Record: 7–2; Home: 3–1; Road: 6–1
West First Round
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Phoenix Suns Last Playoff Meeting: 2000 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 3-1)
West Conference Semifinals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Los Angeles Lakers Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Western Conference Semifinals (Lakers won 4-1)
West Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks Last Playoff Meeting: 2001 Western Conference Semifinals (San Antonio won 4-1)
NBA finals
Summary
The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.
Schedule
The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage. The NBA, after experimenting in the early years, restored this original format for the Finals in 1985. So far, the other playoff series are still running on a 2-2-1-1-1 site format.
Game 4 at Continental Airlines Arena was not a sell out as it took place 48 hours after it hosted the New Jersey Devils third Stanley Cup celebration in 9 years, following their 3-0 win over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. By winning the NBA championship, the Spurs denied New Jersey from having both NBA and NHL championships in the same year.