The 2002–03 NBA season was the fifteenth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] The Heat had the tenth pick in the 2002 NBA draft , and selected Caron Butler from the University of Connecticut .[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] With the continued effects of his kidney ailment, Alonzo Mourning was forced to sit out the entire season.[ 5] Without their star center, the Heat struggled losing 17 of their first 22 games. They would win seven of their next nine games, but then lose six straight along the way. The Heat finished last place in the Atlantic Division with a 25–57 record, their worst since the 1990–91 season .[ 6]
Scoring leader Eddie Jones was out for the remainder of the season with a groin injury after 47 games, and head coach Pat Riley was fined several times for lashing out referees following games. The only bright spot on the team was Butler, who averaged 15.4 points per game while being selected to the All-Rookie First Team.[ 7] Following the season, Mourning would sign as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets ,[ 8] and LaPhonso Ellis retired.
2002–03 Miami Heat roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
35
Allen, Malik
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
255 lb (116 kg)
1978-06-27
Villanova
G
1
Best, Travis
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
182 lb (83 kg)
1972-07-12
Georgia Tech
G/F
4
Butler, Caron
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
217 lb (98 kg)
1980-03-13
Connecticut
G/F
45
Butler, Rasual
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1979-06-23
La Salle
G
25
Carter, Anthony
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1975-06-16
Hawaiʻi
F
3
Ellis, LaPhonso
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1970-05-05
Notre Dame
F/C
44
Grant, Brian
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
254 lb (115 kg)
1972-03-05
Xavier
G
5
House, Eddie
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1978-05-14
Arizona State
G
7
James, Mike
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
1975-06-23
Duquesne
C
54
Johnson, Ken
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1978-02-01
Ohio State
G/F
6
Jones, Eddie
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1971-10-20
Temple
F
21
Lampley, Sean
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
227 lb (103 kg)
1979-09-03
California
F/C
22
Marks, Sean
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1975-08-23
California
C
33
Mourning, Alonzo
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1970-02-08
Georgetown
C
50
Stepania, Vladimir
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
236 lb (107 kg)
1976-05-08
Republic of Georgia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: September 5, 2002
Center Alonzo Mourning missed the entire season due to a kidney transplant.
Record vs. opponents
edit
2002-03 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NOH
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
0–3
2–2
4–0
0–2
2–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
3–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–2
Boston
3–0
–
2–2
4–0
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–2
2–0
1–3
3–1
4–0
3–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–2
1–1
1–3
Chicago
2–2
2–2
–
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
2–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
Cleveland
0–4
0–4
1–3
–
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–2
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
0–4
Dallas
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
–
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
0–2
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
Denver
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
–
0–2
0–4
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–1
0–4
1–1
Detroit
3–1
2–2
4–0
4–0
0–2
2–0
–
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–1
2–2
2–2
2–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
Golden State
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
4–0
1–1
–
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
Houston
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–4
4–0
0–2
3–1
–
1–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–0
1–3
1–1
Indiana
2–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
0–2
1–1
4–0
3–1
2–0
1–2
3–1
3–1
2–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–2
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–4
3–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
–
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
4–0
–
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–1
Memphis
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
–
2–0
2–0
0–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–1
Miami
3–1
2–2
2–1
2–1
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–2
–
1–3
1–1
0–4
0–4
2–2
0–4
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
0–2
1–3
Milwaukee
2–2
2–1
2–2
4–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
–
0–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
0–2
2–1
Minnesota
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
–
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–0
New Jersey
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
1–2
1–1
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
–
2–2
3–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
3–1
New Orleans
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
1–3
2–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–1
New York
3–1
0–4
1–2
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–3
1–3
–
2–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
Orlando
1–2
2–3
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–2
1–1
0–2
1–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–2
–
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–2
Philadelphia
1–3
2–2
3–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
3–1
1–2
2–2
2–2
–
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–0
1–1
4–0
Phoenix
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
3–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
–
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–1
Portland
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–2
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–3
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–3
–
1–3
2–2
4–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
Sacramento
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
–
1–3
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
–
3–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
Seattle
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–4
1–3
1–3
–
2–0
2–2
1–1
Toronto
3–1
2–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
0–2
3–1
Utah
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
4–0
0–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–0
–
1–1
Washington
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–2
0–2
1–3
1–2
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
—
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Brian Grant
C
82
82
2,641
837
104
63
47
846
32.2
10.2
1.3
.8
.6
10.3
Malik Allen
PF
80
73
2,318
425
54
37
78
767
29.0
5.3
.7
.5
1.0
9.6
Vladimir Stepania
C
79
6
1,594
554
24
45
40
441
20.2
7.0
.3
.6
.5
5.6
Caron Butler
SF
78
78
2,858
397
213
137
31
1,201
36.6
5.1
2.7
1.8
.4
15.4
Mike James
PG
78
8
1,722
149
246
64
5
607
22.1
1.9
3.2
.8
.1
7.8
Travis Best
PG
72
52
1,807
147
255
44
7
603
25.1
2.0
3.5
.6
.1
8.4
Rasual Butler
SG
72
28
1,514
186
93
21
43
540
21.0
2.6
1.3
.3
.6
7.5
Eddie House
SG
55
7
1,025
101
87
44
1
411
18.6
1.8
1.6
.8
.0
7.5
LaPhonso Ellis
PF
55
3
784
157
15
15
15
277
14.3
2.9
.3
.3
.3
5.0
Anthony Carter
PG
49
26
912
83
203
45
5
199
18.6
1.7
4.1
.9
.1
4.1
Eddie Jones
SG
47
47
1,789
226
173
64
31
869
38.1
4.8
3.7
1.4
.7
18.5
Sean Lampley
SF
35
0
487
83
31
7
3
169
13.9
2.4
.9
.2
.1
4.8
Sean Marks
PF
23
0
223
35
3
5
6
54
9.7
1.5
.1
.2
.3
2.3
Ken Johnson
C
16
0
156
32
0
1
12
32
9.8
2.0
.0
.1
.8
2.0
^ 2002-03 Miami Heat
^ Passan, Jeff (June 27, 2002). "Rockets Select Yao No. 1 Overall in Draft" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 15, 2022 .
^ Smith, Sam (October 30, 2002). "Eastern Conference Capsules" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 16, 2022 .
^ "2002 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Kidney Ailment Has Mourning Out Indefinitely" . The New York Times . September 13, 2002. Retrieved August 24, 2017 .
^ "2002–03 Miami Heat Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2022 .
^ "2002–03 Miami Heat Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2022 .
^ Robbins, Liz (July 17, 2003). "PRO BASKETBALL; 'Excited' Mourning Introduced by Nets" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 15, 2022 .