2003 NBA Finals

2003 basketball championship series February 2026 February 2026 2003 NBA Finals logo.png NBA 2003 New Jersey Nets Byron Scott 2 San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich 4 June 4–15 Tim Duncan(San Antonio Spurs) SpursTim Duncan (2020)Manu Ginóbili (2022)Tony Parker (2023)David Robinson (2009)NetsJason Kidd (2018)Dikembe Mutombo (2015)Coaches:Gregg Popovich (2023)Officials:Dick Bavetta (2015)Danny Crawford (2025) Nets defeated Pistons, 4–0 Spurs defeated Mavericks, 4–2 The 2003 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2002–03 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs played the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format. The Spurs defeated the Nets to win the series 4–2 for their second championship. Spurs forward Tim Duncan was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship series. The series was broadcast on U.S. television on ABC, with Brad Nessler, Bill Walton and Tom Tolbert announcing. Background The 2002–03 season had already started as a memorable one for the San Antonio Spurs, as it was the team's first season in their new arena, the SBC Center (now the Frost Bank Center). However, as this season was one of beginnings, it was also one of endings. During the season, Spurs star David Robinson announced that it was his last season. The NBA Finals also marked the end of Steve Kerr's career as well—he was on the Spurs, having already won three titles with the Chicago Bulls. Over the last few seasons, injuries had slowed down Robinson's productivity to the point where he missed 18 games in his final season while averaging only 8.5 points per game. Nevertheless, Robinson retired holding Spurs franchise records in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. The Spurs had a very successful season, finishing 60–22, tying for the best record in the NBA that year. The playoffs started off shaky for the Spurs as they lost game 1 of the first-round series against the Phoenix Suns in overtime.2003 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 1: Suns vs Spurs, April 19, 2003 https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200304190SAS.html January 22, 2024 Basketball-Reference.com However, the Spurs bounced back to take the series in six games.2003 NBA Western Conference First Round - Suns vs. Spurs https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2003-nba-western-conference-first-round-suns-vs-spurs.html January 22, 2024 Basketball-Reference.com January 26, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240126232326/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2003-nba-western-conference-first-round-suns-vs-spurs.html live The second round put the Spurs face-to-face with the three-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. After splitting the first four games, the Spurs eked out a win in game 5, benefitting from a rare, last-second in-and-out miss from the Lakers' clutch-shooter Robert Horry (who helped the Spurs win a title two years later). The Spurs eventually disposed of the Lakers in game 6, ending the Lakers' championship run.2003 NBA Western Conference Semifinals - Lakers vs. Spurs https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2003-nba-western-conference-semifinals-lakers-vs-spurs.html January 22, 2024 Basketball-Reference.com November 30, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231130142340/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2003-nba-western-conference-semifinals-lakers-vs-spurs.html live In the conference finals, the Spurs faced their in-state nemesis, the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs started off slow again, losing game 1 by three points, but took control of the series from there, taking the next three straight. After losing game 5 at home 103–91, the Spurs came from 15 points down in the fourth quarter in game 6, as Steve Kerr buried four three-pointers in a row to take the series in six games with a 90–78 win2003 NBA Western Conference Finals - Mavericks vs. Spurs https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2003-nba-western-conference-finals-mavericks-vs-spurs.html January 22, 2024 Basketball-Reference.com April 6, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190406174758/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2003-nba-western-conference-finals-mavericks-vs-spurs.html live in Dallas, advancing to their second NBA Finals in franchise history. In the meantime the New Jersey Nets, who lost to the Lakers in the finals the previous year, were out to prove that they were serious title contenders, despite the lack of competition in the Eastern Conference. The Nets finished the regular season 49–33, good enough to win the Atlantic Division and clinch the number 2 seed in the East. After splitting the first four games with the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, the Nets took control, winning the series in six games. From then on, the Nets had no trouble making a return to the NBA Finals, sweeping the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons to win their second straight Eastern Conference championship. With their 49–33 record, the 2003 Nets were the last team with under 50 wins to reach the NBA Finals in a fully-played season until the 2022-23 Miami Heat, who went 44–38 in the regular season.Dowd Tom Nets History Spotlight: 2003 NBA Finals Team https://www.nba.com/nets/news/history/2020/04/13/nets-history-spotlight-2003-nba-finals-team NBA.com April 27, 2025 April 13, 2020 April 25, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250425144104/https://www.nba.com/nets/news/history/2020/04/13/nets-history-spotlight-2003-nba-finals-team live 2003 NBA playoffs Road to the Finals 2003 NBA playoffs San Antonio Spurs (Western Conference champion) New Jersey Nets (Eastern Conference champion)SAS1st seed in the West, best league recordRegular seasonNJN2nd seed in the East, 8th best league recordDefeated the (8) Phoenix Suns, 4–2First roundDefeated the (7) Milwaukee Bucks, 4–2Defeated the (5) Los Angeles Lakers, 4–2Conference semifinalsDefeated the (6) Boston Celtics, 4–0Defeated the (3) Dallas Mavericks, 4–2Conference finalsDefeated the (1) Detroit Pistons, 4–0 Regular season series Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team: #fff November 13, 2002 San Antonio Spurs 82 New Jersey Nets |score2=91 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey March 6, 2003 New Jersey Nets 78 San Antonio Spurs |score2=92 SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas Rosters San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs 2002–03 34 Mengke Bateer C 6 11 290 1975–11–20 China 12 Bruce Bowen F 6 7 200 1971–06–14 Cal State Fullerton 10 Speedy Claxton G 5 11 166 1978–05–08 Hofstra 21 Tim Duncan Tim Duncan F/C 6 11 255 1976–04–25 Wake Forest 35 Danny Ferry F 6 10 235 1966–10–17 Duke 20 Manu Ginóbili G 6 6 200 1977–07–28 Argentina 3 Stephen Jackson F 6 8 220 1978–04–05 Butler CC 25 Steve Kerr G 6 3 175 1965–09–27 Arizona 9 Tony Parker G 6 2 185 1982–05–17 France 50 David Robinson C 7 1 235 1965–08–06 Navy 31 Malik Rose F 6 7 250 1974–11–23 Drexel 8 Steve Smith basketball G 6 7 200 1969–03–31 Michigan State 42 Kevin Willis F/C 7 0 245 1962–09–06 Michigan State Gregg Popovich (Air Force) Mike Brown (San Diego) P. J. Carlesimo (Fordham) Mike Budenholzer (Pomona College) Joe Prunty (Cal Poly) https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/2003.html June 5, 2019 New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets 2002–03 1 Brandon Armstrong basketball G 6 5 188 1980–06–16 Pepperdine 35 Jason Collins C 7 0 255 1978–12–02 Stanford 12 Lucious Harris G 6 5 190 1970–12–18 LBSU 24 Richard Jefferson F 6 7 222 1980–06–21 Arizona 2 Anthony Johnson basketball G 6 3 190 1974–10–02 Charleston 5 Jason Kidd Jason Kidd G 6 4 204 1973–03–23 California 30 Kerry Kittles G 6 5 179 1974–06–12 Villanova 13 Donny Marshall F 6 7 230 1972–07–17 Connecticut 6 Kenyon Martin F 6 9 234 1977–12–30 Cincinnati 55 Dikembe Mutombo C 7 2 245 1966–06–25 Georgetown 54 Rodney Rogers F 6 7 235 1971–06–20 Wake Forest 21 Brian Scalabrine F 6 9 241 1978–03–18 USC 8 Tamar Slay G 6 8 215 1980–04–02 Marshall 34 Aaron Williams basketball C 6 9 220 1971–10–02 Xavier Byron Scott (Arizona State) Lawrence Frank (Indiana) Eddie Jordan (Rutgers) Mike O'Koren (North Carolina) https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NJN/2003.html June 5, 2019 Series summary Game Date Home team Result Road team Game 1 June 4 San Antonio Spurs 101–89 (1–0) New Jersey Nets Game 2 June 6 San Antonio Spurs 85–87 (1–1) New Jersey Nets Game 3 June 8 New Jersey Nets 79–84 (1–2) San Antonio Spurs Game 4 June 11 New Jersey Nets 77–76 (2–2) San Antonio Spurs Game 5 June 13 New Jersey Nets 83–93 (2–3) San Antonio Spurs Game 6 June 15 San Antonio Spurs 88–77 (4–2) New Jersey Nets 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 a sellout.Lago Joe June 12, 2003 Nets find right tempo to beat Spurs https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=230611017 https://web.archive.org/web/20180828001743/http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=230611017 dead August 28, 2018 August 27, 2018 ESPN.com But the Spurs, behind the leadership of backup point guard Speedy Claxton, silenced the sellout crowd of 19,280... This was the last Finals' series to be played on a Wednesday–Friday–Sunday rotation, which was used starting in 1991 when NBC began carrying the NBA. Starting with the 2004 NBA Finals, all games were played on Thursday–Sunday–Tuesday format until 2016, when it was changed to allow for two days off each time teams traveled. Game summaries All times listed below are Eastern Daylight Time. If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given. Game 1 #eee June 4 Recap New Jersey Nets 89 101 San Antonio Spurs SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas ABC 21–18 21–24 17–32 30–27 Kenyon Martin 21 Tim Duncan 32 Kenyon Martin 12 Tim Duncan 20 Jason Kidd 10 Tim Duncan 6 Dick Bavetta, Joe Crawford, Joe DeRosa 8:30 pm (7:30 pm CDT) San Antonio leads series, 1–0 Game 2 #eee June 6 Recap New Jersey Nets 87 85 San Antonio Spurs SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas ABC 19–18 22–17 25–21 21–29 Jason Kidd 30 Tony Parker 21 Kidd, Harris 7 each Tim Duncan 12 Kenyon Martin 4 Tony Parker 5 Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Bennett Salvatore 8:30 pm (7:30 pm CDT) Series tied, 1–1 Game 3 #eee June 8 Recap San Antonio Spurs 84 79 New Jersey Nets Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey ABC 15–21 18–9 21–27 30–22 Tony Parker 26 Kenyon Martin 23 Tim Duncan 16 Kenyon Martin 11 Tim Duncan 7 Jason Kidd 11 Ron Garretson, Steve Javie, Jack Nies 8:30 pm San Antonio leads series, 2–1 Game 4 #eee June 11 Recap San Antonio Spurs 76 77 New Jersey Nets Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey ABC 18–16 16–29 23–11 19–21 Tim Duncan 23 Kenyon Martin 20 Tim Duncan 17 Kenyon Martin 13 Parker, Jackson 3 each Jason Kidd 9 Mike Callahan, Bernie Fryer, Eddie Rush 8:30 pm Series tied, 2–2 Game 5 #eee June 13 Recap San Antonio Spurs 93 83 New Jersey Nets Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey ABC 19–18 23–16 24–23 27–26 Tim Duncan 29 Jason Kidd 29 Tim Duncan 17 Kenyon Martin 9 Duncan, Parker 4 each Jason Kidd 7 Dick Bavetta, Joe Crawford, Bennett Salvatore 8:30 pm San Antonio leads series, 3–2 Game 6 #eee June 15 Recap New Jersey Nets 77 88 San Antonio Spurs SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas ABC 25–17 16–21 22–19 14–31 Jason Kidd 21 Tim Duncan 21 Kenyon Martin 10 Tim Duncan 20 Jason Kidd 7 Tim Duncan 10 Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney, Ron Garretson 8:30 pm (7:30 pm CDT) San Antonio wins NBA Finals, 4–2 UThRbwtNbnE Full game broadcast by ABC Overview While the series received the usual hype of any Finals, it was not heavily anticipated due to the absence of the Lakers, who had won the previous three finals. The Spurs did have a star in Tim Duncan, but at the time he was criticized as being boring compared to flashier players such as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.Stewart Larry June 18, 2003 Spurs-Nets' Ratings Hit an All-Time Low https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-18-sp-nbarep18-story.html February 15, 2026 Los Angeles Times The series largely centered on the half-court offense and defense of each team, with only one team breaking 100 points in the series. The Nets constantly double-teamed Duncan, often allowing him to find open teammates. Nets point guard Jason Kidd, second to Duncan in MVP voting during the 2003 season,ESPN.com - NBA - PLAYOFFS2002 - Duncan wins first MVP; Kidd second, Shaq third https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2002/s/2002/0509/1380580.html February 15, 2026 espn.com July 11, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250711172755/https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2002/s/2002/0509/1380580.html live was in the last year of his contract with the team, leading to speculation that the Spurs, a team that could afford to sign him, would pursue him in the free agency following the 2003 Finals despite already having future All-Star Tony Parker on the roster. The underlying story of whether or not Kidd would be in a Spurs uniform the following season continued into the off-season. Kidd visited San Antonio and spoke with team officials, but ultimately re-signed with the Nets.ESPN.com: NBA - Kidd re-signs with Nets, on 'great' terms with Scott http://www.espn.com/nba/news/2003/0724/1585089.html February 15, 2026 espn.com March 25, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250325135434/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/2003/0724/1585089.html live Perhaps the lasting memory of the series is David Robinson retiring as a champion.Robinson Announces His Retirement After 2002-03 Season https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/robinson_retirement_020524.html February 15, 2026 nba.com May 28, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250528022719/https://www.nba.com/spurs/news/robinson_retirement_020524.html live In the clinching game 6, Robinson had 13 points and 17 rebounds to complement Duncan on the inside. In that game, the Spurs trailed at one point 72–63 before going on a 19–0 run to put the game away and take the series. Stephen Jackson's three-pointer during the run held the lead permanently. The Spurs' win denied New Jersey from having both NBA and National Hockey League (NHL) titles in the same year as NHL's New Jersey Devils won the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.Garvin Mike May 30, 2023 Same city. Different sport: These NBA, NHL teams made Finals in the same year https://sports.yahoo.com/same-city-different-sport-nba-034000389.html February 15, 2026 Yahoo Sports June 12, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230612212249/https://sports.yahoo.com/same-city-different-sport-nba-034000389.html live Duncan became the eighth player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP award a second time.2020 NAISMITH MEMORIAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Tim Duncan https://www.nba.com/spurs/duncanhof February 15, 2026 nba.com November 28, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251128155404/https://www.nba.com/spurs/duncanhof live He joined the list of Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O'Neal. In the series-clinching game, Duncan came two blocks shy of a quadruple double in an NBA Finals game, an extremely rare feat, finishing with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks. Robinson recorded the last quadruple double in NBA history with the Spurs.This Date in NBA History: Tim Duncan Records 21 Points, 20 Rebounds, 10 Assists and 8 Blocks vs. Nets in 2003 https://www.nba.com/watch/video/this-date-in-nba-history-tim-duncan-records-21-points-20-rebounds-10-assists-and-8-blocks-vs-nets-in-2003 February 15, 2026 NBA October 5, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241005085133/https://www.nba.com/watch/video/this-date-in-nba-history-tim-duncan-records-21-points-20-rebounds-10-assists-and-8-blocks-vs-nets-in-2003 live Duncan and Robinson grabbed 37 rebounds between them, more than the total rebounds of the entire Nets team combined (35).Top Moments: Tim Duncan, David Robinson wrap up another title https://www.nba.com/news/history-top-moments-robinson-duncan-title-2003 February 15, 2026 NBA Steve Kerr joined Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper and Robert Horry as the only players to win at least two championships with two franchises.NBA Players Who Went to the Finals With Two Different Teams https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nba/nba-players-reached-finals-two-different-teams-bm06/ February 15, 2026 BetMGM November 13, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251113031055/https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nba/nba-players-reached-finals-two-different-teams-bm06/ live Kerr won three with the Chicago Bulls (1996–1998) and another with the Spurs in 1999. Robert Horry won two with the Houston Rockets (1994, 1995) and three with the LA Lakers (2000–2002), and later went on to win two more with the Spurs in 2005 and 2007. Impact of the series Despite a great performance, particularly a barrage of three-pointers in the clinching game 6 by Spurs swingman Stephen Jackson, the Spurs let Jackson leave as a free agent. Spurs veterans Steve Kerr, Danny Ferry and, most notably, David Robinson retired after the 2003 Finals. Duncan and Robinson were named Sportsmen of the Year by Sports Illustrated for 2003. This series marked the first time that two former ABA teams pitted off against each other in the NBA Finals. Four years prior, though, the Spurs made it to the NBA Finals in the shortened 1998–99 NBA season and won the championship. Player statistics San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs |- | align="left" | Bruce Bowen || 6 || 6 || 28.5 || .233 || .286 || 1.000|| 3.2 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 3.3 |- | align="left" | Speedy Claxton || 6 || 0 || 12.5 || .560 || .000 || .750 || 1.0 || 1.5 || 0.7 || 0.7 || 6.2 |-! style="background:#FDE910;" | align="left" | Tim Duncan || 6 || 6 || 43.8 || .495 || .000 || .685 || 17.0 || 5.3 || 1.0 || 5.3 || 24.2 |- | align="left" | Danny Ferry || 3 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | Manu Ginóbili || 6 || 0 || 28.7 || .348 || .214 || .810 || 4.5 || 2.0 || 2.2 || 0.5 || 8.7 |- | align="left" | Stephen Jackson || 6 || 6 || 35.5 || .377 || .357 || .500 || 4.2 || 2.7 || 1.2 || 0.3 || 10.3 |- | align="left" | Steve Kerr || 4 || 0 || 5.0 || .750 || 1.000 || .500 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 2.0 |- | align="left" | Tony Parker || 6 || 6 || 35.3 || .386 || .429 || .609 || 3.2 || 4.2 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 14.0 |- | align="left" | David Robinson basketball || 6 || 6 || 26.8 || .611 || .000 || .700 || 7.3 || 0.7 || 1.2 || 1.8 || 10.8 |- | align="left" | Malik Rose || 6 || 0 || 21.2 || .442 || .000 || 1.000 || 3.8 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 7.7 |- | align="left" | Steve Smith basketball || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | Kevin Willis || 5 || 0 || 4.4 || .333 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 1.6 New Jersey Nets New Jersey Nets |- | align="left" | Jason Collins || 6 || 6 || 25.2 || .333 || .000 || .800 || 4.7 || 1.0 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 3.7 |- | align="left" | Lucious Harris || 6 || 0 || 20.8 || .306 || .333 || .789 || 2.7 || 1.2 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 6.5 |- | align="left" | Richard Jefferson || 6 || 6 || 38.2 || .417 || .000 || .792 || 6.5 || 1.8 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 13.2 |- | align="left" | Anthony Johnson basketball || 5 || 0 || 5.6 || .556 || .500 || .000 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 2.2 |- | align="left" | Jason Kidd || 6 || 6 || 44.2 || .364 || .270 || .833 || 6.2 || 7.8 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 19.7 |- | align="left" | Kerry Kittles || 6 || 6 || 31.3 || .377 || .304 || .800 || 4.2 || 1.3 || 1.8 || 0.5 || 10.8 |- | align="left" | Kenyon Martin || 6 || 6 || 37.5 || .343 || .000 || .667 || 10.0 || 2.2 || 1.7 || 2.3 || 14.7 |- | align="left" | Dikembe Mutombo || 6 || 0 || 13.7 || .500 || .000 || 1.000 || 2.8 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 1.3 || 2.3 |- | align="left" | Rodney Rogers || 6 || 0 || 12.3 || .323 || .375 || .833 || 1.7 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.7 |- | align="left" | Brian Scalabrine || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | Tamar Slay || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | Aaron Williams basketball || 5 || 0 || 14.2 || .423 || .000 || .750 || 4.2 || 0.8 || 0.2 || 1.4 || 5.6 Television coverage The 2003 NBA Finals was the first to be aired on ABC (including WABC-TV in the New York metropolitan area and KSAT-TV in San Antonio), taking over after a 12-year run on NBC. As part of ESPN's new media deal with the NBA, ABC's telecasts were produced by ESPN. Until 2007, it was the lowest-rated finals in NBA history. This was also the only year to date that ABC broadcast both the NBA and the Stanley Cup finals that involved teams playing in the same arena during each series. During ABC's broadcast of game 3, Brad Nessler stated that ABC was in a unique situation getting ready for both that game and game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Devils and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim the following night.ABC scores big with seventh game after much promotion June 11, 2003 William Houston The Globe and Mail S2 384016530 Gary Thorne, ESPN/ABC's lead NHL voice, mentioned this the following night and thanked Nessler for promoting ABC's broadcast of game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. This was the only NBA Finals worked by Nessler and Tolbert, while this was Walton's last Finals assignment. All three were demoted from ABC's lead role after the Finals. Though Nessler remained the lead voice for ESPN's NBA broadcasts for another season, his position at ABC was relegated to a backup role after ABC convinced Al Michaels of Monday Night Football fame to take over the lead position. Michaels was later joined by recently deposed Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers on ABC's lead team. Aftermath right|130px|thumb|Like his mentors Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in NBA history. left|thumb|270x270px|Spurs visiting President George W. Bush in October 2003. The Nets had an inconsistent start to the 2003–04 NBA season, and with a 22–20 record early in the season they fired head coach Byron Scott. Lawrence Frank took over and led the Nets to another Atlantic Division title by winning 47 games, highlighted by a 13–0 start, the best start for a rookie head coach in sports history. Despite that, however, the Nets lost to the eventual NBA champion Detroit Pistons in seven games of the conference semifinals.2003-04-15 NETS' STINKER ENDS HOPE FOR NO. 1 SEED https://nypost.com/2003/04/15/nets-stinker-ends-hope-for-no-1-seed/ 2026-03-262004 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - Nets vs. Pistons https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2004-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-nets-vs-pistons.html 2026-03-26 Basketball-Reference.com 2025 06 As of the 2024–25 season, the 2003 Finals remain the Nets' most recent Finals appearance and is their last in New Jersey. The franchise moved to Brooklyn, New York prior to the 2012–13 season. The Nets have also not made the conference finals since 2003, having lost five times in the semifinals, with the last being in 2021.Nets History Spotlight: 2003 NBA Finals Team https://www.nba.com/nets/news/history/2020/04/13/nets-history-spotlight-2003-nba-finals-team 2026-03-26 nba.com Jason Kidd remained with the Nets until he was traded in February 2008 to the team he was originally drafted to, the Dallas Mavericks. Kidd, along with teammate Dirk Nowitzki, led the Mavericks to the NBA title in 2011. Kenyon Martin was sent to the Denver Nuggets after the 2003–04 season, while Richard Jefferson eventually joined the Spurs in the 2009–10 season, after a one-year stint with the Milwaukee Bucks. He later won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. Despite the departures of Robinson, Jackson and Kerr, the Spurs still managed to win 57 games, aided by Tim Duncan's strong play. However, they were ousted in six games by the Los Angeles Lakers, highlighted by Derek Fisher's game-winner with 0.4 seconds left in game 5 of the conference semifinals.Lakers History: The Night of Fisher's Jumper With 0.4 Seconds Left https://www.nba.com/lakers/lakers-history-night-fishers-jumper-04-seconds-left 2026-03-26 nba.com In the years following Robinson's retirement, Duncan led the Spurs to three more NBA titles in 2005, 2007 and 2014. Steve Kerr would later lead an NBA dynasty as a head coach, winning NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 with the Golden State Warriors.Head Coach Steve Kerr Reaches Historic 600 Win Milestone https://warriors.com/news/head-coach-steve-kerr-reaches-historic-600-win-milestone-2026 2026-03-26 warriors.com References External links http://www.nba.com/finals2003/ Official website NBA.com May 17, 2008 bot: unknown https://web.archive.org/web/20101203184032/http://www.nba.com/finals2003/ December 3, 2010 Category:NBA Finals Finals NBA Finals NBA Finals Category:21st century in San Antonio NBA Finals NBA Finals Category:Basketball competitions in New Jersey Category:Sports competitions in East Rutherford, New Jersey Category:Basketball competitions in San Antonio NBA Finals Category:21st century in East Rutherford, New Jersey