# 2002–03 Detroit Pistons season

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Pistons' 62nd season as a franchise, the 55th in the National Basketball Association, and the 46th in the Detroit area. During the off-season, the Pistons acquired Richard Hamilton from the Washington Wizards, and signed free agent Chauncey Billups. With the acquisitions of Hamilton and Billups, the Pistons got off to a solid start winning 12 of their first 16 games, and held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break. However, the team suffered a 7-game losing streak between February and March, but managed to finish first place in the Eastern Conference with a 50–32 record, which tied the 1977 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record by a number one-seeded team in the history of the league. The Pistons were the only team in the Eastern Conference with 50 or more wins this season.
Ben Wallace averaged 6.9 points, 15.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, and was voted to play in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his career. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second year in a row, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team, and also finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting. In addition, Hamilton led the team in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game, while Billups provided them with 16.2 points and 3.9 assists per game, Clifford Robinson contributed 12.2 points per game, and sixth man Corliss Williamson provided with 12.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game off the bench.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons faced elimination trailing 3–1 to the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic, but managed to win the next three games, thus the series. In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Pistons defeated Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in six games, and were a serious title contender, reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1991. Instead, they had their season ended with a sweep to the 2nd-seeded New Jersey Nets in four straight Eastern Conference Final games. The Nets would reach the Finals for the second consecutive year, but would lose in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.
Following the season, Pistons head coach Rick Carlisle was fired after just two seasons with the team and was replaced by Larry Brown, who had resigned from the 76ers' head coaching position on Memorial Day. Carlisle would go on to coach the Indiana Pacers as he replaced Isiah Thomas, who was fired after failing to reach the second round for three consecutive seasons in the playoffs. Also following the season, Robinson was traded to the Golden State Warriors, while three-point specialist Jon Barry signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets, and Michael Curry was dealt to the Toronto Raptors.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 23 | Tayshaun Prince | SF | United States | Kentucky |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 30–11 | 20–21 | 19–9 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 | 32–9 | 16–25 | 19–9 |
| x-New Orleans Hornets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 3 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 17–11 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 | 25–16 | 17–24 | 16–12 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 35 | 47 | .427 | 15 | 26–15 | 9–32 | 14–14 |
| Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 | 27–14 | 3–38 | 12–16 |
| Toronto Raptors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 26 | 15–26 | 9–32 | 10–18 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 33 | 14–27 | 3–38 | 5–23 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | – |
| 2 | y-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Indiana Pacers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 |
| 5 | x-New Orleans Hornets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 3 |
| 6 | x-Boston Celtics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 6 |
| 7 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 |
| 8 | x-Orlando Magic | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 |
| 9 | New York Knicks | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 |
| 11 | Atlanta Hawks | 35 | 47 | .427 | 15 |
| 12 | Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 25 | 57 | .305 | 25 |
| 14 | Toronto Raptors | 24 | 58 | .293 | 26 |
| 15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 33 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

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 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

2003 playoff game log :
First Round: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 20
Orlando
L 94–99
Richard Hamilton (28)
Ben Wallace (13)
Chauncey Billups (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,261
0–1
2
April 23
Orlando
W 89–77
Richard Hamilton (30)
Ben Wallace (16)
Richard Hamilton (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
1–1
3
April 25
@ Orlando
L 80–89
Richard Hamilton (22)
Ben Wallace (22)
Chauncey Billups (5)
TD Waterhouse Centre 17,283
1–2
4
April 27
@ Orlando
L 92–100
Chauncey Billups (25)
Ben Wallace (24)
Barry, Billups (3)
TD Waterhouse Centre 17,283
1–3
5
April 30
Orlando
W 98–67
Richard Hamilton (24)
Ben Wallace (21)
Billups, Robinson (4)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
2–3
6
May 2
@ Orlando
W 103–88
Chauncey Billups (40)
Ben Wallace (17)
Chauncey Billups (4)
TD Waterhouse Centre 16,909
3–3
7
May 4
Orlando
W 108–93
Chauncey Billups (37)
Ben Wallace (12)
Michael Curry (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
4–3 :
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 6
Philadelphia
W 98–87
Richard Hamilton (25)
Ben Wallace (12)
Billups, Robinson (4)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
1–0
2
May 8
Philadelphia
W 104–97 (OT)
Atkins, Hamilton (23)
Ben Wallace (15)
Richard Hamilton (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
2–0
3
May 10
@ Philadelphia
L 83–93
Richard Hamilton (24)
Mehmet Okur (10)
Billups, Robinson (4)
First Union Center 20,743
2–1
4
May 11
@ Philadelphia
L 82–95
Richard Hamilton (30)
Ben Wallace (15)
three players tied (3)
First Union Center 20,549
2–2
5
May 14
Philadelphia
W 78–77
Richard Hamilton (20)
Ben Wallace (17)
Atkins, Hamilton (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
3–2
6
May 16
@ Philadelphia
W 93–89 (OT)
Chauncey Billups (28)
Ben Wallace (18)
Chauncey Billups (5)
First Union Center 20,888
4–2 :
Conference finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 18
New Jersey
L 74–76
Richard Hamilton (24)
Ben Wallace (22)
Chauncey Billups (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
0–1
2
May 20
New Jersey
L 86–88
Richard Hamilton (24)
Ben Wallace (19)
Chauncey Billups (10)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
0–2
3
May 22
@ New Jersey
L 85–97
Richard Hamilton (21)
Ben Wallace (15)
five players tied (3)
Continental Airlines Arena 19,923
0–3
4
May 24
@ New Jersey
L 82–102
Clifford Robinson (21)
Ben Wallace (13)
Chauncey Billups (6)
Continental Airlines Arena 19,923
0–4 :
2003 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Chucky Atkins | 65 | 7 | 21.5 | .361 | .355 | .816 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 7.1 |
| Jon Barry | 80 | 0 | 18.4 | .450 | .407 | .860 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 6.9 |
| Chauncey Billups | 74 | 74 | 31.4 | .421 | .392 | .878 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 16.2 |
| Michael Curry | 78 | 77 | 19.9 | .402 | .296 | .800 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.0 |
| Hubert Davis | 43 | 1 | 7.6 | .392 | .333 | .833 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| Richard Hamilton | 82 | 82 | 32.2 | .443 | .269 | .833 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 19.7 |
| Danny Manning | 13 | 0 | 6.8 | .406 | .375 | .833 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
| Mehmet Okur | 72 | 9 | 19.0 | .426 | .339 | .773 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 6.9 |
| Tayshaun Prince | 42 | 5 | 10.4 | .449 | .426 | .647 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 3.3 |
| Željko Rebrača | 30 | 12 | 16.3 | .552 | ---- | .792 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 6.6 |
| Don Reid | 1 | 0 | 10.0 | .000 | --- | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Clifford Robinson | 81 | 69 | 34.9 | .398 | .336 | .676 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 12.2 |
| Pepe Sánchez | 9 | 0 | 4.1 | .000 | --- | ---- | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ben Wallace | 73 | 73 | 39.4 | .481 | .167 | .450 | 15.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 6.9 |
| Corliss Williamson | 82 | 1 | 25.1 | .453 | .182 | .790 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 12.0 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Chucky Atkins | 17 | 3 | 18.4 | .352 | .367 | .808 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .0 | 6.1 |
| Jon Barry | 14 | 0 | 12.3 | .426 | .455 | 1.000 | 1.7 | 1.4 | .6 | .1 | 5.0 |
| Chauncey Billups | 14 | 14 | 34.6 | .374 | .310 | .933 | 3.4 | 4.7 | .6 | .1 | 18.0 |
| Michael Curry | 15 | 14 | 18.3 | .364 | .333 | .857 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .5 | .1 | 2.7 |
| Richard Hamilton | 17 | 17 | 38.8 | .442 | .333 | .906 | 3.9 | 2.6 | .8 | .1 | 22.5 |
| Danny Manning | 4 | 0 | 3.5 | .333 | .000 | | .8 | .0 | .0 | .3 | .5 |
| Mehmet Okur | 17 | 0 | 19.0 | .438 | .538 | .531 | 4.1 | .8 | .7 | .7 | 5.5 |
| Tayshaun Prince | 15 | 3 | 25.5 | .426 | .292 | .763 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .5 | .9 | 9.4 |
| Željko Rebrača | 4 | 0 | 7.3 | .353 | | .714 | 1.3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 4.3 |
| Clifford Robinson | 17 | 17 | 30.9 | .358 | .373 | .595 | 2.7 | 2.9 | .9 | .8 | 9.3 |
| Ben Wallace | 17 | 17 | 42.5 | .486 | .000 | .446 | 16.3 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 8.9 |
| Corliss Williamson | 15 | 0 | 15.5 | .411 | | .741 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .3 | .2 | 7.8 |

## Awards and records

* Ben Wallace, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
* Joe Dumars, NBA Executive of the Year Award
* Ben Wallace, All-NBA Second Team
* Ben Wallace, NBA All-Defensive First Team

## Transactions
### Trades

| September 11, 2002 | To Washington WizardsBrian Cardinal Jerry Stackhouse Ratko Varda | To Detroit PistonsHubert Davis Richard Hamilton Bobby Simmons |
| October 1, 2002 | To Denver NuggetsRodney White | To Detroit PistonsMengke Bateer Don Reid 2004 first-round pick |
| October 3, 2002 | To San Antonio SpursMengke Bateer | To Detroit Pistons2003 second-round pick |

### Free agents

Additions :
| Player | Date signed | Former team |
| Chauncey Billups | July 17 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Pepe Sánchez | October 10 | Panathinaikos |
| Danny Manning | February 5 | Dallas Mavericks |
Subtractions :
| Player | Date signed | New Team |
| Mikki Moore | August 5 | Boston Celtics |
| Bobby Simmons | September 24 | Washington Wizards |
Player Transactions Citation: