# 2002–03 Miami Heat season

The 2002–03 NBA season was the fifteenth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat had the tenth pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and selected Caron Butler from the University of Connecticut. With the continued effects of his kidney ailment, Alonzo Mourning was forced to sit out the entire season. 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.
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. Following the season, Mourning would sign as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets, and LaPhonso Ellis retired.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 10 | Caron Butler | SF | United States | Connecticut |
| 2 | 52 | Rasual Butler | SG/SF | United States | La Salle |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Center Alonzo Mourning missed the entire season due to a kidney transplant.

## Regular season

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-New Jersey Nets | 49 | 33 | .598 | – | 33–8 | 16–25 | 16–8 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1 | 25–16 | 23–18 | 17–7 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 5 | 25–16 | 19–22 | 13–12 |
| x-Orlando Magic | 42 | 40 | .512 | 7 | 26–15 | 16–25 | 14–11 |
| Washington Wizards | 37 | 45 | .451 | 12 | 23–18 | 14–27 | 11–13 |
| New York Knicks | 37 | 45 | .451 | 12 | 24–17 | 13–28 | 9–15 |
| Miami Heat | 25 | 57 | .305 | 24 | 16–25 | 9–32 | 5–19 |
| # | 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 |

### 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 | — |

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| 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 |

## Awards and records

Caron Butler, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team