The 2002–03 NBA season was the Hawks' 54th season in the National Basketball Association, and 35th season in Atlanta. Atlanta hosted the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. In the off-season, the Hawks acquired All-Star forward Glenn Robinson from the Milwaukee Bucks. However, DerMarr Johnson missed the entire season with a broken neck sustained from an offseason car accident. With the addition of Robinson, and Theo Ratliff playing his first full season with the team, the Hawks would get off to a 6–4 start, which included a road win over the 3-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, 95–83 at Staples Center on November 12. However, they would proceed to struggle as head coach Lon Kruger was fired after Christmas with the team floundering at 11–16. Under replacement Terry Stotts, the Hawks lost 12 of their next 15 games, including two six-game losing streaks in December and January. Despite winning six of their final eight games in April, they finished fifth in the Central Division with a 35–47 record.