The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Celtics acquired Vin Baker and Shammond Williams from the Seattle SuperSonics, and signed free agent and undrafted rookie J.R. Bremer. The Celtics posted a six-game winning streak after losing their first two games, and got off to a solid 16–7 start. At midseason, Williams was traded to the Denver Nuggets for former Celtics center Mark Blount. However, the Celtics lost six straight games in March, and finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record. The team made the playoffs for the second time with team captain Paul Pierce, but this time as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Pierce averaged 25.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.4, assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Antoine Walker averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Pierce and Walker were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, while Bremer was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.