The 2002-03 Orlando Magic season was marked by both individual brilliance and team inconsistency. The Magic concluded the regular season with a 42-40 record, securing the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. This season was particularly notable for the exceptional performance of Tracy McGrady, who emerged as one of the league’s premier players. McGrady averaged a career-high 32.1 points per game, earning him the NBA scoring title and a spot on the All-NBA First Team. His scoring prowess and versatility were crucial for the Magic throughout the season.
Despite McGrady’s heroics, the Magic struggled with consistency and depth. Injuries also played a significant role in the team’s challenges, as several key players, including Grant Hill, missed substantial time. Hill, who was expected to be a cornerstone for the franchise, played only 29 games due to recurring ankle issues. The team relied heavily on McGrady and had difficulty finding consistent support, which highlighted the need for a more balanced roster.
In the playoffs, the Magic faced the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round. Despite taking a surprising 3-1 series lead, Orlando could not close out the series, losing in seven games. The playoff exit underscored the team’s reliance on McGrady and the necessity for more depth and resilience. Overall, the 2002-03 season showcased McGrady’s individual brilliance but also highlighted the Magic’s need for further development to become a true contender in the East.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-4
Orlando Magic Roster and Stats for 2002-03 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Tracy McGrady | 75 | 32.1 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 38.6 | 7 | 31.7 | 6.7 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 34.0 |
| Mike Miller | 49 | 16.4 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 34.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Grant Hill | 29 | 14.5 | 7.1 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gordan Giriček | 27 | 14.3 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 32.8 | 7 | 9.4 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 33.3 |
| Drew Gooden | 19 | 13.6 | 8.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 7 | 14.0 | 12.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Pat Garrity | 81 | 10.7 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 39.6 | 7 | 4.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 23.5 |
| Darrell Armstrong | 82 | 9.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 33.6 | 7 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Shawn Kemp | 79 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 7 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jacque Vaughn | 80 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 23.5 | 7 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Horace Grant | 5 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Andrew DeClercq | 77 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 7 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Pat Burke | 62 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 14.3 | 6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steven Hunter | 33 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Chris Whitney | 22 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 19.4 | 7 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 44.4 |
| Jeryl Sasser | 75 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 29.5 | 6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
| Ryan Humphrey | 35 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Olumide Oyedeji | 27 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Orlando Magic in the 2003 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 2003 NBA Playoffs, the Orlando Magic faced off against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round. Despite Tracy McGrady's stellar performance, averaging over 31 points per game, the Magic couldn't capitalize on their early 3-1 series lead and ultimately fell to the Pistons in a dramatic Game 7, marking a significant collapse in the postseason. This series is often remembered for McGrady's assertion that advancing past the first round would boost his career, a statement that became infamous after the series turnaround.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 99-94 | |
| Apr 23, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 89-77 | |
| Apr 25, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 89-80 | |
| Apr 27, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-92 | |
| Apr 30, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-67 | |
| May 02, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 103-88 | |
| May 04, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-93 |
Orlando Magic 2002-03 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2002-03 season for the Orlando Magic.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 95-88 | |
| Oct 30, 2002 | @ Miami Heat | W 100-86 | |
| Nov 01, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 111-105 | |
| Nov 02, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-90 | |
| Nov 05, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 125-121 | |
| Nov 08, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 105-98 | |
| Nov 10, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 120-117 | |
| Nov 12, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 115-109 | |
| Nov 14, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 101-80 | |
| Nov 16, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 135-92 | |
| Nov 17, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 101-99 | |
| Nov 19, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-84 | |
| Nov 20, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-84 | |
| Nov 22, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 106-70 | |
| Nov 24, 2002 | vs. Miami Heat | W 77-75 | |
| Nov 27, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-102 | |
| Nov 30, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-92 | |
| Dec 02, 2002 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-97 | |
| Dec 04, 2002 | @ New York Knicks | W 87-85 | |
| Dec 06, 2002 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 88-78 | |
| Dec 07, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 121-88 | |
| Dec 09, 2002 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-109 | |
| Dec 10, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 107-87 | |
| Dec 13, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-85 | |
| Dec 15, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-84 | |
| Dec 16, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 87-84 | |
| Dec 18, 2002 | @ Utah Jazz | W 97-90 | |
| Dec 20, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 89-80 | |
| Dec 23, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-103 | |
| Dec 25, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-99 | |
| Dec 27, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 99-86 | |
| Dec 28, 2002 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 101-95 | |
| Dec 30, 2002 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 112-95 | |
| Jan 03, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 100-89 | |
| Jan 04, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 88-83 | |
| Jan 06, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | W 103-100 | |
| Jan 08, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 91-81 | |
| Jan 10, 2003 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 101-97 | |
| Jan 12, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-105 | |
| Jan 13, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 101-86 | |
| Jan 16, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 108-93 | |
| Jan 19, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 101-93 | |
| Jan 21, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-94 | |
| Jan 22, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 94-91 | |
| Jan 24, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-107 | |
| Jan 26, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 91-83 | |
| Jan 29, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-108 | |
| Jan 31, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 109-108 | |
| Feb 02, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 97-89 | |
| Feb 04, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 96-89 | |
| Feb 11, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 92-83 | |
| Feb 13, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-88 | |
| Feb 14, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-98 | |
| Feb 16, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 99-97 | |
| Feb 18, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 99-94 | |
| Feb 21, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-96 | |
| Feb 23, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-105 | |
| Feb 25, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 98-93 | |
| Feb 28, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 118-110 | |
| Mar 02, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-76 | |
| Mar 03, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 104-89 | |
| Mar 05, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-99 | |
| Mar 07, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | L 111-102 | |
| Mar 09, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 111-98 | |
| Mar 11, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 106-105 | |
| Mar 12, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-108 | |
| Mar 15, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 96-86 | |
| Mar 19, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 109-93 | |
| Mar 21, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-85 | |
| Mar 23, 2003 | @ Miami Heat | W 96-74 | |
| Mar 24, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 110-104 | |
| Mar 26, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 27, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 110-107 | |
| Mar 31, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 118-113 | |
| Apr 01, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 118-105 | |
| Apr 05, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 108-90 | |
| Apr 06, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | L 114-93 | |
| Apr 09, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 88-82 | |
| Apr 11, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 98-86 | |
| Apr 12, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 89-86 | |
| Apr 14, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 100-84 | |
| Apr 16, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 93-87 |
