The 2002-03 Miami Heat season was a challenging period for the franchise. Under the leadership of head coach Pat Riley, the team struggled throughout the campaign, finishing with a disappointing 25-57 record. This performance placed them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference, marking a significant downturn from their previous years of competitiveness.
This season was particularly notable as Miami missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Injuries and roster changes plagued the Heat, contributing to their lackluster performance. The team’s leading scorer, Eddie Jones, averaged 18.5 points per game, but the overall team dynamics and consistency were lacking. Alonzo Mourning, a key figure in the franchise, was sidelined for the entire season due to a kidney ailment, which was a significant blow to the Heat’s interior presence and defense.
One of the few bright spots was the performance of Caron Butler, the rookie forward who emerged as a promising talent. Butler was selected 10th overall in the 2002 NBA Draft and went on to average 15.4 points and 5.1 rebounds, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Despite these individual highlights, the season underscored a need for a strategic overhaul, leading to Pat Riley stepping down as head coach and paving the way for Stan Van Gundy to take over the reins in the following season.
- Regular Season Record: 25-57
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Miami Heat 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% |
| Eddie Jones | 47 | 18.5 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 40.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Caron Butler | 78 | 15.4 | 5.1 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 31.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brian Grant | 82 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Malik Allen | 80 | 9.6 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Travis Best | 72 | 8.4 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 33.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mike James | 78 | 7.8 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 29.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rasual Butler | 72 | 7.5 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 29.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Eddie House | 55 | 7.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 30.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Vladimir Stepania | 79 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| LaPhonso Ellis | 55 | 5.0 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 25.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Sean Lampley | 35 | 4.8 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Anthony Carter | 49 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Sean Marks | 23 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Ken Johnson | 16 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Miami Heat 2002-03 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2002-03 season for the Miami Heat.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 100-86 | |
| Nov 02, 2002 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 100-95 | |
| Nov 03, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 88-78 | |
| Nov 05, 2002 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 83-79 | |
| Nov 09, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 84-82 | |
| Nov 12, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 101-82 | |
| Nov 15, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 93-84 | |
| Nov 16, 2002 | @ Washington Wizards | L 95-65 | |
| Nov 19, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-93 | |
| Nov 20, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 79-68 | |
| Nov 22, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 75-72 | |
| Nov 24, 2002 | @ Orlando Magic | L 77-75 | |
| Nov 26, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 97-85 | |
| Nov 27, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 83-74 | |
| Nov 29, 2002 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 100-94 | |
| Nov 30, 2002 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 85-79 | |
| Dec 02, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 100-90 | |
| Dec 04, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 89-80 | |
| Dec 06, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 88-69 | |
| Dec 07, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-71 | |
| Dec 10, 2002 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 107-96 | |
| Dec 13, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | L 97-92 | |
| Dec 14, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 101-92 | |
| Dec 16, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 105-100 | |
| Dec 18, 2002 | @ Boston Celtics | W 91-81 | |
| Dec 20, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 97-77 | |
| Dec 22, 2002 | @ New York Knicks | W 92-84 | |
| Dec 23, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 74-72 | |
| Dec 27, 2002 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 90-70 | |
| Dec 30, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 93-84 | |
| Jan 01, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 107-73 | |
| Jan 03, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 100-80 | |
| Jan 05, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 96-70 | |
| Jan 06, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 99-85 | |
| Jan 08, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 86-76 | |
| Jan 10, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | L 92-76 | |
| Jan 12, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-81 | |
| Jan 14, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 88-85 | |
| Jan 15, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-81 | |
| Jan 18, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-101 | |
| Jan 20, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 72-65 | |
| Jan 22, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 92-85 | |
| Jan 25, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 97-91 | |
| Jan 27, 2003 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 102-95 | |
| Jan 29, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | W 82-80 | |
| Jan 31, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-99 | |
| Feb 01, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 67-65 | |
| Feb 03, 2003 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 99-79 | |
| Feb 05, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-87 | |
| Feb 11, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 78-69 | |
| Feb 14, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | W 94-82 | |
| Feb 15, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 98-92 | |
| Feb 17, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 93-62 | |
| Feb 18, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 84-79 | |
| Feb 22, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 100-90 | |
| Feb 25, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 84-69 | |
| Feb 26, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 91-82 | |
| Feb 28, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 126-116 | |
| Mar 02, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 93-83 | |
| Mar 04, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-91 | |
| Mar 07, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 91-89 | |
| Mar 08, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 98-92 | |
| Mar 10, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 83-73 | |
| Mar 11, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 77-75 | |
| Mar 14, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 87-83 | |
| Mar 15, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 89-82 | |
| Mar 18, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-83 | |
| Mar 19, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | L 109-93 | |
| Mar 21, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 107-98 | |
| Mar 23, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 96-74 | |
| Mar 25, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-91 | |
| Mar 26, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 82-74 | |
| Mar 28, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 111-84 | |
| Mar 30, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-87 | |
| Mar 31, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 91-86 | |
| Apr 02, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 90-62 | |
| Apr 04, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-83 | |
| Apr 06, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 90-69 | |
| Apr 08, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 89-83 | |
| Apr 11, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 91-87 | |
| Apr 13, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 94-86 | |
| Apr 15, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 103-99 |