The 2002-03 Utah Jazz season marked an end of an era as it was the final campaign for legendary guard John Stockton, who retired after 19 seasons in the NBA, all with the Jazz. The team, coached by Jerry Sloan, finished the regular season with a 47-35 record, securing the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Throughout the season, the Jazz relied heavily on the veteran leadership of Stockton and forward Karl Malone. Stockton, at age 40, still delivered impressive numbers, averaging 10.8 points and 7.7 assists per game. Malone, at 39, led the team with 20.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The Jazz also benefited from contributions by players like Andrei Kirilenko, who showcased his defensive prowess and versatility.
Utah’s regular-season performance led them to the playoffs, where they faced the Sacramento Kings in the first round. The Jazz struggled against the Kings’ dynamic offense, ultimately losing the series 4-1. This marked their fifth consecutive first-round exit, a disappointing streak for a franchise accustomed to deeper playoff runs in the late 1990s.
Despite the early playoff exit, the season was significant, as it highlighted the durability and skill of Stockton and Malone. Stockton’s retirement marked the end of one of the most successful partnerships in NBA history and signaled the beginning of a rebuilding phase for the Utah Jazz.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Utah Jazz 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% |
| Karl Malone | 81 | 20.6 | 7.8 | 4.7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 21.4 | 5 | 19.6 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Matt Harpring | 78 | 17.6 | 6.6 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 41.3 | 5 | 14.8 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 14.3 |
| Andrei Kirilenko | 80 | 12.0 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 32.5 | 5 | 11.6 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 14.3 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 10.8 | 2.5 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 36.3 | 5 | 11.2 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Calbert Cheaney | 81 | 8.6 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 40.0 | 5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Scott Padgett | 82 | 5.7 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 33.8 | 4 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 28.6 |
| Jarron Collins | 22 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Greg Ostertag | 81 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 5 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Tony Massenburg | 58 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 5 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Mark Jackson | 82 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 28.4 | 5 | 7.2 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 55.6 |
| DeShawn Stevenson | 61 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 33.4 | 4 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Carlos Arroyo | 44 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 42.9 | 3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Amaechi | 50 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Utah Jazz in the 2003 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Sacramento Kings
In the 2003 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Sacramento Kings in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the Jazz were overmatched by the Kings' depth and firepower, ultimately losing the series 4-1. This series marked the end of an era for the Jazz, as it was the last playoff appearance for the legendary duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, with Stockton retiring shortly after the season.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 96-90 | |
| Apr 21, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 108-95 | |
| Apr 26, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 107-104 | |
| Apr 28, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 99-82 | |
| Apr 30, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 111-91 |
Utah Jazz 2002-03 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2002-03 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2002 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 100-75 | |
| Oct 31, 2002 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-98 | |
| Nov 02, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 101-92 | |
| Nov 03, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 91-77 | |
| Nov 06, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 80-78 | |
| Nov 08, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-97 | |
| Nov 11, 2002 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-95 | |
| Nov 12, 2002 | @ New York Knicks | W 108-87 | |
| Nov 14, 2002 | @ Washington Wizards | L 105-102 | |
| Nov 15, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 86-75 | |
| Nov 17, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 82-78 | |
| Nov 19, 2002 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-76 | |
| Nov 20, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 96-79 | |
| Nov 23, 2002 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-90 | |
| Nov 26, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-94 | |
| Nov 29, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 95-77 | |
| Nov 30, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107-85 | |
| Dec 02, 2002 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 102-91 | |
| Dec 04, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 93-85 | |
| Dec 06, 2002 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 104-71 | |
| Dec 08, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-101 | |
| Dec 12, 2002 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 93-88 | |
| Dec 14, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 98-96 | |
| Dec 18, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 97-90 | |
| Dec 20, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 93-81 | |
| Dec 22, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 103-74 | |
| Dec 23, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | W 96-91 | |
| Dec 27, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-98 | |
| Dec 28, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-69 | |
| Dec 30, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 107-85 | |
| Jan 03, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-115 | |
| Jan 04, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 105-97 | |
| Jan 06, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-98 | |
| Jan 08, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-93 | |
| Jan 10, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 92-76 | |
| Jan 12, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 107-99 | |
| Jan 15, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 92-81 | |
| Jan 16, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 92-85 | |
| Jan 18, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 95-78 | |
| Jan 20, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 106-103 | |
| Jan 22, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 96-89 | |
| Jan 24, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 91-90 | |
| Jan 25, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 108-95 | |
| Jan 28, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 102-92 | |
| Jan 29, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 95-71 | |
| Jan 31, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 102-94 | |
| Feb 01, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-87 | |
| Feb 03, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 92-90 | |
| Feb 05, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 105-84 | |
| Feb 11, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | W 103-101 | |
| Feb 12, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 106-76 | |
| Feb 14, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 109-77 | |
| Feb 17, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 109-97 | |
| Feb 19, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 93-87 | |
| Feb 22, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 99-89 | |
| Feb 24, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 103-92 | |
| Feb 26, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 92-85 | |
| Feb 28, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-83 | |
| Mar 02, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 91-90 | |
| Mar 05, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 94-83 | |
| Mar 07, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 108-105 | |
| Mar 08, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 101-77 | |
| Mar 10, 2003 | @ Miami Heat | W 83-73 | |
| Mar 12, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | W 111-108 | |
| Mar 14, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 101-81 | |
| Mar 16, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-95 | |
| Mar 18, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 99-81 | |
| Mar 19, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 99-86 | |
| Mar 22, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 88-73 | |
| Mar 24, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 96-91 | |
| Mar 26, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 94-85 | |
| Mar 28, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-90 | |
| Mar 29, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-81 | |
| Apr 01, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 94-89 | |
| Apr 03, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 93-88 | |
| Apr 04, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | L 94-92 | |
| Apr 06, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 82-80 | |
| Apr 08, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 128-102 | |
| Apr 09, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 94-73 | |
| Apr 11, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 95-92 | |
| Apr 14, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 91-83 | |
| Apr 16, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 95-84 |