The 2002-03 Denver Nuggets season was a challenging period for the franchise. Under the leadership of head coach Jeff Bzdelik, the team struggled to find success, finishing with a record of 17-65. This placed them at the bottom of the Midwest Division and gave them the worst record in the NBA for that season.
Key players included Juwan Howard, who led the team in scoring with an average of 18.4 points per game, and rookie Nene Hilario, who showed promise with his athleticism and defensive skills. Despite their efforts, the Nuggets lacked depth and consistency, contributing to their poor performance. The season did, however, set the stage for future rebuilding efforts, including securing the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, which they used to select Carmelo Anthony, a cornerstone for the franchise’s resurgence in the following years.
- Regular Season Record: 17-65
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 2002-03 Season
POINTS
Juwan Howard
18.4
REBOUNDS
Juwan Howard
7.6
ASSISTS
Shammond Williams
5.1
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Juwan Howard | 77 | 18.4 | 7.6 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 50.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Posey | 25 | 14.1 | 5.8 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 27.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nenê | 80 | 10.5 | 6.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Whitney | 29 | 9.6 | 1.6 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 33.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shammond Williams | 27 | 9.4 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 36.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rodney White | 72 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 23.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Donnell Harvey | 77 | 7.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 14.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marcus Camby | 29 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 40.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vincent Yarbrough | 59 | 6.9 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 26.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Devin Brown | 3 | 6.0 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Trepagnier | 8 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Satterfield | 22 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 17.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Blount | 54 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Andersen | 59 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Junior Harrington | 82 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nikoloz Tskitishvili | 81 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 24.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ryan Bowen | 62 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 28.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Crotty | 12 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 30.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Adam Harrington | 6 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Predrag Savović | 27 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 15.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Bryant | 3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets 2002-03 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2002-03 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 83-77 | |
| Nov 01, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 83-74 | |
| Nov 02, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 96-79 | |
| Nov 05, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 103-87 | |
| Nov 07, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 89-63 | |
| Nov 09, 2002 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 84-73 | |
| Nov 13, 2002 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 75-72 | |
| Nov 15, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 84-79 | |
| Nov 16, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 74-53 | |
| Nov 18, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-79 | |
| Nov 20, 2002 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 96-79 | |
| Nov 22, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 72-70 | |
| Nov 23, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 80-79 | |
| Nov 26, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 85-81 | |
| Nov 27, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-68 | |
| Nov 29, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 92-82 | |
| Dec 03, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 110-89 | |
| Dec 04, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 92-90 | |
| Dec 06, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 98-77 | |
| Dec 07, 2002 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 92-81 | |
| Dec 09, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 92-84 | |
| Dec 11, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 96-93 | |
| Dec 13, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 94-72 | |
| Dec 14, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-104 | |
| Dec 16, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 93-71 | |
| Dec 18, 2002 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 80-75 | |
| Dec 20, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 89-80 | |
| Dec 21, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 92-89 | |
| Dec 28, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-93 | |
| Dec 30, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 79-77 | |
| Jan 03, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 94-82 | |
| Jan 04, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 87-76 | |
| Jan 06, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 86-71 | |
| Jan 08, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 86-76 | |
| Jan 10, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 82-81 | |
| Jan 11, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | L 87-85 | |
| Jan 13, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 89-75 | |
| Jan 15, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 92-81 | |
| Jan 17, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 97-80 | |
| Jan 20, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 89-74 | |
| Jan 22, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-88 | |
| Jan 24, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 77-58 | |
| Jan 25, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 88-75 | |
| Jan 27, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 92-66 | |
| Jan 28, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-92 | |
| Feb 01, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 122-100 | |
| Feb 02, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 93-78 | |
| Feb 04, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-100 | |
| Feb 06, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 83-74 | |
| Feb 11, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-93 | |
| Feb 12, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-102 | |
| Feb 15, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 88-69 | |
| Feb 16, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 100-92 | |
| Feb 18, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-76 | |
| Feb 19, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 85-77 | |
| Feb 22, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-89 | |
| Feb 24, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 94-89 | |
| Feb 26, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 94-84 | |
| Feb 28, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 94-88 | |
| Mar 02, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-94 | |
| Mar 04, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 92-86 | |
| Mar 05, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 96-86 | |
| Mar 08, 2003 | @ Miami Heat | W 98-92 | |
| Mar 09, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | L 111-98 | |
| Mar 11, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 95-87 | |
| Mar 16, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 92-84 | |
| Mar 18, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-81 | |
| Mar 19, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 91-78 | |
| Mar 21, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-99 | |
| Mar 22, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 90-80 | |
| Mar 24, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 108-96 | |
| Mar 26, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-103 | |
| Mar 29, 2003 | @ Houston Rockets | L 102-89 | |
| Mar 30, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 88-72 | |
| Apr 01, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 95-65 | |
| Apr 02, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | L 83-75 | |
| Apr 06, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 106-99 | |
| Apr 08, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 98-78 | |
| Apr 11, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 105-103 | |
| Apr 12, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 101-79 | |
| Apr 15, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-104 | |
| Apr 16, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 89-84 |