The 2002-03 Houston Rockets season was significant as it marked the arrival of Yao Ming, the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Yao’s presence was highly anticipated, and he quickly became a pivotal figure for the team. He averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team and an All-Star selection. His integration into the team alongside franchise player Steve Francis was a focal point of the season.
Under the guidance of head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets finished with a 43-39 record. Despite this being their best performance since the 1998-99 season, the Rockets missed the playoffs, finishing ninth in the Western Conference. This was partly due to the highly competitive nature of the conference that season.
Steve Francis had another strong year, leading the team with averages of 21.0 points, 6.2 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game. Cuttino Mobley also contributed significantly with 17.5 points per game. The season was a transitional period for the Rockets, as they were adapting to the integration of Yao and the shifting dynamics of the team.
Overall, the 2002-03 season set the stage for future success by laying a foundation with Yao Ming as a central figure. Although they fell short of the postseason, the potential for growth was evident, signaling a promising future for the franchise.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Houston Rockets 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% |
| Steve Francis | 81 | 21.0 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 35.4 | |||||||
| Cuttino Mobley | 73 | 17.5 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 35.2 | |||||||
| Yao Ming | 82 | 13.5 | 8.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Kenny Thomas | 20 | 9.9 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| James Posey | 58 | 9.3 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 32.6 | |||||||
| Glen Rice | 62 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 39.8 | |||||||
| Eddie Griffin | 77 | 8.6 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Maurice Taylor | 67 | 8.4 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kelvin Cato | 73 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Moochie Norris | 82 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 24.4 | |||||||
| Terence Morris | 49 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 21.9 | |||||||
| Jason Collier | 13 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Juaquin Hawkins | 58 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 41.7 | |||||||
| BoĊĦtjan Nachbar | 14 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Tito Maddox | 9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets 2002-03 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2002-03 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 91-82 | |
| Nov 01, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 83-74 | |
| Nov 02, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 88-76 | |
| Nov 05, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-97 | |
| Nov 09, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-104 | |
| Nov 12, 2002 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 86-83 | |
| Nov 15, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 88-87 | |
| Nov 17, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 93-89 | |
| Nov 19, 2002 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 97-80 | |
| Nov 21, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 103-90 | |
| Nov 22, 2002 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 93-86 | |
| Nov 24, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 90-89 | |
| Nov 26, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 77-71 | |
| Nov 27, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 91-84 | |
| Nov 29, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 83-72 | |
| Dec 01, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 103-84 | |
| Dec 03, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 89-75 | |
| Dec 06, 2002 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 98-96 | |
| Dec 07, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 97-72 | |
| Dec 10, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 103-96 | |
| Dec 13, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 114-109 | |
| Dec 14, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 94-83 | |
| Dec 16, 2002 | @ Miami Heat | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 18, 2002 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 95-83 | |
| Dec 20, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 101-82 | |
| Dec 21, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-86 | |
| Dec 23, 2002 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 96-91 | |
| Dec 27, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | L 99-83 | |
| Dec 29, 2002 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 97-85 | |
| Dec 31, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-80 | |
| Jan 04, 2003 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 86-84 | |
| Jan 07, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 94-86 | |
| Jan 08, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | W 91-81 | |
| Jan 10, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 84-75 | |
| Jan 11, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 87-85 | |
| Jan 13, 2003 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 101-92 | |
| Jan 15, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 17, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-104 | |
| Jan 20, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 87-82 | |
| Jan 21, 2003 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 107-86 | |
| Jan 24, 2003 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 98-74 | |
| Jan 26, 2003 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-98 | |
| Jan 27, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 100-95 | |
| Jan 29, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 104-81 | |
| Jan 31, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 121-101 | |
| Feb 02, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-89 | |
| Feb 04, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 103-89 | |
| Feb 05, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-102 | |
| Feb 11, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 103-101 | |
| Feb 12, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | W 106-76 | |
| Feb 14, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | L 94-82 | |
| Feb 18, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-99 | |
| Feb 19, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 107-89 | |
| Feb 21, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 100-85 | |
| Feb 22, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 93-82 | |
| Feb 24, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | W 101-95 | |
| Feb 25, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-95 | |
| Feb 27, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 100-98 | |
| Mar 02, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 97-88 | |
| Mar 04, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-83 | |
| Mar 05, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 08, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 83-71 | |
| Mar 12, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-114 | |
| Mar 14, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 121-91 | |
| Mar 16, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 85-75 | |
| Mar 18, 2003 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-94 | |
| Mar 19, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 94-83 | |
| Mar 21, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 117-107 | |
| Mar 23, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 109-108 | |
| Mar 24, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-90 | |
| Mar 26, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-93 | |
| Mar 27, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 98-85 | |
| Mar 29, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 102-89 | |
| Mar 31, 2003 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-86 | |
| Apr 02, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-99 | |
| Apr 04, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 88-79 | |
| Apr 06, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 114-93 | |
| Apr 08, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 81-66 | |
| Apr 09, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | L 94-73 | |
| Apr 12, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-86 | |
| Apr 15, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 97-86 | |
| Apr 16, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 89-84 |