Brooklyn Nets » 2002/03 (Sports Team Season)

The 2002–03 New Jersey Nets season was the Nets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Nets entered the season as runner-ups in the 2002 NBA Finals, where they were swept by the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in four games. During the offseason, the Nets acquired All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo from the Philadelphia 76ers, and signed free agent Rodney Rogers. However, Mutombo only played just 24 games due to a wrist injury. The Nets got off a solid start with a 26–9 record, while posting a ten-game winning streak between December and January. The team finished their season first place in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, while posting a successful 33–8 home record. Jason Kidd was selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, leading the Nets with 18.7 points, 8.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, then swept the 6th-seeded Boston Celtics in four straight games in the semifinals, and then defeated the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in another four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals.