2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season

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2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season
Head coachPaul Silas
General managerJim Paxson
PresidentJim Paxson
Owners
ArenaGund Arena
Results
Record35–47 (.427)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Central)
Conference: 9th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net Ohio · WUAB
RadioWTAM
< 2002–03 2004–05 >

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] In the years following their 1998 first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Cavaliers dropped to the bottom of the league and became a perennial entrant in the annual NBA Draft Lottery. The franchise's freefall bottomed out during the 2002–03 season, as the Cavs fell to a 17–65 record, tied with the Denver Nuggets for the league's worst.

However, the fortunes of the franchise shifted dramatically in May 2003, when the Cavs won the first overall pick in the draft lottery. The Cavaliers selected high school phenom LeBron James from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in nearby Akron, providing the team with a centerpiece player around which to build.[2]

The Cavs revised their look for the 2003–04 season, introducing a new logo and a variation on the wine and gold color scheme used by the club during the 1970s. Dark blue was also added as a trim color.

The team made major moves during the season, trading Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm, Michael Stewart and a second-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Eric Williams, Tony Battie, and Kedrick Brown. Later, Darius Miles was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jeff McInnis and Ruben Boumtje Boumtje.

The Cavaliers lost their first five games of the season, leading them to an awful 6–19 start. However, they played .500 basketball for the remainder of the season, finishing fifth in the Central Division with a 35–47 record. They fell just one game short of making the playoffs. James was named Rookie of the Year and selected to the All-Rookie First Team. Following the season, second-year forward Carlos Boozer signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz.

Offseason[]

Despite James being with Cleveland for the first season, Cleveland still did not make the playoffs, still needing improvement.

Draft picks[]

Main article: 2003 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 1 LeBron James Small Forward United States USA St. Vincent-St.Mary (Akron, OH)
2 31 Jason Kapono Forward United States USA UCLA

Roster[]

2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
F/C 4 Battie, Tony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976-02-11 Texas Tech
F 1 Boozer, Carlos 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 258 lb (117 kg) 1981-11-20 Duke
SF 5 Brown, Kedrick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1981-03-18 Okaloosa-Walton CC
C 52 Diop, DeSagana 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1982-01-30 Oak Hill Academy (HS)
C 11 Ilgauskas, Zydrunas 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1975-06-05 Lithuania
F 23 James, LeBron 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1984-12-30 St. Vincent-St. Mary (HS)
F 24 Kapono, Jason 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1981-02-04 UCLA
G 0 McInnis, Jeff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 1974-10-22 North Carolina
F 54 Nailon, Lee 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1975-02-22 TCU
F 14 Newble, Ira 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975-01-20 Miami (OH)
G 12 Ollie, Kevin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1972-12-27 Connecticut
SG 2 Wagner, Dajuan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1983-02-04 Memphis
F 55 Williams, Eric Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972-07-17 Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 6, 2004

Regular season[]

  • Facing the Sacramento Kings in his first NBA game, LeBron James recorded 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals and shooting 60% from the field.[3] After recording a season-high 41 points against the New Jersey Nets, James became the youngest player in league history to score 40 points in a game.[4] He averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game for the season,[5] and was named Rookie of the Year; becoming the first Cavalier and youngest NBA player to ever receive the award. He joined Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only three players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in their rookie season.[6] The Cavaliers improved by 18 wins and concluded the regular season with a 35–47 record, but failed to make the playoffs.[7]

Standings[]

Central Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 – 34–7 27–14 20–8
x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7 31–10 23–18 17–11
x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20 25–16 16–25 14–14
x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20 27–14 14–27 15–13
Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26 23–18 12–29 14–14
Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28 18–23 15–26 11–17
Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33 18–23 10–31 10–18
Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38 14–27 9–32 11–17
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Indiana Pacers 61 21 .744 –
2 y-New Jersey Nets 47 35 .573 14
3 x-Detroit Pistons 54 28 .659 7
4 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 19
5 x-New Orleans Hornets 41 41 .500 20
6 x-Milwaukee Bucks 41 41 .500 20
7 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
8 x-Boston Celtics 36 46 .439 25
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 35 47 .427 26
10 Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 28
11 Philadelphia 76ers 33 49 .402 28
12 Atlanta Hawks 28 54 .341 33
13 Washington Wizards 25 57 .305 36
14 Chicago Bulls 23 59 .280 38
15 Orlando Magic 21 61 .256 40


Record vs. opponents[]

2003-04 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta – 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Boston 1–3 – 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–1
Chicago 1–3 2–1 – 2–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 1–3
Cleveland 3–1 1–3 2–2 – 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–2 3–1 4–0 2–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–2
Dallas 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 – 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Denver 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 – 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–0
Detroit 3–1 3–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 3–0
Golden State 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 – 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1
Houston 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–0
Indiana 4–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1
L.A. Clippers 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 – 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–0 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 – 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–0
Memphis 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–0
Miami 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–0 0–2 1–1 – 1–2 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 1–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–1 – 0–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 – 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–0
New Jersey 3–1 2–2 3–0 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 – 2–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–0
New Orleans 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 – 1–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 3–1
New York 3–0 3–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–1 – 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 4–0
Orlando 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 – 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 4–0
Philadelphia 2–1 1–3 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2
Phoenix 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 – 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–3 1–1
Portland 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 – 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
Sacramento 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 – 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 4–0 4–0 2–2 – 4–0 2–0 4–0 2–0
Seattle 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 – 1–1 1–3 1–1
Toronto 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 – 1–1 1–3
Utah 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–1 – 1–1
Washington 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 —

Game log[]

2003–04 game log
Total: 35–47 (Home: 23–18; Road: 12–29)
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–2)
November : 4–11 (Home: 4–3; Road: 0–8)
December : 6–9 (Home: 4–5; Road: 2–4)
January : 7–7 (Home: 5–1; Road: 2–6)
February : 7–6 (Home: 3–4; Road: 4–2)
March : 8–7 (Home: 5–3; Road: 3–4)
April : 3–5 (Home: 2–2; Road: 1–3)
2003–04 schedule

Player stats[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Tony Battie* 50 1 19.5 .427 .125 .768 4.8 .7 .36 .94 5.4
Carlos Boozer 75 75 34.6 .523 .167 .768 11.4 2.0 .99 .73 15.5
Kedrick Brown* 34 16 16.5 .465 .388 .643 2.3 1.1 .38 .15 5.3
Mateen Cleaves 4 2 23.0 .304 .000 .500 1.8 4.8 1.00 .50 3.8
DeSagana Diop 56 3 13.0 .388 .000 .600 3.6 .6 .46 .91 2.3
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas 81 81 31.3 .483 .286 .746 8.1 1.3 .48 2.48 15.3
LeBron James 79 79 39.5 .417 .290 .754 5.5 5.9 1.65 .73 20.9
Jason Kapono 41 3 10.4 .403 .477 .833 1.3 .3 .32 .05 3.5
Jelani McCoy 2 0 6.0 .000 .000 .000 2.0 .0 .00 .00 .0
Jeff McInnis* 31 31 35.4 .417 .388 .836 2.6 7.5 1.16 .13 11.7
Lee Nailon* 22 4 18.0 .451 .000 .800 3.0 .8 .18 .05 7.7
Ira Newble 64 25 19.5 .391 .105 .783 2.4 1.1 .39 .30 4.0
Kevin Ollie 82 7 17.1 .370 .444 .835 2.1 2.9 .62 .10 4.2
Dajuan Wagner 44 4 16.1 .366 .360 .681 1.3 1.2 .59 .16 6.5
Eric Williams* 50 36 27.5 .366 .253 .787 3.8 1.9 .96 .16 9.4

* Statistics include only games with the Cavaliers

Award winners[]

  • LeBron James, Small Forward, Rookie of the Year
  • LeBron James, Small Forward, NBA All-Rookie First Team

References[]

  1. ^ 2003-04 Cleveland Cavaliers
  2. ^ "Sports of The Times; Drafting A Savior? Be Careful". New York Times. June 27, 2003. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  3. ^ basketball-reference.com, James 2003-04 Game Log, accessed April 27, 2007.
  4. ^ espn.com, James receives 78 of 118 first-place votes, accessed May 7, 2007.
  5. ^ nba.com, LeBron James: Player Info Page Archived May 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 27, 2007.
  6. ^ nba.com, LeBron James: NBA Bio Archived May 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 27, 2007.
  7. ^ basketball-reference.com, 2003-04 Cleveland Cavaliers, accessed April 27, 2007.
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