2003–04 Chicago Bulls season
Encyclopedia
The 2003-04 Chicago Bulls season was the 38th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association
(NBA).
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #D40026; color: white; text-align: center;" | 2003-04 Chicago Bulls roster
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After closing out the previous season with four solid wins in the final six games to reach the 30-victory plateau, the team was hopeful of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and new pieces were added to the team’s puzzle for that to happen.
First, Kirk Hinrich
was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft
to fill the void at the guard spot. This happened just days after the team learned it would be without services of Jay Williams
, who was injured in a motorcycle accident in June and would miss this entire season.
Later in the summer, the Bulls brought back one of the sport’s all-time legends when free agent Scottie Pippen
—a seven-time NBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history—returned to Chicago on 07/20/03.
“I think I know how to win games in the NBA. It may sound simple, but both winning and losing can become a mindset, and I won’t accept losing—ever. Whether it’s on the floor, in the huddle, at practice or just demonstrating a winning leadership, I plan on helping this team win,” said Pippen.
Just one month into the season, however, it became clear that expectations were not being met and changes were necessary. With a 4-10 record, the team relieved Bill Cartwright of his head coaching duties (11/24/03). A few days later, Scott Skiles
was named head coach (11/28/03) as he set out to instill a tough, defensive-minded, and high-effort mentality upon his new team.
The Bulls makeover wasn’t done yet. A blockbuster of a deal went down on 12/01/03, when Chicago traded Lonny Baxter
, Donyell Marshall
and Jalen Rose
to Toronto
for Antonio Davis
, Chris Jefferies and Jerome Williams.
“This trade helps us address a couple of different areas, areas that we needed to get stronger in. It not only provides us with size, but also with energy,” said John Paxson.
While the Bulls continued to struggle, improvements in effort under Coach Skiles were evident, and the roster re-make had only begun. The team’s 23-59 record qualified it for a sixth consecutive NBA Lottery appearance.
Other Notes: Hired Assistant Coaches Johnny Bach (07/15/03) and Ron Adams (07/16/03) … snapped a 26-game road losing streak versus Western Conference teams with a 95-79 win at Utah (02/04/04) … Hinrich dished out 506 assists and his average of 6.7 apg ranked tied for 7th in the NBA, despite the Bulls ranking last in the league in team field goal percentage (.414) … Hinrich was the only rookie in the NBA to tally a triple-double when he registered 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the visiting Golden State Warriors (02/28/04) … Jamal Crawford went for a career-high 50 points (18-34 FG, 8-11 FT) at Toronto (04/11).
Honors: Kirk Hinrich (freshman team) participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend … Hinrich also was named to the got milk? NBA All-Rookie First Team … the Bulls drew an average of 19,736 fans through 41 home games (third in the NBA), including 11 sellouts … the Bulls also hosted the seven largest crowds in the NBA, including a season-high draw of 23,067 versus the L.A. Lakers at the United Center.
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA).
Offseason
- July 20, 2003: Signed F Scottie PippenScottie PippenScottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
- August 20, 2003: Signed G Kendall GillKendall GillKendall Cedric Gill is a retired American professional basketball player, now a sports analyst for Comcast Sports Net and the Big Ten Network.-Early life:...
- September 4, 2003: Bought out contract of C Dalibor BagaricDalibor BagaricDalibor Bagarić is a Croatian professional basketball player who formerly played for the NBA's Chicago Bulls from 2000 to 2003...
- October 23, 2003: Waived G Trenton HassellTrenton HassellTrenton Lavar Hassell is an American professional basketball player who formerly played in the NBA. He earned a reputation for being one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders...
NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Kirk Hinrich Kirk Hinrich Kirk James Hinrich is an American professional basketball player, currently a guard for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He has also been a member of the USA National Team.... |
G | Kansas University of Kansas The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The... |
|
| 2 | 36 | Mario Austin Mario Austin Mario Trevon Austin is an American professional basketball player. Drafted 36th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, Mario did not make the roster following training camp and left to play overseas.He began his professional career with CSKA Moscow, but was released after an injury... |
F | Mississippi State Mississippi State University The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area... |
|
| 2 | 45 | Matt Bonner Matt Bonner Matthew Robert "Matt" Bonner is an American professional basketball player who is currently a member of the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Bonner played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the... |
F | Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906... |
|
| 2 | 53 | Tommy Smith Tommy Smith (basketball) Tommy Smith is an American basketball player who played collegiately at Arizona State University. A 6'10" and 225 lb forward, Smith attended North High School and was selected in the 2nd round of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and now plays overseas... |
F | Arizona State Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona... |
Roster
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #D40026; color: white; text-align: center;" | 2003-04 Chicago Bulls roster
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! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
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Regular season
Heading in to the season, Bulls fans were as optimistic as they had been in years. Before it was done, however, winds of change had blown through the Windy City leaving a roster and a coaching staff upside down.After closing out the previous season with four solid wins in the final six games to reach the 30-victory plateau, the team was hopeful of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and new pieces were added to the team’s puzzle for that to happen.
First, Kirk Hinrich
Kirk Hinrich
Kirk James Hinrich is an American professional basketball player, currently a guard for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He has also been a member of the USA National Team....
was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft
2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
to fill the void at the guard spot. This happened just days after the team learned it would be without services of Jay Williams
Jay Williams (basketball)
Jason David Williams , professionally known as Jay Williams, is a former American professional basketball player with the NBA Chicago Bulls. He last signed with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, but was waived by the Toros on December 30, 2006 to rehabilitate a nagging injury...
, who was injured in a motorcycle accident in June and would miss this entire season.
Later in the summer, the Bulls brought back one of the sport’s all-time legends when free agent Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
—a seven-time NBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history—returned to Chicago on 07/20/03.
“I think I know how to win games in the NBA. It may sound simple, but both winning and losing can become a mindset, and I won’t accept losing—ever. Whether it’s on the floor, in the huddle, at practice or just demonstrating a winning leadership, I plan on helping this team win,” said Pippen.
Just one month into the season, however, it became clear that expectations were not being met and changes were necessary. With a 4-10 record, the team relieved Bill Cartwright of his head coaching duties (11/24/03). A few days later, Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles
Scott Allen Skiles is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and former American professional basketball player. He also is the former head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. Skiles holds the NBA record for assists in one game, with 30...
was named head coach (11/28/03) as he set out to instill a tough, defensive-minded, and high-effort mentality upon his new team.
The Bulls makeover wasn’t done yet. A blockbuster of a deal went down on 12/01/03, when Chicago traded Lonny Baxter
Lonny Baxter
Lonny Leroy Baxter is an American professional basketball player. He is 203 cm in height, and plays the position of power forward-center.-College:...
, Donyell Marshall
Donyell Marshall
Donyell Lamar Marshall is a retired American professional basketball player, at the small forward and power forward positions. During his extensive NBA career, he played with eight different teams...
and Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose
Jalen Anthony Rose is a retired American professional basketball player, who currently works as a sports analyst for the sports television network ESPN...
to Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
for Antonio Davis
Antonio Davis
Antonio Lee Davis is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Davis is also the former president of the NBA Players Association .-College career:...
, Chris Jefferies and Jerome Williams.
“This trade helps us address a couple of different areas, areas that we needed to get stronger in. It not only provides us with size, but also with energy,” said John Paxson.
While the Bulls continued to struggle, improvements in effort under Coach Skiles were evident, and the roster re-make had only begun. The team’s 23-59 record qualified it for a sixth consecutive NBA Lottery appearance.
Other Notes: Hired Assistant Coaches Johnny Bach (07/15/03) and Ron Adams (07/16/03) … snapped a 26-game road losing streak versus Western Conference teams with a 95-79 win at Utah (02/04/04) … Hinrich dished out 506 assists and his average of 6.7 apg ranked tied for 7th in the NBA, despite the Bulls ranking last in the league in team field goal percentage (.414) … Hinrich was the only rookie in the NBA to tally a triple-double when he registered 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the visiting Golden State Warriors (02/28/04) … Jamal Crawford went for a career-high 50 points (18-34 FG, 8-11 FT) at Toronto (04/11).
Honors: Kirk Hinrich (freshman team) participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend … Hinrich also was named to the got milk? NBA All-Rookie First Team … the Bulls drew an average of 19,736 fans through 41 home games (third in the NBA), including 11 sellouts … the Bulls also hosted the seven largest crowds in the NBA, including a season-high draw of 23,067 versus the L.A. Lakers at the United Center.
Ref
- http://www.basket-stats.info/nba/2003-2004/teams/east/chicago.htm
- http://www.nba.com/bulls/history/Chicago_Bulls_History-24393-42.html
See also
- 2003–04 NBA season