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2003-04 NBA season

2003–04 NBA season
League National Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
Duration October 28, 2003 – April 14, 2004
April 17 – June 1, 2004 (Playoffs)
June 6 – 15, 2004 (Finals)
Number of teams 29
TV partner(s) ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV
Draft
Top draft pick LeBron James
Picked by Cleveland Cavaliers
Regular season
Top seed Indiana Pacers
Season MVP Kevin Garnett (Minnesota)
Top scorer Tracy McGrady (Orlando)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Detroit Pistons
  Eastern runners-up Indiana Pacers
Western champions Los Angeles Lakers
  Western runners-up Minnesota Timberwolves
Finals
Champions Detroit Pistons
  Runners-up Los Angeles Lakers
Finals MVP Chauncey Billups (Detroit)
NBA seasons

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the 2004 NBA Finals.

This was the final season for the original two-division format in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, before each of the conferences added a third division the following season. As a result, this would also be the final season for the NBA Midwest Division, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were that division's last champion.

The All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The West won 136-132; Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal is named Most Valuable Player.

For the first time in 21 years the Portland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs, ending the second longest streak in NBA history. For the first time in 20 years the Utah Jazz did not make the playoffs, ending the third longest streak in NBA history.

Prior to the start of the season, Karl Malone and Gary Payton took major paycuts to leave their teams and join Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Lakers for a chance at a possible NBA title. However, that title chase came to an end in the NBA Finals, as the Detroit Pistons won 4-1. Behind their "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, and Sam Cassell, the Minnesota Timberwolves amassed the best record in the Western Conference, and were expected to finally win a first round playoff series. They won two and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers. It would be their last playoff appearance, beginning a playoff drought that as of 2016 has lasted for twelve years.


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Wikipedia

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