![]() LeBron James (1st overall to Cleveland), Carmelo Anthony (3rd overall to Denver), Chris Bosh (4th overall to Toronto), and Dwyane Wade (5th overall to Miami), among others, formed one of the strongest drafts in NBA history. It would be their last playoff appearance until the 2017–18 season. They won two and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, which they lost to the Lakers. The Minnesota Timberwolves, behind their "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, and Sam Cassell, amassed the best record in the Western Conference, and were expected to finally win a first round playoff series. However, that title chase came to an end in the NBA Finals, as the Detroit Pistons won 4–1. 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. This marked the only playoff appearance of Steve Francis NBA career. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and lost to the eventual Conference champion Lakers in five games. The Houston Rockets played their first game at the Toyota Center. For the first time in 20 years the Utah Jazz did not make the playoffs, ending the third longest streak in NBA history. The West won 136–132 Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was named Most Valuable Player.įor the first time in 21 years the Portland Trail Blazers did not make the playoffs, ending the second longest streak in NBA history. The All-Star Game was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 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 only division title the franchise has won in their twenty-nine seasons in the NBA. This was the last 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. The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the 2004 NBA Finals. ![]() The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. The San Antonio Spurs hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals at the SBC Center.
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