2003–04 Denver Nuggets season

The 2003–04 NBA season was the 28th season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 37th season as a franchise.^[1] The season saw the team draft future All-Star Carmelo Anthony with the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. During the offseason, the team signed free agent Andre Miller, and re-signed former Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard. Coming off with the worst record of 17–65 the previous season, Anthony led the Nuggets to a fast start winning 13 of their first 19 games. However, the team struggled down the stretch posting losing records in February and March. The Nuggets finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 43–39 record, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Anthony had a stellar rookie season averaging 21.0 points per game, and being selected to the All-Rookie First Team. He also finished second behind LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Rookie of The Year voting.

2003–04 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Jeff Bzdelik
General manager	Kiki VanDeWeghe
Owner(s)	Stan Kroenke
Arena	Pepsi Center
Results
Record	43–39 (.524)
Place	Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Timberwolves 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KTVD Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain
Radio	KKFN
< 2002–03 2004–05 >

However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets lost to the top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves and league MVP Kevin Garnett in five games.

For the season, the Nuggets changed their logo and uniforms, adding gold and light blue to their color scheme, they remained their primary logo until 2008 their added dark navy blue to their color scheme and remained in used until 2018, while the uniforms they remained in used until 2015.

NBA draft

Main article: 2003 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	3	Carmelo Anthony	SF	United States	Syracuse
2	46	Sani Bečirović	G	Slovenia

Roster

2003–04 Denver Nuggets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 12 Chris Andersen 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1978–07–07 Blinn F 15 Carmelo Anthony 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1984–05–29 Syracuse G 20 Jon Barry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1969–07–25 Georgia Tech F 32 Ryan Bowen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1975–11–20 Iowa G 11 Earl Boykins 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) 135 lb (61 kg) 1976–06–02 Eastern Michigan F/C 23 Marcus Camby 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–03–22 UMass C 51 Michael Doleac 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 262 lb (119 kg) 1977–06–15 Utah C 56 Francisco Elson 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1976–02–28 California F/C 31 Nene Hilario 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1982–09–13 Brazil G 1 Voshon Lenard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1973–05–14 Minnesota G 24 Andre Miller 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1976–03–19 Utah F 41 Mark Pope 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–09–11 Kentucky G 4 Jeff Trepagnier 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1979–07–11 USC F 22 Nikoloz Tskitishvili 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1983–04–14 Republic of Georgia F 5 Rodney White 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1980–06–28 Charlotte

Head coach Jeff Bzdelik Assistant(s) John MacLeod T.R. Dunn Scott Brooks Adrian Dantley Chip Engelland Jarinn Akana Bill Branch Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Minnesota Timberwolves	58	24	.707	–	31–10	27–14	14–10
x-San Antonio Spurs	57	25	.695	1	33–8	24–17	15–9
x-Dallas Mavericks	52	30	.634	6	36–5	16–25	14–10
x-Memphis Grizzlies	50	32	.610	8	31–10	19–22	12–12
x-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13	27–14	18–23	8–16
x-Denver Nuggets	43	39	.524	15	29–12	14–27	11–13
e-Utah Jazz	42	40	.512	16	28–13	14–27	10–14

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Minnesota Timberwolves	58	24	.707	–
2	y-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	2
3	x-San Antonio Spurs	57	25	.695	1
4	x-Sacramento Kings	55	27	.671	3
5	x-Dallas Mavericks	52	30	.634	6
6	x-Memphis Grizzlies	50	32	.610	8
7	x-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13
8	x-Denver Nuggets	43	39	.524	15
9	e-Utah Jazz	42	40	.512	16
10	e-Portland Trail Blazers	41	41	.500	17
11	e-Seattle SuperSonics	37	45	.451	21
12	e-Golden State Warriors	37	45	.451	21
13	e-Phoenix Suns	29	53	.354	29
14	e-Los Angeles Clippers	28	54	.341	30

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

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Pacers points	Opponents	Record	Streak	Notes
1

Playoffs

2004 playoff game log
First round: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 18 @ Minnesota L 92–106 Anthony, Camby (19) Marcus Camby (8) Earl Boykins (5) Target Center 18,503 0–1 2 April 21 @ Minnesota L 81–95 Voshon Lenard (24) Carmelo Anthony (9) Anthony, Nenê (3) Target Center 18,101 0–2 3 April 24 Minnesota W 107–86 Carmelo Anthony (24) Marcus Camby (16) Andre Miller (6) Pepsi Center 19,713 1–2 4 April 27 Minnesota L 82–84 Voshon Lenard (28) Marcus Camby (14) Marcus Camby (5) Pepsi Center 19,694 1–3 5 April 30 @ Minnesota L 91–102 Camby, Miller (21) Marcus Camby (15) Boykins, Lenard (4) Target Center 19,890 1–4
2004 schedule

Player statistics

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%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Carmelo Anthony	82	82	36.5	.426	.322	.777	6.1	2.8	1.2	0.5	21.0
Andre Miller	82	82	34.6	.457	.185	.832	4.5	6.1	1.7	0.3	14.8
Voshon Lenard	73	70	30.6	.422	.367	.791	2.7	2.1	0.8	0.2	14.2
Nenê	77	77	32.5	.530	.000	.682	6.5	2.2	1.5	0.5	11.8
Earl Boykins	82	3	22.5	.419	.322	.877	1.7	3.6	0.6	0.0	10.2
Marcus Camby	72	72	30.0	.477	.000	.721	10.1	1.8	1.2	2.6	8.6
Rodney White	72	0	13.7	.459	.379	.750	2.3	0.8	0.4	0.3	7.5
Jon Barry	57	9	19.3	.404	.370	.845	2.2	2.6	1.0	0.1	6.2
Michael Doleac	26	0	13.2	.412		.875	2.9	0.5	0.2	0.2	3.6
Francisco Elson	62	14	14.1	.472	.000	.667	3.3	0.5	0.6	0.6	3.5
Chris Andersen	71	0	14.5	.443	.000	.589	4.2	0.5	0.5	1.6	3.4
Nikoloz Tskitishvili	39	0	7.9	.328	.273	.793	1.6	0.3	0.2	0.2	2.7
Jeff Trepagnier	11	0	8.7	.263	.500	.500	1.4	0.4	0.3	0.0	2.3
Ryan Bowen	52	1	7.5	.340		.833	1.7	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.9
Mark Pope	4	0	5.0	.500		.000	0.8	0.0	0.3	0.0	0.5

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Voshon Lenard	5	5	32.2	.427	.458	.714	2.6	2.4	0.8	0.0	17.0
Andre Miller	5	5	34.8	.472	.000	.818	4.6	3.2	1.6	0.0	15.4
Carmelo Anthony	4	4	35.8	.328	.182	.800	8.3	2.8	1.3	0.0	15.0
Earl Boykins	5	0	24.2	.444	.357	.857	2.4	3.8	1.0	0.2	13.4
Marcus Camby	5	5	38.8	.491	.500	.571	11.4	2.4	0.8	1.4	12.6
Nenê	5	5	26.4	.444		.538	5.0	3.0	1.0	0.6	7.8
Jon Barry	5	1	20.0	.333	.333	.667	3.6	2.0	0.6	0.0	4.2
Francisco Elson	4	0	15.0	.583		.500	2.3	0.5	0.5	0.3	3.8
Michael Doleac	5	0	9.8	.500			1.4	0.6	0.0	0.0	2.0
Rodney White	4	0	6.5	.267	.000		1.3	0.0	0.5	0.0	2.0
Chris Andersen	5	0	6.8	.333			2.8	0.4	0.2	0.4	1.2
Ryan Bowen	4	0	1.5	1.000			0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5

Player Statistics Citation:^[2]

Awards, records, and honors

• Carmelo Anthony, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions