After the end of the 2002-03 NBA season, the Knicks held the 9th and the 30th pick. Since the NBA’s resident team the Bobcats weren’t around the 30th pick was in the 2nd round and there were 59 picks instead of the usual 60. With those picks they selected Michael Sweetney and Maciej Lampe. While both rookies weren’t the best it is only Sweetney that would spend a longer time than Lampe with the Knicks.

I will tell you that this team wasn’t the best in of roster and their record. They posted a record of 39-43 and they even made the playoffs but were bounced by the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the 2004 NBA Playoffs. They had players such as an old Dikembe Mutombo and a young Stephon Marbury. They also had a plethora of other players too in which I’ll get into later. I forgot to mention that Knicks fans wanted Scott Layden fired but they got an even worse GM in Isiah Thomas. Who was arguably the worst GM of all-time. Then the Knicks would have 3 head coaches during the course of the season.

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

2003-04 New York Knicks Roster

Shandon Anderson

Vin Baker

Anfernee Hardaway

Othella Harrington

Allan Houston

DerMarr Johnson

Stephon Marbury

Nazr Mohammed

Dikembe Mutombo

Moochie Norris

Michael Sweetney

Kurt Thomas

Tim Thomas

Cezary Trybanski

Frank Williams

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•

Lineups

PG: Stephon Marbury (6’2 | 205 lbs)

Marbury originally started the season with the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 20.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 8.3 APG in Phoenix but soon he was traded midway through the 2003-04 NBA season. He wrapped up the season averaging 19.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG and 9.3 APG. He was about 26-years-old. Which means he was nearing his prime but that never happened.

SG: Allan Houston (6’6 | 205 lbs)

Allan Houston was usually injury prone throughout his entire NBA career but in the 2003-04 NBA season, he missed 32 games in the season but I believe that might’ve been after the Marbury was traded to the team. Anyways, Houston only played 50 games that entire season and he did average 18.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 2.0 APG. Good stats for a guy that was derailed by injuries.

SF: Tim Thomas (6’10 | 240 lbs)

Thomas was traded in a three-team deal which included the Hawks. He was traded from the Bucks along with a few others players going to either Milwaukee or Atlanta. It was him and Nazr Mohammed that went to the Big Apple in New York. Anyways, Thomas finished the season averaging 15.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 1.4 APG. Those are decent stats but not too great for a former 7th overall pick.

PF: Kurt Thomas (6’9 | 240 lbs)

Kurt Thomas began his Knick career in 1998, which means he was part of that Knicks squad that made the finals in 1999. Thomas was a consistent 10+ PPG scorer after the 1999-00 NBA season. In the 2003-04 NBA season, Thomas went on to average 11.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 1.9 APG.

Dikembe Mutombo (7’2 | 260 lbs)

He was legitimately one of the oldest players in the league by that time. Seeing as he 37-years-old by that time and he was washed up too. I bet some of you guys didn’t know he played for the Knicks. Anyways, Mutombo went on to average 5.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG and .4 APG.

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

Anfernee Hardaway (6’7 | 194 lbs)

Penny wasn’t the same since his injuries so around this time he wasn’t that great but he was reliable in ways. Along with being traded with star guard Marbury and backup center Trybanski. Hardaway was seen a shell of his former self. Hardaway averaged 9.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 1.9 APG.

Vin Baker (6’11 | 232)

Here is one of Jordan brand’s very first signees, Baker was seen as one of the top power forwards in the league but an alcohol addiction ended it all. By the time Baker reached New York, he was already past the point where he can’t return to his old form. Baker averaged 6.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG and .7 APG.

Shandon Anderson (6’4 | 208 lbs)

Anderson was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1996. He made it to three NBA Finals during the course of his career but never made one in New York. Anderson played in New York from 2001-2004. In the 2003-04 NBA season, Anderson averaged 7.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 1.5 APG.

Othella Harrington (6’9 | 235 lbs)

This Georgetown product was selected in the 1996 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He did spend 3 seasons with the Rockets and then he went on to play for the Grizzlies where he would spend a short stint there. He was traded to the Knicks on January 30, 2001. In the 2003-04 NBA season, he would average 4.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG and .5 APG.

DerMarr Johnson (6’9 | 210 lbs)

Here is another top pick but he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in one of the worst NBA Drafts of all-time. By 2008, he was almost out of the league. Anyways, Johnson averaged 5.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG and .5 APG. Really terrible averages for a 6th overall pick.

Nazr Mohammed (6’10 | 250 lbs)

All is you guys may know Mohammed for his playing days in Chicago where he was born. You guys may also know him from Charlotte and Oklahoma City too. Anyways, Mohammed was traded for Michael Doleac midway through the 2003-04 NBA season. His averages from the Knicks were 9.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG and .6 APG.

Moochie Norris (6’1 | 175 lbs)

I’m sure most of you guys know Norris from his playing days in Houston wheee you might’ve seen his afro. Also you might’ve seen his bobble head as well. In New York, he averaged 4.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG and 2.0 APG. Not too great of stats but pretty decent for a second rounder.

Michael Sweetney (6’8 | 295 lbs)

Sweetney is most notably known for his weight problems which came around probably 2005 or so. Sweetney averaged 4.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG and .3 APG. Bad for a 9th pick but this was his first season so there could’ve been room for improvement.

Cezary Trybanski (7’2 | 235 lbs)

Most if you guys may not know him because he wasn’t good in the NBA. But some of you Polish people may know him because he is from your country! I believe he might’ve been the third ever to the NBA. Trybanski averaged 0.3 PPG, 0 RPG and 0 APG.

Frank Williams (6’3 | 212 lbs)

A relatively unknown guard from the University of Illinois. Williams was one of the school’s best guards ever but he’s not like the other Williams. Frank Williams averaged 3.9 PPG, .9 RPG and 2.2 APG. He got into some trouble after his career ended.

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

2004 NBA Draft:

R: 2 | P: 44 (Trevor Ariza)

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

Fun Facts:

1. Throughout the entire season, the Knicks had 12 lottery pick players. All played at separate times though. But the number of lottery picks are high.

2. The Knicks had 3 head coaches during the course of the NBA season. These were tough times but they still made the playoffs.

3. Scott Layden was dumped for an even worse GM in Knicks history. This serves as a cautionary tale to the Knicks.