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The 2002-03 season would be the final goodbye for one of the NBA's greatest players as Michael Jordan finished out his historic 15 year career as a Washington Wizard.
In his final season in the NBA, Jordan was the only Washington Wizard player to play in all 82 games, starting in 67 of them. He averaged 20 points, 6.1 rebounds 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game in his final year while shooting 45 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line.
Even at 40, Jordan still amazed the fans that he had entertained for the last decade and a half. Throughout the season, Jordan scored 20 or more points 42 times, scored 30 or more points nine times and tallied 40 or more points three times. He grabbed 10 or more rebounds 12 times, recorded 13 double-doubles, led the Washington Wizard in scoring 36 times, rebounding 16 times, assists 25 times, steals 32 times and blocks 13 times and clinched his position as the NBA's all-time points per game leader (30.12) at Miami on March 11, 2003.
Jerry Stackhouse, who was acquired in a trade with Detroit that sent Richard Hamilton to the Pistons, led the team in points and assists for the 2002-03 season. He averaged 21.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free throw line.
Stackhouse scored a season-high 38 points versus his former team, Philadelphia, on November 30. He was named NBA Player of the Week for the week of November 4-10 after scoring 29 points, including the game-winning dunk as time expired, versus the three-time defending NBA Champion L.A. Lakers on November 8.
The Washington Wizard were once again the most watched team in the league as they led the league in attendance for the second straight year. The Washington Wizard averaged 20,173 for the 41 home games and 19,311 for 41 road games.
For the second consecutive year, the Washington Wizard finished with a 37-45 record. During one 10 game stretch, the Washington Wizard won seven games that included defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105-103 on New Year's Eve, a nail-biting, double-overtime 107-104 victory against the Indiana Pacers and road wins against the Boston Celtics, 100-95, and New York Knicks, 89-84.
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