The 2002-03 season was a historic inaugural year for the New Orleans Hornets, marking the successful return of the NBA to the city. Under the guidance of head coach Paul Silas, the team finished with a strong 47-35 record, securing third place in the Central Division and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The campaign was highlighted by the exceptional play of All-Star Jamal Mashburn, who earned All-NBA Third Team honors, and the dynamic leadership of guard Baron Davis. Their impressive regular season performance led to a hard-fought playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, firmly establishing the franchise as a competitive force in its new home. The fourth overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and a 2003 All-Star, Jamal Mashburn was a prolific scoring forward who averaged 19.1 points per game over a 12-season career with the Mavericks, Heat, and Hornets.