Season of National Basketball Association team the New York Knicks
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2003–04 New York Knicks season was the 58th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[ 1] During the offseason, the Knicks signed All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo in free agency.[ 2] The Knicks started the season by losing seven of their first nine games as fans at the Garden chanted "Fire Layden", in reference to general manager Scott Layden .[ 3] [ 4] Knicks fans would get their wish as Layden was fired and replaced by former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas .[ 4] [ 5]
In January, the Knicks traded Antonio McDyess and Charlie Ward to the Phoenix Suns for All-Star guard Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway .[ 6] Ward was released by the Suns, and later signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs .[ 7] At midseason, Thomas made more moves, trading Keith Van Horn to the Milwaukee Bucks for Tim Thomas .[ 8] After a 15–24 start, the Knicks fired head coach Don Chaney , and played one game under assistant Herb Williams before signing Lenny Wilkens as their new coach.[ 9] With a 39–43 record, which placed them third in the Atlantic Division , the Knicks qualified for the NBA playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference .[ 10] Allan Houston averaged 18.5 points per game, but played just 50 games due to injury.[ 11] [ 12]
In the first round of the playoffs , the Knicks were swept in four games by the New Jersey Nets .[ 11] New York did not return to the playoffs until the 2010–11 season .[ 13] Following the season, Mutombo was traded to the Chicago Bulls , who then dealt him to the Houston Rockets .[ 14] Longtime Knicks play-by-play announcer Marv Albert was not retained by the MSG Network , having criticized poor play by the team on-air. He remained an NBA on TNT broadcaster until he retired from NBA broadcasting following the 2020–21 season .[ 15] [ 16]
2003–04 New York Knicks roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
SG
49
Anderson, Shandon
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
1973-12-31
Georgia
PF
42
Baker, Vin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
232 lb (105 kg)
1971-11-23
Hartford
SG
1
Hardaway, Penny
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1971-07-18
Memphis
PF
32
Harrington, Othella
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1974-01-31
Georgetown
SG
20
Houston, Allan
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1971-04-20
Tennessee
SF
4
Johnson, DerMarr
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
201 lb (91 kg)
1980-05-05
Cincinnati
PG
3
Marbury, Stephon
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1977-02-20
Georgia Tech
C
13
Mohammed, Nazr
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1977-09-05
Kentucky
C
55
Mutombo, Dikembe
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1966-06-25
Georgetown
PG
25
Norris, Moochie
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1973-07-27
West Florida
PF
50
Sweetney, Mike
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
295 lb (134 kg)
1982-10-25
Georgetown
PF
40
Thomas, Kurt
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1972-10-04
TCU
SF
5
Thomas, Tim
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1977-02-26
Villanova
C
14
Trybański, Cezary
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1979-09-22
Poland
PG
30
Williams, Frank
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
1980-02-25
Illinois
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 12, 2004
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
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
—
2004 playoff game log
First Round: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
2004 schedule
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Knicks only.
^ "New York Knicks" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 15, 2019 .
^ "Knicks Make Mutombo Their Center" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. October 10, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ "2003–04 New York Knicks Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ a b Robbins, Liz (December 23, 2003). "Pro Basketball; The Listing Knicks Make a Change at the Top" . The New York Times . Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ Mcshane, Larry (September 29, 2007). "Two sides to every story with Knicks coach Isiah Thomas" . USA Today . Associated Press. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ Robbins, Liz (January 6, 2004). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Bring Marbury Home in Big Trade" . The New York Times . Retrieved February 22, 2017 .
^ Badger, T. A. (January 9, 2004). "Spurs sign ex-Knick Charlie Ward" . USA Today . Associated Press. Retrieved February 22, 2017 .
^ "2003–04 New York Knicks Transactions" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ Sandoval, Greg (January 15, 2004). "Knicks Fire Chaney, Then Hire Wilkens" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 11, 2017 .
^ "2003–04 NBA Season Summary" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ a b "2003–04 New York Knicks Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2021 .
^ "Allan Houston retires after 12 seasons" . ESPN. Associated Press. October 17, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
^ "Knicks beat Cavaliers, clinch first playoff spot since 2004" . USA Today . Associated Press. April 4, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011 .
^ "Mutombo says he's leaving Bulls for Rockets" . USA Today . Associated Press. September 8, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2017 .
^ "Albert and MSG Network part ways" . ESPN. June 16, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2019 .
^ Brassil, Gillian R. (May 17, 2021). "Marv Albert, Hall of Fame N.B.A. Sportscaster, Is Retiring" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 19, 2021 .
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