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.
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.
See main article: 2003 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | SF | Syracuse | |||
| 2 | 46 | G |
| 2003-04 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| width=100 | 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 | Date | Opponent | Result | Pacers points | Opponents | Record | Streak | Notes |
| 1 | ||||||||
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 18| @ Minnesota| L 92–106| Anthony, Camby (19)| Marcus Camby (8)| Earl Boykins (5)| Target Center
18,503| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 21| @ Minnesota| L 81–95| Voshon Lenard (24)| Carmelo Anthony (9)| Anthony, Nenê (3)| Target Center
18,101| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 24| Minnesota| W 107–86| Carmelo Anthony (24)| Marcus Camby (16)| Andre Miller (6)| Pepsi Center
19,713| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 27| Minnesota| L 82–84| Voshon Lenard (28)| Marcus Camby (14)| Marcus Camby (5)| Pepsi Center
19,694| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 30| @ Minnesota| L 91–102| Camby, Miller (21)| Marcus Camby (15)| Boykins, Lenard (4)| Target Center
19,890| 1–4|-
| 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 |
| 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 |