2003–04 NBA season
| 2003–04 NBA season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | October 28, 2003 – April 14, 2004 April 17 – June 1, 2004 (Playoffs) June 6 – 15, 2004 (Finals) |
| Number of teams | 29 |
| TV partner(s) | ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV |
| Draft | |
| Top draft pick | LeBron James |
| Picked by | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Regular season | |
| Top seed | Indiana Pacers |
| Season MVP | Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) |
| Top scorer | Tracy McGrady (Orlando) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Detroit Pistons |
| Eastern runners-up | Indiana Pacers |
| Western champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Western runners-up | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Finals | |
| Venue | |
| Champions | Detroit Pistons |
| Runners-up | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Finals MVP | Chauncey Billups (Detroit) |
The 2003–04 NBA season was the 58th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season ended with the Detroit Pistons defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1 in the 2004 NBA Finals.
The 2003–04 NBA season was the culmination of the "dead-ball" era of the league, in which the NBA saw its lowest offensive rating since the 1998–99 season, at 102.9. The 2004 Eastern Conference Finals between the Pistons and Indiana Pacers saw scoring totals and efficiency hit historic lows, prompting the NBA to swiftly implement rule changes the following offseason in order to make it easier for offenses moving forward.
As of 2025, the only active player in the NBA who has played games in the 2003–04 season is LeBron James.