What was the 2001-02 NBA season?

The 2001-02 NBA season was the 56th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It concluded with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their third consecutive championship.

Which teams competed in the 2002 NBA Finals, and who emerged victorious?

The 2002 NBA Finals featured the Los Angeles Lakers against the New Jersey Nets. The Los Angeles Lakers won the series 4-0, securing their third consecutive NBA championship.

What were the dates for the 2001-02 NBA season, including the regular season, playoffs, and Finals?

The 2001-02 NBA regular season began on October 30, 2001, and concluded on April 17, 2002. The playoffs started on April 20, 2002, with the NBA Finals taking place from June 5 to June 12, 2002.

How many teams participated in the NBA during the 2001-02 season?

A total of 29 teams competed in the NBA during the 2001-02 season.

Which television networks broadcast NBA games during the 2001-02 season?

The primary television partners for the 2001-02 NBA season were NBC, TNT, and TBS.

Who was the top overall draft pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and which team selected him?

The top overall draft pick in the 2001 NBA draft was Kwame Brown, who was selected by the Washington Wizards.

What distinction did Kwame Brown achieve in the 2001 NBA draft?

Kwame Brown became the first high school player ever to be drafted first overall in the NBA draft.

Which team secured the top seed in the Western Conference for the 2001-02 regular season?

The Sacramento Kings earned the top seed in the Western Conference for the 2001-02 regular season.

Who was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2001-02 season?

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2001-02 season.

Who was the leading scorer in the NBA during the 2001-02 season?

Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers was the top scorer in the league for the 2001-02 season.

Which teams reached the NBA Finals as conference champions in the 2001-02 season?

The New Jersey Nets were the Eastern Conference champions, and the Los Angeles Lakers were the Western Conference champions.

Who were the runners-up in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals during the 2001-02 playoffs?

The Boston Celtics were the Eastern Conference runners-up, and the Sacramento Kings were the Western Conference runners-up.

Where were the games of the 2002 NBA Finals played?

The 2002 NBA Finals were played at two venues: Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Who was named the NBA Finals MVP for the 2001-02 season?

Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers was awarded the NBA Finals MVP for the 2001-02 season.

What significant relocation occurred before the 2001-02 NBA season?

The Grizzlies franchise relocated from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Memphis, Tennessee, and played their first three seasons in Memphis at The Pyramid.

Where was the 2002 NBA All-Star Game held, and who was the MVP?

The 2002 NBA All-Star Game was held at First Union Center in Philadelphia. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was named the MVP, despite being booed by the home crowd.

Why was the 2002 NBA All-Star Game moved to Philadelphia?

Philadelphia was originally scheduled to host the 1999 All-Star Game, but due to the 1998-99 NBA lockout, the game was rescheduled and awarded to Philadelphia for the 2002 season.

What notable player announced a second comeback during the 2001-02 season?

Michael Jordan, then part-owner of the Washington Wizards, announced his second NBA comeback, this time playing for the Wizards. The announcement was delayed due to the September 11 attacks.

What tribute did NBA teams wear on their jerseys during the 2001-02 season?

In honor of the victims of the September 11 attacks, NBA teams wore patches featuring the American flag and a red-white-and-blue ribbon. The Toronto Raptors also included the Canadian flag.

Which team made an unexpected playoff run in the Eastern Conference during the 2001-02 season?

The Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian team in the NBA at the time, finished the season at 42-40 and secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs after winning twelve of their last fourteen games.

What was notable about the New Jersey Nets' performance in the 2001-02 season?

The New Jersey Nets achieved a successful season, winning 52 games and reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, despite never having won fifty games previously or advancing past the second round of the playoffs.

What significant late-season collapse occurred with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2001-02 season?

The Milwaukee Bucks, who held a division lead and were over .500 as late as March 6, lost 16 of their final 22 games, causing them to miss the playoffs despite their strong start.

What was unique about the league's worst records in the 2001-02 season?

For the first time since the 1985-86 season, no NBA team finished with fewer than twenty wins. The Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors shared the league's worst record at 21-61.

What legal issue involved former All-Star Jayson Williams during the 2001-02 season?

Former All-Star Jayson Williams was charged with the murder of his limousine driver on February 14, 2002. This occurred shortly after he had appeared on NBC's 'Verizon Wireless at the Half' broadcast during the All-Star Game.

What rule changes regarding defense were implemented for the 2001-02 NBA season?

The 2001-02 NBA season saw the legalization of the zone defense and the introduction of the defensive three-second violation rule.

How did the NBA playoff format change starting with the 2001-02 season?

The 2001-02 season was the last to use a best-of-five series format for the first round of the NBA playoffs. Starting the following season, the first round switched to a best-of-seven format.

What controversial officiating incidents occurred during the 2002 NBA Playoffs?

Several controversial calls involved buzzer-beaters: Baron Davis's game-winner was waved off, Reggie Miller's long three-pointer was granted after the buzzer, and Samaki Walker's three-pointer was also granted after the buzzer. These incidents led the NBA to implement new end-of-period indicators, including LED light strips and a visible shot clock.

Which game in the 2002 Western Conference Finals is considered highly controversial?

Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers is considered one of the most controversial games in NBA history due to numerous questionable calls against the Kings in the fourth quarter.

What was unique about the league's scoring leader in the 2001-02 season regarding All-NBA teams?

For the first time since the 1985-86 season, the league's scoring leader, Allen Iverson, did not make the All-NBA First Team.

Which teams underwent significant changes to their logos and uniforms for the 2001-02 season?

The Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, and Seattle SuperSonics all introduced new logos and uniforms for the 2001-02 season. The Mavericks changed their colors to navy blue, grey, and black, while the Pistons returned to their original red, white, and blue.

What changes did the Los Angeles Lakers make to their branding in the 2001-02 season?

The Los Angeles Lakers updated their logo, shifting from a lighter shade of purple to a darker purple, while retaining their gold and black colors.

Which team moved to Memphis, Tennessee, for the 2001-02 season?

The Memphis Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Memphis, Tennessee, and began playing their home games at The Pyramid.

Who was the top-ranked team in the Eastern Conference standings at the end of the 2001-02 regular season?

The New Jersey Nets finished as the top-ranked team in the Eastern Conference with a record of 52 wins and 30 losses.

Who was the top-ranked team in the Western Conference standings at the end of the 2001-02 regular season?

The Sacramento Kings finished as the top-ranked team in the Western Conference with the league-best record of 61 wins and 21 losses.

Which teams qualified for the playoffs from the Atlantic Division in the 2001-02 season?

The New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers qualified for the playoffs from the Atlantic Division.

Which teams qualified for the playoffs from the Midwest Division in the 2001-02 season?

The San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz qualified for the playoffs from the Midwest Division.

Which teams qualified for the playoffs from the Pacific Division in the 2001-02 season?

The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Seattle SuperSonics qualified for the playoffs from the Pacific Division.

What was the final series score in the 2002 NBA Finals?

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets 4 games to 0 in the 2002 NBA Finals.

Who led the league in points per game during the 2001-02 NBA season?

Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers led the league in points per game with an average of 31.4.

Who was the league leader in rebounds per game for the 2001-02 season?

Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons led the league in rebounds per game, averaging 13.0.

Which player recorded the most assists per game in the 2001-02 NBA season?

Andre Miller of the Cleveland Cavaliers led the league in assists per game with an average of 10.9.

Who was the league leader in steals per game during the 2001-02 season?

Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers also led the league in steals per game with an average of 2.8.

Which player recorded the most blocks per game in the 2001-02 NBA season?

Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons led the league in blocks per game, averaging 3.5.

Who led the league in field goal percentage during the 2001-02 season?

Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers led the league in field goal percentage with .579.

Which player had the highest free throw percentage in the 2001-02 NBA season?

Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers led the league in free throw percentage with .911.

Who was the top three-point shooter in terms of percentage during the 2001-02 season?

Steve Smith of the San Antonio Spurs led the league in three-point percentage with .472.

Which player won the NBA Rookie of the Year award for the 2001-02 season?

Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2001-02 season.

Who received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2001-02 season?

Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons was awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2001-02 season.

Which coach was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2001-02 season?

Rick Carlisle of the Detroit Pistons received the NBA Coach of the Year award.

Who was named to the All-NBA First Team for the 2001-02 season?

The 2001-02 All-NBA First Team consisted of forwards Tracy McGrady (Orlando Magic) and Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs), center Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers), and guards Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) and Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets).

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Season Overview

Season Duration

The 56th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) commenced on October 30, 2001, and concluded with the playoffs on June 12, 2002. The regular season ran until April 17, 2002, followed by the playoffs from April 20 to June 2, culminating in the NBA Finals.

Championship

The Los Angeles Lakers secured their third consecutive NBA championship, defeating the New Jersey Nets 4-0 in the 2002 NBA Finals. Shaquille O'Neal was named the Finals MVP for his dominant performance.

Key Figures

The Sacramento Kings earned the top seed in the Western Conference. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, while Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers led the league in scoring.

Conference Standings

Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference saw the New Jersey Nets emerge as the top seed, followed closely by the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. The standings reflected a competitive landscape with several teams vying for playoff positions.

Eastern Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
1	c-New Jersey Nets	52	30	.634	–	33–8	19–22	16–8
2	y-Detroit Pistons	50	32	.610	2	26–15	24–17	20–8
3	x-Boston Celtics	49	33	.598	3	27–14	22–19	17–7
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	44	38	.537	8	21–20	23–18	17–11
5	x-Orlando Magic	44	38	.537	8	27–14	17–24	12–12
6	x-Philadelphia 76ers	43	39	.524	9	22–19	21–20	14–11
7	x-Toronto Raptors	42	40	.512	10	24–17	18–23	17–11
8	x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	10	25–16	17–24	13–15

9	e-Milwaukee Bucks	41	41	.500	11	25–16	16–25	17–11
10	e-Washington Wizards	37	45	.451	15	22–19	15–26	12–13
11	e-Miami Heat	36	46	.439	16	18–23	18–23	10–14
12	e-Atlanta Hawks	33	49	.402	19	23–18	10–31	11–17
13	e-New York Knicks	30	52	.366	22	19–22	11–30	4–20
14	e-Cleveland Cavaliers	29	53	.354	23	20–21	9–32	12–16
15	e-Chicago Bulls	21	61	.256	31	14–27	7–34	5–23

Western Conference

The Western Conference was dominated by the Sacramento Kings, who secured the top seed. The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers also demonstrated strong performances, setting up an intense playoff picture.

Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
1	z-Sacramento Kings	61	21	.744	–	36–5	25–16	15–9
2	y-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	3	32–9	26–15	21–3
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	58	24	.707	3	34–7	24–17	16–8
4	x-Dallas Mavericks	57	25	.695	4	30–11	27–14	16–8
5	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	50	32	.610	11	29–12	21–20	15–9
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	12	30–11	19–22	14–10
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	45	37	.549	16	26–15	19–22	13–11
8	x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	17	25–16	19–22	8–16

9	e-Los Angeles Clippers	39	43	.476	22	25–16	14–27	9–15
10	e-Phoenix Suns	36	46	.439	25	23–18	13–28	12–12
11	e-Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	33	18–23	10–31	9–15
12	e-Denver Nuggets	27	55	.329	34	20–21	7–34	8–16
13	e-Memphis Grizzlies	23	59	.280	38	15–26	8–33	7–17
14	e-Golden State Warriors	21	61	.256	40	14–27	7–34	5–19

Playoff Journey

First Round

The playoffs commenced with the first round, featuring best-of-five series. Key matchups included the top-seeded Kings facing the Jazz, the Spurs against the Suns, and the Lakers battling the Trail Blazers.

First Round
E1 vs E8	New Jersey*	3	Indiana	2
E2 vs E7	Detroit*	3	Toronto	2
E3 vs E6	Boston	3	Philadelphia	1
E4 vs E5	Charlotte	3	Orlando	1
W1 vs W8	Sacramento*	3	Utah	1
W2 vs W7	San Antonio*	3	Seattle	2
W3 vs W6	Los Angeles Lakers	3	Portland	0
W4 vs W5	Dallas	3	Minnesota	0

Finals

The postseason culminated in the NBA Finals, where the Los Angeles Lakers faced the New Jersey Nets. The Lakers' dominance was evident as they swept the series 4-0, securing their third consecutive title.

NBA Finals
Eastern Champion vs Western Champion	New Jersey	0	Los Angeles Lakers*	4

Finals MVP: Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)

Statistical Leaders

Scoring & Rebounding

Points Per Game: Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) - 31.4 PPG
Rebounds Per Game: Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) - 13.0 RPG

Playmaking & Defense

Assists Per Game: Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers) - 10.9 APG
Steals Per Game: Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) - 2.8 SPG
Blocks Per Game: Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) - 3.5 BPG

Shooting Efficiency

Field Goal %: Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers) - .579
Free Throw %: Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers) - .911
3-Point %: Steve Smith (San Antonio Spurs) - .472

Season Accolades

Major Awards

MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
Rookie of the Year: Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
Sixth Man of the Year: Corliss Williamson (Detroit Pistons)
Most Improved Player: Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers)
Coach of the Year: Rick Carlisle (Detroit Pistons)

All-NBA Teams

First Team: McGrady, Duncan, O'Neal, Bryant, Kidd
Second Team: Garnett, Webber, Nowitzki, Payton, Iverson
Third Team: J. O'Neal, Wallace, Mutombo, Pierce, Nash

All-NBA First Team:
F – Tracy McGrady (Orlando Magic)
F – Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
C – Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
G – Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
G – Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets)

All-NBA Second Team:
F – Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
F – Chris Webber (Sacramento Kings)
C – Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
G – Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics)
G – Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)

All-NBA Third Team:
F – Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana Pacers)
F – Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
C – Dikembe Mutombo (Philadelphia 76ers)
G – Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
G – Steve Nash (Dallas Mavericks)

Defensive & Rookie Honors

All-Defensive First Team: Duncan, Garnett, Wallace, Payton, Kidd
All-Defensive Second Team: C. Robinson, Bowen, Mutombo, Christie, Bryant
All-Rookie First Team: Battier, Gasol, Kirilenko, Parker, Richardson

NBA All-Defensive First Team:
F – Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
F – Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)
C – Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
G – Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics)
G – Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets)

NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
F – Clifford Robinson (Detroit Pistons)
F – Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs)
C – Dikembe Mutombo (Philadelphia 76ers)
G – Doug Christie (Sacramento Kings)
G – Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

NBA All-Rookie First Team:
Shane Battier (Memphis Grizzlies)
Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
Andrei Kirilenko (Utah Jazz)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
Jason Richardson (Golden State Warriors)

All-Rookie Second Team:
Eddie Griffin (Houston Rockets)
Richard Jefferson (New Jersey Nets)
Joe Johnson (Phoenix Suns)
Vladimir Radmanović (Seattle SuperSonics)
Željko Rebrača (Detroit Pistons)
Jamaal Tinsley (Indiana Pacers)

League & Team Transformations

Notable Rule & Event Changes

The 2001-02 season introduced significant rule changes, including the legalization of the zone defense and the implementation of the defensive three-second violation. It was also the final season for NBA broadcasts on NBC and a regular basis for TBS.

Zone defense was legalized.
Defensive three-second violation was introduced.
Last season for NBA on NBC; last regular season broadcasts for NBA on TBS.
NBA playoff first-round series switched from best-of-five to best-of-seven format starting the following season.
New rules for end-of-period indicators (LED light strips) were instituted after controversial buzzer-beater calls.
Michael Jordan announced his second comeback, joining the Washington Wizards.
The Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver to Memphis, Tennessee.
The 2002 NBA All-Star Game was held in Philadelphia.

Team Uniform & Arena Updates

Several franchises updated their visual identity and facilities. The Dallas Mavericks debuted new uniforms and moved into the American Airlines Center. The Detroit Pistons also introduced new logos and uniforms, returning to their classic colors.

Dallas Mavericks: New logo, uniforms (navy blue, grey, black), and moved to American Airlines Center.
Detroit Pistons: New logo, uniforms, returned to original red, white, and blue colors.
Los Angeles Lakers: New logo with a darker shade of purple.
New York Knicks: Slight uniform modifications.
Memphis Grizzlies: Relocated from Vancouver, changed wordmark on jerseys.
Miami Heat: Introduced new alternate red uniforms.
Milwaukee Bucks: Minor uniform adjustments.
Seattle SuperSonics: New logo and uniforms, reverted to original yellow and emerald green colors.
San Antonio Spurs: Played their final season at the Alamodome.

Player & Coach Milestones

Kwame Brown became the first high school player drafted #1 overall. Notable player awards included Tim Duncan (MVP) and Allen Iverson (Scoring Title). The season also saw significant coaching changes across multiple teams.

First High School #1 Pick: Kwame Brown (Washington Wizards).
Player of the Month: Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Ben Wallace (East); Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion (West).
Rookie of the Month: Jamaal Tinsley, Brendan Haywood, Richard Jefferson, Trenton Hassell, Jamaal Tinsley, Željko Rebrača (East); Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Pau Gasol, Jason Richardson, Pau Gasol, Gilbert Arenas (West).
Coach of the Month: Larry Brown (PHI), Doug Collins (WAS), Rick Adelman (SAC), Rick Carlisle (DET), Gregg Popovich (SAS), Lenny Wilkens (TOR).
Controversies: Jayson Williams charged with murder; Marv Albert & Mike Fratello limo crash; controversial playoff calls.

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References

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

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The Hardwood Chronicle

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Season Overview 📊

🗓️ Season Duration

🏆 Championship

⭐ Key Figures

Conference Standings 📈

🌴 Eastern Conference

⛰️ Western Conference

Playoff Journey ⚔️

➡️ First Round

🏆 Finals

Statistical Leaders 🎯

🏀 Scoring & Rebounding

🎯 Playmaking & Defense

📊 Shooting Efficiency

Season Accolades ⭐

👑 Major Awards

🏅 All-NBA Teams

🛡️ Defensive & Rookie Honors

League & Team Transformations 🔄

📜 Notable Rule & Event Changes

🎨 Team Uniform & Arena Updates

🌟 Player & Coach Milestones

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Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Season Overview

Season Duration

Championship

Key Figures

Conference Standings

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Playoff Journey

First Round

Finals

Statistical Leaders

Scoring & Rebounding

Playmaking & Defense

Shooting Efficiency

Season Accolades

Major Awards

All-NBA Teams

Defensive & Rookie Honors

League & Team Transformations

Notable Rule & Event Changes

Team Uniform & Arena Updates

Player & Coach Milestones

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice