The 2001–02 season saw the Nets finishing first in the Eastern Conference with 52 win and 30 losses, their best record since joining the NBA after the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.
In the offseason, the Nets had traded point guard Stephon Marbury to the Phoenix Suns, for Jason Kidd.[1] Kidd was credited for most of turn-around—the Nets had finished 26–56 the previous year—and finished second to the Spurs' Tim Duncan in MVP voting.[2] Kidd was fortunate to join the team when he did,[editorializing] as the team reaped the benefits of the newly healthy Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles and Keith Van Horn; along with the trading of Eddie Griffin for Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong.
Under Kidd's guidance, the young Nets team prospered through the playoffs and ended up advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference title and the franchise's first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals. In the first round, they defeated the Indiana Pacers then defeated the Charlotte Hornets in the semifinals. They then defeated the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, New Jersey's season would end without an improbable NBA crown, as Kidd and the Nets were swept in four games by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers.
Draft picks
Roster
2001–02 New Jersey Nets roster |
Players |
Coaches |
Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) |
From |
G |
1 |
Armstrong, Brandon |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
188 lb (85 kg) |
1980–06–16 |
Pepperdine |
C |
35 |
Collins, Jason |
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
255 lb (116 kg) |
1978–12–02 |
Stanford |
G |
12 |
Harris, Lucious |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
1970–12–18 |
Long Beach State |
F |
24 |
Jefferson, Richard |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
222 lb (101 kg) |
1980–06–21 |
Arizona |
G |
8 |
Johnson, Anthony |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
1974–10–02 |
College of Charleston |
G |
5 |
Kidd, Jason |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
204 lb (93 kg) |
1973–03–23 |
California |
G |
30 |
Kittles, Kerry |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
179 lb (81 kg) |
1974–06–12 |
Villanova |
C |
11 |
MacCulloch, Todd |
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
280 lb (127 kg) |
1976–01–27 |
Washington |
F |
13 |
Marshall, Donny |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
230 lb (104 kg) |
1972–07–17 |
Connecticut |
F |
6 |
Martin, Kenyon |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
234 lb (106 kg) |
1977–12–30 |
Cincinnati |
F |
21 |
Scalabrine, Brian |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
241 lb (109 kg) |
1978–03–18 |
Southern California |
F |
44 |
Van Horn, Keith |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
1975–10–23 |
Utah |
F/C |
34 |
Williams, Aaron |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
222 lb (101 kg) |
1971–10–02 |
Xavier |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
Depth Chart
Regular season
Standings
Game log
2001–02 game log
Total: 52–30 (Home: 33–8; Road: 19–22) |
October: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
|
November : 8–5 (Home: 5–1; Road: 3–4)
|
December : 9–5 (Home: 4–2; Road: 5–3)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
|
January : 11–4 (Home: 7–1; Road: 4–3)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
|
February : 8–4 (Home: 6–2; Road: 2–2)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
All-Star Break |
|
March : 9–9 (Home: 7–0; Road: 2–9)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
|
April : 5–3 (Home: 3–2; Road: 2–1)
|
2001–02 season schedule |
Playoffs
Game log
2002 playoff game log
Total: 11–9 (Home: 7–4; Road: 4–5) |
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
|
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
|
Conference Finals: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Series |
|
NBA Finals: 0–4 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–2)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Series |
|
2002 playoff schedule |
Player stats
Regular season
Postseason
Player |
GP |
GS |
MPG |
FG% |
3FG% |
FT% |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
PPG |
Awards and records
References
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