2001–02 Miami Heat season explained

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 14th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Heat re-acquired Chris Gatling from the Cleveland Cavaliers,[2] [3] and signed free agents Rod Strickland,[4] LaPhonso Ellis,[5] Kendall Gill,[6] [7] then later on signed Jim Jackson in December.[8] [9] After dealing with a kidney disorder, Alonzo Mourning returned for a full season. However, he was not able to play up to the same level as the Heat struggled and lost 23 of their first 28 games, including a 12-game losing streak between November and December. They would recover from their awful start and play above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning nine of their next twelve games. However, the Heat finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season.[10]

Eddie Jones led the team with 18.3 points and 1.4 steals per game, while Mourning averaged 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.[11] [12] [13] In addition, Jackson contributed 10.7 points per game off the bench, while Strickland provided the team with 10.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, and Brian Grant provided with 9.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.[14] This season proved to be Mourning's last season in a Heat uniform, and although he was on the roster the following season, he was unable to play due to another kidney condition.[15] [16] [17] He would return to the Heat midway through the 2004–05 season after a brief stint with the New Jersey Nets. This season also marks the first time in Pat Riley's coaching career that he failed to get his team into the playoffs.[18]

Following the season, Gill signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,[19] while Jackson signed with the Sacramento Kings during the next season,[20] Strickland was released to free agency, and Gatling retired. For the season, the Heat added new red alternate road uniforms with black side panels, which remained in use until 2010,[21] while the shorts were slightly redesigned in 2009.

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: article and 2001 NBA draft.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMEMMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAWAS
Atlanta2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–3
Boston2–2 2–1 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
Charlotte2–2 1–2 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–0 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
Chicago1–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 0–4 3–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–3
Cleveland1–3 0–4 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–2
Dallas2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–1
Denver0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–3 0–2
Detroit3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–0
Golden State0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–4 1–1
Houston1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–1
Indiana3–1 0–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 1–3 2–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 3–1
L.A. Clippers1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–4 1–1
L.A. Lakers1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–0
Memphis0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 3–1 0–2
Miami1–3 1–3 0–3 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 0–2 2–2
Milwaukee3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–2 1–3 2–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 2–0 3–1
Minnesota2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–1 2–0
New Jersey1–2 1–3 3–1 4–0 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 3–1
New York3–1 0–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–3
Orlando3–1 1–3 1–3 3–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–2
Philadelphia3–1 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 2–3
Phoenix1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–2
Portland1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–3 2–0
Sacramento2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 1–1
San Antonio2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–0
Seattle2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–3 1–1
Toronto4–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 2–2 0–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–2
Utah1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–0
Washington3–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
SG81 81 3,156 378 262 117 77 1,480 39.0 4.7 3.2 1.4 1.0 18.3
PG76 64 2,294 232 463 82 11 794 30.2 3.1 6.1 1.1 .1 10.4
C75 74 2,455 632 87 27 186 1,178 32.7 8.4 1.2 .4 2.5 15.7
PF72 72 2,256 575 137 48 31 673 31.3 8.0 1.9 .7 .4 9.3
C67 4 884 270 16 24 44 285 13.2 4.0 .2 .4 .7 4.3
SF66 14 1,684 287 56 30 37 469 25.5 4.3 .8 .5 .6 7.1
SG65 49 1,410 184 100 44 8 372 21.7 2.8 1.5 .7 .1 5.7
PG64 3 1,230 110 123 43 5 514 19.2 1.7 1.9 .7 .1 8.0
SF55 19 1,825 290 140 42 14 589 33.2 5.3 2.5 .8 .3 10.7
PF54 1 809 206 25 17 11 345 15.0 3.8 .5 .3 .2 6.4
PG46 18 1,050 117 214 50 3 198 22.8 2.5 4.7 1.1 .1 4.3
C21 6 319 75 8 5 10 96 15.2 3.6 .4 .2 .5 4.6
PG15 0 119 14 19 6 1 42 7.9 .9 1.3 .4 .1 2.8
PF12 2 161 38 5 3 8 52 13.4 3.2 .4 .3 .7 4.3
SF12 1 159 14 4 5 1 40 13.3 1.2 .3 .4 .1 3.3
SF9 2 98 18 5 4 0 20 10.9 2.0 .6 .4 .0 2.2
C3 0 21 6 0 0 1 3 7.0 2.0 .0 .0 .3 1.0

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIA/2002.html 2001-02 Miami Heat
  2. News: Heat Gets Gatling in a 3-Team Deal Again . Tampa Bay Times . October 27, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
  3. News: Gatling Becomes Part of Three-Team Trade . United Press International . October 26, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
  4. News: Heat Sign Strickland . United Press International . October 23, 2001 . January 11, 2022.
  5. News: PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Ellis Moves Again, Signing with Heat . The New York Times . July 29, 2001 . January 12, 2022.
  6. News: Miami Signs Kendall Gill . United Press International . August 6, 2001 . July 2, 2022.
  7. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World . The New York Times . October 30, 2001 . July 16, 2022.
  8. News: Jim Jackson Joins Reeling Miami . United Press International . December 3, 2001 . June 22, 2022.
  9. News: Winderman . Ira . Nets Cruise as Heat Crumbles . Sun Sentinel . December 15, 2001 . October 25, 2022.
  10. Web site: 2001–02 Miami Heat Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. July 24, 2021.
  11. News: NBA.com Staff . 2002 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 4, 2023.
  12. Web site: 2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10 . Eskimo North . May 4, 2023.
  13. Web site: 2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120 . Basketball-Reference . November 28, 2021.
  14. Web site: 2001–02 Miami Heat Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. July 24, 2021.
  15. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Kidney Ailment Has Mourning Out Indefinitely . The New York Times . September 13, 2002 . January 11, 2022.
  16. News: Illness May Keep Mourning Out for Season . Los Angeles Times . September 13, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
  17. News: Winderman . Ira . Ailment May Bench Mourning for Season . Sun Sentinel . September 13, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
  18. News: Kelly . Omar . It's Not Over till It's Over, Heat Insists . Sun Sentinel . April 9, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
  19. News: Timberwolves Sign Kendall Gill . United Press International . September 26, 2002 . July 2, 2022.
  20. News: Kings Sign Jim Jackson . United Press International . December 1, 2002 . June 22, 2022.
  21. News: Miami Heat Uniform . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. . November 24, 2021.