2001–02 Atlanta Hawks season explained

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Hawks' 53rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 34th season in Atlanta.^[1] In the 2001 NBA draft, the Hawks selected Spanish basketball star Pau Gasol with the third overall pick, but soon traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and first round draft pick Jamaal Tinsley,^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] ^[6] who was soon traded to the Indiana Pacers.^[7] ^[8] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Ira Newble, Jacque Vaughn and Emanual Davis.^[9] ^[10] However, Theo Ratliff would only play just three games due to a hip injury, and was replaced with Nazr Mohammed as the team's starting center.^[11] ^[12]

The Hawks struggled losing six of their first seven games, then posted a 3–12 record in January as they held a 16–33 record at the All-Star break.^[13] The team dealt with injuries all season as Davis only played just 28 games due to a broken left wrist, while Alan Henderson only played just 26 games due to a knee injury, and Chris Crawford only appeared in just seven games also due to a knee injury.^[14] However, the team played around .500 for the remainder of the season while posting a 9–7 record in March. The Hawks showed slight improvement avoiding 50 losses by finishing sixth in the Central Division with a 33–49 record.^[15]

Abdur-Rahim had a stellar season averaging 21.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game,^[16] ^[17] ^[18] while Jason Terry averaged 19.3 points, 5.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and Mohammed provided the team with 9.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Toni Kukoč provided with 9.9 points per game off the bench, while Dion Glover contributed 8.9 points per game, second-year forward DerMarr Johnson contributed 8.4 points per game, and Newble averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.^[19] Following the season, Kukoč was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,^[20] ^[21] and Vaughn signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic.^[22] ^[23]

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: 2001 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	3		PF/C
2	33		SF		Maryland

Roster

Roster Notes

Point guard Matt Maloney missed the entire season due to a hand injury.

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MEM	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–2	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
Boston	2–2	—	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
Charlotte	2–2	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
Chicago	1–3	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
Cleveland	1–3	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
Dallas	2–0	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
Denver	0–2	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
Detroit	3–1	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 State	0–2	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
Houston	1–1	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
Indiana	3–1	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. Clippers	1–1	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. Lakers	1–1	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
Memphis	0–2	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
Miami	1–3	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
Milwaukee	3–1	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
Minnesota	2–0	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 Jersey	1–2	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 York	3–1	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
Orlando	3–1	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
Philadelphia	3–1	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
Phoenix	1–1	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
Portland	1–1	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
Sacramento	2–0	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 Antonio	2–0	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
Seattle	2–0	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
Toronto	4–0	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
Utah	1–1	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
Washington	3–0	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	—

Game log

Player statistics

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Shareef Abdur-Rahim	77	77	38.7	46.1	30.0	80.1	9.0	3.1	1.3	1.1	21.2
Jason Terry	78	78	38.0	43.0	38.7	83.5	3.5	5.7	1.8	0.2	19.3
Toni Kukoc	59	9	25.3	41.9	31.0	71.2	3.7	3.6	0.8	0.3	9.9
Nazr Mohammed	82	73	26.4	46.1	0.0	61.7	7.9	0.4	0.8	0.7	9.7
Dion Glover	55	25	21.0	42.1	33.0	75.7	3.1	1.5	0.8	0.3	8.9
Theo Ratliff	3	2	27.3	50.0	0.0	54.5	5.3	0.3	0.3	2.7	8.7
DerMarr Johnson	72	46	24.0	39.6	36.0	81.0	3.4	1.1	0.9	0.8	8.4
Ira Newble	42	35	30.3	49.8	14.3	85.2	5.3	1.1	0.9	0.5	8.0
Chris Crawford	7	4	18.7	46.7	0.0	73.3	3.6	0.7	0.3	0.7	7.6
Emanual Davis	28	20	27.6	35.4	34.1	88.9	2.6	2.4	1.0	0.2	6.6
Jacque Vaughn	82	16	22.6	47.0	44.4	82.5	2.0	4.3	0.8	0.0	6.6
Alan Henderson	26	1	16.2	50.9	100.0	53.3	3.7	0.4	0.4	0.6	5.5
Hanno Mottola	82	14	16.7	44.0	7.7	75.0	3.3	0.6	0.2	0.2	4.8
Mark Strickland	46	10	14.2	44.6	25.0	56.8	2.8	0.4	0.4	0.4	4.5
Reggie Slater	4	0	9.3	38.5	0.0	66.7	1.8	0.3	0.3	0.3	4.0
Cal Bowdler	52	0	11.3	35.1	20.0	83.0	2.1	0.2	0.3	0.3	3.1
Leon Smith	14	0	7.1	38.5	0.0	64.7	2.2	0.2	0.4	0.1	2.2
Dickey Simpkins	1	0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Player Statistics Citation:

Notes and References

Web site: 2001-02 Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats.
News: Associated Press . Wizards Go Young, But Bulls Go Younger . ESPN . June 27, 2001 . July 10, 2023.
News: Wise . Mike . High School Star Taken No. 1 in N.B.A. Draft . The New York Times . June 28, 2001 . July 10, 2023.
News: Denlinger . Ken . NBA Draft Is Elementary . The Washington Post . June 28, 2001 . July 10, 2023.
News: Brewer . Jerry . And a Child Leads Them . Orlando Sentinel . June 28, 2001 . July 10, 2023.
Web site: 2001 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . July 10, 2023.
News: Tinsley Drafted by Hawks, Traded to Pacers . United Press International . June 27, 2001 . January 11, 2022.
News: Pacers Sign Jamaal Tinsley . United Press International . July 19, 2001 . October 24, 2022.
News: Hawks Sign Jacque Vaughn . United Press International . July 30, 2001 . June 23, 2022.
News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World . The New York Times . October 30, 2001 . July 16, 2022.
News: Theo Ratliff Goes on Injured List . United Press International . November 5, 2001 . October 24, 2022.
News: Hawks Center Out 6-8 Weeks . United Press International . November 16, 2001 . January 11, 2022.
News: NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002 . Basketball-Reference . September 13, 2022.
News: Hawks' Davis to Miss 6-to-8 Weeks . Huron Daily Tribune . July 15, 2021.
Web site: 2001–02 Atlanta Hawks Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
News: NBA.com Staff . 2002 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 4, 2023.
Web site: 2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10 . Eskimo North . May 4, 2023.
Web site: 2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120 . Basketball-Reference . November 28, 2021.
Web site: 2001–02 Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; Hawks Gain a Scorer in Trade for Robinson . The New York Times . August 3, 2002 . January 12, 2022.
News: Bucks Trade Robinson to Hawks for Kukoc, Smith . Los Angeles Times . August 3, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
News: Magic Sign Free Agent Vaughn . United Press International . July 17, 2002 . July 2, 2022.
News: Brewer . Jerry . Jacque Vaughn . Orlando Sentinel . October 25, 2002 . October 27, 2022.