The 2001–02 NBA season was the Nuggets' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 35th season as a franchise.[1] During the off-season, the Nuggets signed free agents Isaiah Rider and Avery Johnson.[2] However, Rider would play in just ten games before being waived on November 20.[3] After finishing just two games below .500 the previous season, the Nuggets suffered another disastrous setback as Antonio McDyess suffered a preseason knee injury, which limited him to just ten games.[4] [5] The Nuggets got off to a 6–5 start, but then lost nine of their next ten games.
Things would only get worse on December 11 after a 99–96 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets, as head coach Dan Issel got into hot water after yelling a racial slur at a Mexican fan; Issel was suspended for four games and was forced to resign, being replaced by his assistant Mike Evans after a 9–17 start.[6] [7] [8] At midseason, Nick Van Exel was traded along with Johnson, Raef LaFrentz and Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Juwan Howard, All-Star guard Tim Hardaway, and second-year forward Donnell Harvey.[9] [10] [11] [12] The Nuggets went on a 7-game losing streak in March, and finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 27–55 record.[13]
Howard averaged 17.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game with the team, while McDyess averaged 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.[14] Following the season, McDyess was traded to the New York Knicks,[15] [16] while Voshon Lenard signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors,[17] Calbert Cheaney signed with the Utah Jazz,[18] George McCloud was traded to the Washington Wizards, but was released to free agency, Hardaway was released, and Evans was fired as head coach.[19]
See main article: 2001 NBA draft.
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
| 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 | — | |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Van Exel | 45 | 44 | 38.6 | .408 | .337 | .782 | 3.8 | 8.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 21.4 | |
| Juwan Howard | 28 | 28 | 34.9 | .457 | .000 | .770 | 7.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 17.9 | |
| Raef LaFrentz | 51 | 51 | 32.7 | .466 | .434 | .667 | 7.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 14.9 | |
| Voshon Lenard | 71 | 19 | 23.5 | .410 | .371 | .783 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 11.5 | |
| Antonio McDyess | 10 | 10 | 23.6 | .573 | .818 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 11.3 | ||
| James Posey | 73 | 63 | 30.7 | .376 | .283 | .793 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 10.7 | |
| Tim Hardaway | 14 | 14 | 23.2 | .373 | .373 | .632 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 9.6 | |
| Avery Johnson | 51 | 13 | 23.5 | .486 | .000 | .747 | 1.3 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 9.4 | |
| Isaiah Rider | 10 | 1 | 17.3 | .457 | .400 | .765 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 9.3 | |
| George McCloud | 69 | 26 | 26.5 | .358 | .270 | .810 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 8.8 | |
| Donnell Harvey | 29 | 4 | 23.4 | .492 | .647 | 6.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 8.0 | ||
| Calbert Cheaney | 68 | 47 | 24.0 | .481 | .000 | .687 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 7.3 | |
| Tariq Abdul-Wahad | 20 | 12 | 20.9 | .379 | .500 | .750 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 6.8 | |
| Zendon Hamilton | 54 | 15 | 15.7 | .420 | .652 | 4.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 6.0 | ||
| Kenny Satterfield | 36 | 4 | 15.6 | .367 | .259 | .783 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 5.3 | |
| Mengke Bateer | 27 | 10 | 15.1 | .402 | .333 | .784 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 5.1 | |
| Ryan Bowen | 75 | 21 | 22.5 | .479 | .083 | .750 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 4.9 | |
| Scott Williams | 41 | 16 | 18.0 | .396 | .000 | .732 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.9 | |
| Carlos Arroyo | 20 | 1 | 13.8 | .439 | .000 | .750 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.1 | |
| Shawnelle Scott | 21 | 10 | 12.0 | .493 | .400 | 4.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 3.9 | ||
| Chris Andersen | 24 | 1 | 10.9 | .338 | .000 | .786 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 3.0 |