2001–02 Utah Jazz season explained

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Jazz's 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 23rd season in Salt Lake City, Utah.^[1] During the off-season, the Jazz signed free agent John Amaechi.^[2] Russian basketball star Andrei Kirilenko, who was drafted by the Jazz in the 1999 NBA draft, would finally make his debut in the NBA.^{[3] [4]} John Stockton continued to set new standards with 15,000 career assists and 3,000 career steals,^{[5] [6]} as Karl Malone scored his 34,000th career point.^[7] However, the Jazz began to show their age as they struggled losing five of their first seven games, leading to a 6–11 start to the season. They played above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 25–24 record at the All-Star break,^[8] finishing fourth in the Midwest Division, and eighth in the Western Conference with a 44–38 record.^[9] The Jazz also beat the Los Angeles Lakers' record of sixteen consecutive winning seasons above .500,^[10] set between the 1976–77 and 1991–92 seasons.^[11]

Malone averaged 22.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game,^{[12] [13] [14]} but did not play due to visiting his sick mother back home in Louisiana.^{[15] [16]} In addition, Donyell Marshall averaged 14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while Stockton provided the team with 13.4 points, 8.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game, Bryon Russell contributed 9.6 points per game, and Kirilenko averaged 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.^[17]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Jazz lost in four games to the Sacramento Kings.^{[18] [19] [20] [21]} Following the season, Russell signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards after nine seasons in Utah,^{[22] [23] [24]} while Marshall signed with the Chicago Bulls,^{[25] [26] [27]} and John Starks and John Crotty both retired.^[28]

Draft picks

See main article: 2001 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	24		PG
2	52		C/PF		Stanford

Regular season

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

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 20| @ Sacramento| L 86–89| Karl Malone (25)| Donyell Marshall (10)| John Stockton (12)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 23| @ Sacramento| W 93–86| Donyell Marshall (19)| Karl Malone (12)| John Stockton (12)| ARCO Arena
17,317| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 27| Sacramento| L 87–90| Karl Malone (23)| Malone, Russell (6)| Malone, Stockton (7)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 29| Sacramento| L 86–91| Karl Malone (14)| Greg Ostertag (15)| John Stockton (9)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–3|-

Player statistics

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	54	0	10.9	.325		.638	2.0	.5	.1	.2	3.2
	70	68	20.6	.461	.000	.740	4.2	.8	.4	.3	6.4
	41	0	19.6	.471	.449	.864	1.8	3.4	.5	.0	6.9
	82	40	26.2	.450	.250	.768	4.9	1.1	1.4	1.9	10.7
	33	0	16.4	.395	.340	.857	1.5	2.2	.5	.2	5.8
	36	19	13.6	.448	.167	.650	1.2	1.0	.6	.3	4.0
	80	80	38.0	.454	.360	.797	8.6	4.3	1.9	.7	22.4
	58	42	30.2	.519	.310	.708	7.6	1.7	.9	1.2	14.8
	74	14	15.0	.453		.485	4.2	.7	.2	1.5	3.3
	75	1	17.3	.476	.434	.735	3.8	1.1	.6	.2	6.7
	66	40	30.3	.380	.341	.821	4.5	2.1	1.0	.3	9.6
	66	1	14.1	.368	.305	.805	1.0	1.1	.5	.0	4.4
	67	23	16.9	.385	.080	.698	2.0	1.7	.4	.4	4.9
	82	82	31.3	.517	.321	.857	3.2	8.2	1.9	.3	13.4

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	4	4	11.8	.556		1.000	1.8	.0	.0	.0	5.5
	4	4	30.5	.393	.000	.813	3.8	1.0	1.8	2.5	8.8
	4	0	13.3	.375	.400	.600	1.5	1.5	.3	.0	5.0
	4	0	14.0	.348	.200	.000	.8	.5	.5	.3	4.3
	4	4	40.8	.411	.000	.714	7.5	4.5	1.3	.8	20.0
	4	0	31.0	.420	.500	.750	7.8	2.8	.8	1.5	14.3
	4	0	21.8	.619		.100	8.5	.5	.5	1.5	6.8
	4	0	11.8	.462	.000	.800	3.5	.5	.3	.3	4.0
	4	4	30.0	.250	.400	1.000	4.3	1.8	1.0	.0	7.0
	4	4	35.3	.450	.286	.923	4.0	10.0	2.8	.3	12.5

Awards and records

• Andrei Kirilenko, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/2002.html 2001-02 Utah Jazz
2. News: Buckley . Tim . Big Guy Still Big Question . Deseret News . July 12, 2001 . January 11, 2022.
3. News: Buckley . Tim . Jazz Sign Kirilenko to Deal . Deseret News . September 26, 2001 . October 20, 2022.
4. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World . The New York Times . October 30, 2001 . July 16, 2022.
5. News: Stockton Records 15,000th Assist in Loss . ESPN . March 10, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
6. News: Buckley . Tim . Jazz Are Teed Off . Deseret News . March 11, 2002 . June 15, 2022.
7. News: Evans . Rich . Malone Milestone: 34,000 . Deseret News . January 31, 2002 . July 14, 2022.
8. News: NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002 . Basketball-Reference . September 11, 2022.
9. Web site: 2001–02 Utah Jazz Schedule and Results. Basketball Reference. June 26, 2021.
10. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695268141/NBA-Most-consecutive-playoff-appearances.html NBA: Most consecutive playoff appearances
11. News: Utah Jazz . Basketball-Reference . January 20, 2022.
12. News: NBA.com Staff . 2002 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 4, 2023.
13. Web site: 2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10 . Eskimo North . May 4, 2023.
14. Web site: 2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120 . Basketball-Reference . November 28, 2021.
15. News: Evans . Rich . Malone to Miss All-Star Game . Deseret News . February 10, 2002 . October 24, 2022.
16. News: Iverson Honors Erving by Wearing No. 6 . ESPN . February 10, 2002 . July 26, 2021.
17. Web site: 2001–02 Utah Jazz Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
18. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Stojakovic and Kings Finish Jazz . The New York Times . April 30, 2002 . July 24, 2021.
19. News: Heisler . Mark . Soul-Searching Begins in Utah . Los Angeles Times . April 30, 2002 . June 2, 2022.
20. News: Kings Send Jazz to First-Round Exit . The Washington Post . April 30, 2002 . November 26, 2022.
21. Web site: 2002 NBA Western Conference First Round: Jazz vs. Kings . Basketball-Reference . May 4, 2023.
22. News: Wyche . Steve . Wizards Expected to Sign Russell . The Washington Post . September 10, 2002 . October 17, 2021.
23. News: Evans . Rich . Wizards Sign Russell: Jazz Still Waiting on Lopez . Deseret News . September 10, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
24. News: Wiazrds Sign Bryon Russell . United Press International . September 11, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
25. News: Bulls Sign Donyell Marshall . Associated Press . August 16, 2002 . January 11, 2022.
26. News: Evans . Rich . Marshall Gets Less $$$ to Sign with Chicago . Deseret News . August 17, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
27. News: Johnson . K.C. . Marshall Set to Have Fun . Chicago Tribune . August 20, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
28. News: Buckley . Tim . Utah Jazz Season Preview 2002-03 . Deseret News . October 28, 2002 . October 25, 2022.