2001–02 Denver Nuggets season

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 in November.^[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.

2001–02 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Dan Issel (resigned) Mike Evans
General manager	Kiki VanDeWeghe
Owner(s)	Stan Kroenke
Arena	Pepsi Center
Results
Record	27–55 (.329)
Place	Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KTVD Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain
Radio	KKFN
< 2000–01 2002–03 >

Things would only get worse on December 11, 2001, 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 mid-season, 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]

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
2	47	Ousmane Cisse	F	Mali	St. Jude HS (AL)

Roster

2001–02 Denver Nuggets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 27 Bateer, Mengke 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 290 lb (132 kg) China F 15 Andersen, Chris 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Blinn G 30 Arroyo, Carlos 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 202 lb (92 kg) FIU F 32 Bowen, Ryan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Iowa G/F 29 Cheaney, Calbert 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Indiana C 25 Hamilton, Zendon 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) St. John's G 10 Hardaway, Tim  6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) UTEP F 1 Harvey, Donnell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Florida F 7 Howard, Juwan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Michigan G 5 Lenard, Voshon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Minnesota F 21 McCloud, George 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Florida State F/C 24 McDyess, Antonio  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Alabama G/F 41 Posey, James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Xavier G 11 Satterfield, Kenny 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 186 lb (84 kg) Cincinnati F/C 42 Williams, Scott  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina

Head coach Mike Evans Assistant coach(es) Louie Dampier Clyde Drexler Kim Hughes John MacLeod (associate head coach) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Roster Notes

• Shooting guard Isaiah Rider was waived on November 20.

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	–	32–9	26–15	21–3
x-Dallas Mavericks	57	25	.695	1	30–11	27–14	16–8
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	50	32	.610	8	29–12	21–20	15–9
x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	14	25–16	19–22	8–16
Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	30	18–23	10–31	9–15
Denver Nuggets	27	55	.329	31	20–21	7–34	8–16
Memphis Grizzlies	23	59	.280	35	15–26	8–33	7–17

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Sacramento Kings	61	21	.744	–
2	y-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	3
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	58	24	.707	3
4	x-Dallas Mavericks	57	25	.695	4
5	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	50	32	.610	11
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	12
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	45	37	.549	16
8	x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	17
9	Los Angeles Clippers	39	43	.476	22
10	Phoenix Suns	36	46	.439	25
11	Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	33
12	Denver Nuggets	27	55	.329	34
13	Memphis Grizzlies	23	59	.280	38
14	Golden State Warriors	21	61	.256	40

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records
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

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

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

Player Statistics Citation:^[14]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

1. 2001-02 Denver Nuggets
2. Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
3. "Nuggets Waive Isiah Rider". United Press International. November 20, 2001. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
4. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Sign Cook, Former St. John's Star". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 10, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
5. "Nuggets' McDyess Has Knee Surgery". Associated Press. October 12, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
6. "PRO BASKETBALL; Issel Apologizes for Slur and Will Miss 4 Games". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 13, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
7. "Nuggets Bench Issel for Outburst". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 13, 2001. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
8. "Coach Quits After Slur Controversy". CBS News. December 27, 2001. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
9. "Van Exel to Mavericks in Seven-Player Deal". United Press International. February 21, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
10. Broussard, Chris (February 22, 2002). "BASKETBALL; Van Exel and LaFrentz Are Traded to the Mavericks". The New York Times. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
11. "Mavericks Get Van Exel, LaFrentz". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 22, 2002. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
12. "Van Exel, Howard Are Part of Big Trade". The Washington Post. February 22, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
13. "2001–02 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
14. "2001–02 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
15. Broussard, Chris (June 27, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Get McDyess for Camby and Jackson". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
16. "Nuggets Trade McDyess, Get Draft-Day Makeover". ESPN. Associated Press. June 26, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
17. Mathur, Ashish (June 12, 2020). "Raptors: Every Notable Toronto Free-Agent Signing, by Year". Clutch Points. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
18. Buckley, Tim (October 28, 2002). "Utah Jazz Season Preview 2002-03". Deseret News. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
19. Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.

See also

• 2001-02 NBA season