2001–02 Memphis Grizzlies season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Grizzlies' 7th season in the National Basketball Association, and their first season in Memphis.^[1] After six years of struggling in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, and became the "Memphis Grizzlies";^{[2][3][4][5][6]} although it was the first NBA team for the city, Memphis played home to an American Basketball Association team known as the Memphis Sounds from 1970 to 1975.

2001–02 Memphis Grizzlies season
Head coach	Sidney Lowe
General manager	Billy Knight
President	Dick Versace
Owner(s)	Michael Heisley
Arena	Pyramid Arena
Results
Record	23–59 (.280)
Place	Division: 7th (Midwest) Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Net South, WMC, WPXX
Radio	WREC
< 2000–01 2002–03 >

The Grizzlies had the sixth overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and selected small forward Shane Battier from Duke University, and acquired top draft pick and Spanish basketball star Pau Gasol, point guard Brevin Knight and former University of Memphis star Lorenzen Wright from the Atlanta Hawks; Gasol was drafted by the Hawks with the third overall pick.^{[7][8][9][10][11]} During the off-season, the team acquired point guard Jason Williams, and veteran shooting guard Nick Anderson from the Sacramento Kings,^[12][13][14] and signed free agent Rodney Buford.^[15] However, center Bryant Reeves missed the entire season with a preseason back injury, and never played for the team in Memphis during the regular season.^[16][17]

The Grizzlies made their debut on November 1, 2001, at the Pyramid Arena; the Grizzlies would lose to the Detroit Pistons by a score of 90–80.^[18] The Grizzlies lost their first eight games of the season, as guard Michael Dickerson only played just four games due to a groin injury, and was out for the remainder of the season.^[19] Their first win would come in a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers by a score of 98–93; the game was played at the Pyramid on November 17, for the franchise's first win in Memphis.^[20] At mid-season, center Isaac Austin was released to free agency, as the Grizzlies finished in last place in the Midwest Division with a 23–59 record, which was the same record as their previous season in Vancouver.^[21]

The highlight of the season was the contribution of both Gasol and Battier. Gasol led the team with 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, and was named Rookie of the Year,^[22][23] while Battier had a solid rookie season averaging 14.4 points per game. Both players were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Williams finished second on the team in scoring with 14.8 points, and led them with 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Wright led the team in rebounding with 9.4 rebounds per game, but only played just 43 games due to a knee injury,^[24][25] while second-year forward Stromile Swift provided the team with 11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game off the bench.^[26]

The highlight of the inaugural season for the Grizzlies came on December 21; the Grizzlies beat the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers at the Pyramid winning 114–108.^[27] Following the season, Reeves retired after six seasons in the NBA, and Buford, Anderson, Tony Massenburg and Grant Long were all released to free agency.

For the season, the team replaced the city name "Vancouver" with "Memphis" above their primary logo of a grizzly bear holding a basketball,^[28] and also replaced "Vancouver" with "Memphis" on their uniforms.^[29][30] The primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2004, although the uniforms were slightly changed next season, as they replaced the team's alternate logo with their primary logo on their shorts.

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	6	Shane Battier	SF/SG	United States	Duke
1	27	Jamaal Tinsley	PG	United States	Iowa State
2	32	Will Solomon	PG	United States	Clemson
2	47	Antonis Fotsis (from New York)	SF	Greece	Panathinaikos (Greece)

Roster

2001–02 Memphis Grizzlies roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 25 Anderson, Nick  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–01–20 Illinois G/F 31 Battier, Shane 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978–09–09 Duke G 32 Buford, Rodney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1977–11–02 Creighton G 8 Dickerson, Michael  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1975–06–25 Arizona F 6 Fotsis, Antonis 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1981–04–01 Greece F/C 16 Gasol, Pau 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1980–07–06 Spain G 7 Gill, Eddie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1978–08–16 Weber State G 22 Knight, Brevin 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 1975–11–08 Stanford F 43 Long, Grant 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–03–12 Eastern Michigan F 34 Massenburg, Tony 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1967–07–31 Maryland C 50 Reeves, Bryant  (IN) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 290 lb (132 kg) 1973–06–08 Oklahoma State G 5 Perry, Elliot 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1969–03–28 Memphis G 1 Solomon, Will 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1978–07–20 Auburn F 4 Swift, Stromile 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1979–11–21 LSU G 2 Williams, Jason 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1975–11–18 Florida C 42 Wright, Lorenzen 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1975–11–04 Memphis

Head coach Sidney Lowe Assistant coach(es) Michael Adams Mitchell Anderson Scott Roth Bob Staak Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster

Roster Notes

• Center Bryant Reeves missed the entire season due to a back injury.

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

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

Game	Date	Opponent	Result	Grizzlies score	Opponent score	Record	OT

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Pau Gasol	PF	82	79	3,007	730	223	41	169	1,441	36.7	8.9	2.7	.5	2.1	17.6
Shane Battier	SF	78	78	3,097	418	216	121	81	1,125	39.7	5.4	2.8	1.6	1.0	14.4
Tony Massenburg	PF	73	31	1,247	324	26	30	31	403	17.1	4.4	.4	.4	.4	5.5
Stromile Swift	PF	68	14	1,805	430	50	53	113	803	26.5	6.3	.7	.8	1.7	11.8
Grant Long	PF	66	56	1,868	231	136	63	12	417	28.3	3.5	2.1	1.0	.2	6.3
Jason Williams	PG	65	65	2,236	195	519	111	7	959	34.4	3.0	8.0	1.7	.1	14.8
Rodney Buford	SG	63	21	1,769	272	71	42	12	591	28.1	4.3	1.1	.7	.2	9.4
Will Solomon	SG	62	4	872	68	92	35	7	321	14.1	1.1	1.5	.6	.1	5.2
Brevin Knight	PG	53	11	1,151	109	302	79	7	371	21.7	2.1	5.7	1.5	.1	7.0
Lorenzen Wright	C	43	33	1,251	405	44	30	23	516	29.1	9.4	1.0	.7	.5	12.0
Antonis Fotsis	PF	28	1	320	62	10	9	11	108	11.4	2.2	.4	.3	.4	3.9
Eddie Gill	PG	23	5	384	28	49	11	3	116	16.7	1.2	2.1	.5	.1	5.0
Isaac Austin	C	21	8	307	71	13	9	5	76	14.6	3.4	.6	.4	.2	3.6
Nick Anderson	SG	15	0	219	33	14	6	6	60	14.6	2.2	.9	.4	.4	4.0
Isaac Fontaine	SG	6	0	75	5	4	0	0	11	12.5	.8	.7	.0	.0	1.8
Michael Dickerson	SG	4	4	124	12	9	3	1	43	31.0	3.0	2.3	.8	.3	10.8
Elliot Perry	PG	2	0	48	4	7	3	0	11	24.0	2.0	3.5	1.5	.0	5.5

Awards and records

Awards

Pau Gasol 2001–2002 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Pau Gasol 2001–2002 NBA All-Rookie Team^[31]

Shane Battier 2001–2002 NBA All-Rookie Team^[31]

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team

Subtractions Player Left New team

See also

• 2001–02 NBA season

References

1. 2001-02 Memphis Grizzlies
2. Wise, Mike (March 25, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; It Looks as If Grizzlies Are Heading for Memphis". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
3. "Each Team Files Application for Relocation". ESPN. ESPN.com News Services. March 27, 2001. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
4. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Grizzlies' Move Receives Approval". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 29, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
5. "NBA Approves Grizzlies' Move". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 4, 2001. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
6. "NBA Owners Approve Grizzlies' Move to Memphis". ESPN. Associated Press. July 19, 2001. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
7. "Wizards Go Young, But Bulls Go Younger". ESPN. Associated Press. June 27, 2001. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
8. Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "High School Star Taken No. 1 in N.B.A. Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
9. Denlinger, Ken (June 28, 2001). "NBA Draft Is Elementary". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
10. Brewer, Jerry (June 28, 2001). "And a Child Leads Them". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
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14. "Suns Agree to Trade Kidd to Nets for Marbury". Tampa Bay Times. June 29, 2001. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
15. Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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17. "Grizzlies' Reeves Disabled by Back". The Oklahoman. October 30, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
18. Lisle, Andria (November 3, 2001). "Grizzlies Drop Home Opener, 80-90". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
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21. "2001-02 Memphis Grizzlies Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
22. "Gasol Gets 117 Out of a Possible 126 Votes". ESPN. Associated Press. April 24, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
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26. "2001–02 Memphis Grizzlies Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
27. Memphis Grizzlies (2001-Present)
28. "Memphis Grizzlies Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
29. "Memphis Grizzlies Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
30. "Memphis Grizzlies Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
31. RealGM,Historical Memphis Grizzlies Awards, Sept 20 2011