2001–02 Houston Rockets season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Rockets' 35th season in the National Basketball Association, 31st season in the city of Houston, and their 27th and penultimate season at Compaq Center. In the 2001 NBA draft, the Rockets selected Richard Jefferson from the University of Arizona with the thirteenth overall pick, but soon traded him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for top draft pick Eddie Griffin out of Seton Hall University. During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Glen Rice from the New York Knicks, and re-acquired former Rockets forward Kevin Willis from the Milwaukee Bucks.

In their first season without All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets got off to a 7–5 start, but then suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak. Rice only played just 20 games due to a knee injury, and Maurice Taylor missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Due to injuries that hindered their roster for parts of the year, the Rockets played mediocre basketball all season long, losing 15 of their final 18 games, and finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with a disappointing 28–54 record.

Team captain Steve Francis averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, and made his first All-Star appearance being selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but he only played 57 games, and starting 56 of them due to recurring foot injuries and migraines. He also participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. Cuttino Mobley led the team in scoring averaging 21.7 points per game, and Griffin was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Following the season, Walt Williams signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks, and Willis signed with the San Antonio Spurs.

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	13	Richard Jefferson	SF	United States	Arizona
1	18	Jason Collins	C	United States	Stanford
1	23	Brandon Armstrong	SG	United States	Pepperdine

Roster

2001–02 Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	From
G	10	Brown, Tierre	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	189 lb (86 kg)	McNeese State
F/C	13	Cato, Kelvin	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	255 lb (116 kg)	Iowa State
C	52	Collier, Jason	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	260 lb (118 kg)	Georgia Tech
G	3	Francis, Steve	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Maryland
F/C	33	Griffin, Eddie	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Seton Hall
F	14	Langhi, Dan	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Vanderbilt
G/F	5	Mobley, Cuttino	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Rhode Island
F	44	Morris, Terence	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	221 lb (100 kg)	Maryland
G	12	Norris, Moochie	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	West Florida
F	41	Rice, Glen	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Michigan
F	21	Thomas, Kenny	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	261 lb (118 kg)	New Mexico
G/F	18	Torres, Oscar	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Xavier
F/C	2	Taylor, Maurice (IN)	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	260 lb (118 kg)	Michigan
F	42	Williams, Walt	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	Maryland
F/C	43	Willis, Kevin	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	Michigan State

Head coach

Rudy Tomjanovich

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
(IN) Inactive
Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Forward/center Maurice Taylor missed the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

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

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

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Tierre Brown	40	1	10.1	.426	.333	.750	1.1	1.8	.5	.1	3.1
Kelvin Cato	75	73	25.6	.583	.000	.582	7.0	.4	.5	1.3	6.6
Jason Collier	25	2	14.6	.432	.000	.750	3.3	.4	.2	.2	4.2
Steve Francis	57	56	41.1	.417	.324	.773	7.0	6.4	1.2	.4	21.6
Eddie Griffin	73	24	26.0	.366	.330	.744	5.7	.7	.2	1.8	8.8
Dan Langhi	34	8	12.8	.392	.250	.727	2.0	.4	.2	.1	3.1
Cuttino Mobley	74	74	42.1	.438	.395	.850	4.1	2.5	1.5	.5	21.7
Terence Morris	68	12	16.3	.384	.192	.643	3.1	.9	.3	.4	3.8
Moochie Norris	82	26	27.4	.398	.269	.751	3.0	4.9	1.0	.0	8.1
Glen Rice	20	20	30.3	.389	.281	.800	2.4	1.6	.6	.2	8.6
Kenny Thomas	72	71	34.5	.478	.000	.664	7.2	1.9	1.2	.9	14.1
Óscar Torres	65	13	16.5	.396	.294	.781	1.9	.6	.4	.1	6.0
Walt Williams	48	25	23.3	.419	.426	.784	3.4	1.4	.4	.2	9.4
Kevin Willis	52	5	16.6	.440	.000	.747	5.8	.3	.5	.4	6.1

Awards and records

Eddie Griffin, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team

Transactions

Main article: List of 2001–02 NBA season transactions

References

2001-02 Houston Rockets
"2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
Sheridan, Chris (June 28, 2001). "High School Player Tops NBA Draft". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
Robbins, Liz (August 11, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking for Balance, the Knicks Trade Rice". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
Services, Times Wire (August 11, 2001). "Rice Goes to Houston in Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
Gardner, Kris (October 22, 2001). "Rockets Get Kevin Willis". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
Berman, Marc (January 7, 2002). "Rice Reunion Derailed by Injury". New York Post. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
"PLUS: BASKETBALL; Rockets' Taylor Will Miss Season". The New York Times. September 6, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
Services, Wire (December 17, 2001). "Wizards Keep Rolling". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
"2001–02 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
"NBA All-Star Game Rosters". United Press International. February 8, 2002. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
Liao, Henry (February 10, 2002). "Five Teams, Five Pairs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A19. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
"2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
"2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10". Eskimo North. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
"2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
"Cartwright Gets Bulls' Promotion". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 29, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
"Francis' Migraine Eases Up; Guard Rejoins Team". Chron. January 18, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
"2001–02 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
"Mavericks Sign Walt Williams". United Press International. October 18, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
"Spurs Sign C-F Kevin Willis". United Press International. August 27, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.

v t e Houston Rockets
Founded in 1967 Played in San Diego (1967–1971) Based in Houston, Texas
Franchise	History All-time roster Draft history 1967 Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Pechanga Arena Hofheinz Pavilion Astrodome HemisFair Arena The Summit/Compaq Center Toyota Center
Personnel	Owner(s) Tilman Fertitta President Gretchen Sheirr General manager Rafael Stone Head coach Ime Udoka
G League affiliate	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Retired numbers	11 22 23 24 34 44 45
NBA championships	1994 1995
Rivalries	Dallas Mavericks San Antonio Spurs Utah Jazz
Culture and lore	Red Rowdies ClutchFans Clutch City Clutch the Rockets Bear Dancing Barry The Kiss of Death The Dream Shake 13 points in 35 seconds 22 wins in a row The Year of the Yao June 17th, 1994 27 consecutive 3-pointers missed

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