2001–02 Miami Heat season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 14th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Heat re-acquired Chris Gatling from the Cleveland Cavaliers,^[2][3] and signed free agents Rod Strickland,^[4] LaPhonso Ellis,^[5] Kendall Gill,^[6][7] then later on signed Jim Jackson in December.^[8][9] After dealing with a kidney disorder, Alonzo Mourning returned for a full season. However, he was not able to play up to the same level as the Heat struggled and lost 23 of their first 28 games, including a 12-game losing streak between November and December. They would recover from their awful start and play above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning nine of their next twelve games. However, the Heat finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season.^[10]

2001–02 Miami Heat season
Head coach	Pat Riley
General manager	Randy Pfund
President	Pat Riley
Owner(s)	Micky Arison
Arena	American Airlines Arena
Results
Record	36–46 (.439)
Place	Division: 6th (Atlantic) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Sunshine Network WBFS WFOR
Radio	WIOD
< 2000–01 2002–03 >

Eddie Jones led the team with 18.3 points and 1.4 steals per game, while Mourning averaged 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.^[11] In addition, Jackson contributed 10.7 points per game off the bench, while Strickland provided the team with 10.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, and Brian Grant provided with 9.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.^[12] This season proved to be Mourning's last season in a Heat uniform, and although he was on the roster the following season, he was unable to play due to another kidney condition.^[13][14][15] He would return to the Heat midway through the 2004–05 season after a brief stint with the New Jersey Nets. This season also marks the first time in Pat Riley's coaching career that he failed to get his team into the playoffs.^[16]

Following the season, Gill signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,^[17] while Jackson signed with the Sacramento Kings during the next season,^[18] Strickland was released to free agency, and Gatling retired. For the season, the Heat added new red alternate road uniforms with black side panels, which remained in use until 2010,^[19] while the shorts were slightly redesigned in 2009.

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
2	48	Ken Johnson		United States	Ohio State

Roster

2001–02 Miami Heat roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From F 35 Allen, Malik 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1978–06–27 Villanova C 52 Brown, Ernest 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1979–05–17 Indian Hills CC G 25 Carter, Anthony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1975–06–16 Hawaiʻi F 3 Ellis, LaPhonso   6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–05–05 Notre Dame F 15 Gatling, Chris   6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1967–09–03 Old Dominion G/F 13 Gill, Kendall 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–05–25 Illinois F/C 44 Grant, Brian (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 254 lb (115 kg) 1972–03–05 Xavier G 5 House, Eddie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1978–05–14 Arizona State G 7 James, Mike 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1975–06–23 Duquesne G/F 24 Jackson, Jim   6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–10–14 Ohio State G/F 6 Jones, Eddie (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1971–10–20 Temple F/C 22 Marks, Sean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1975–08–23 California C 33 Mourning, Alonzo (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–02–08 Georgetown C 50 Stepania, Vladimir 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1976–05–08 Republic of Georgia G 1 Strickland, Rod 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–11 DePaul

Head coach Pat Riley Assistant coach(es) Keith Askins Bill Foran Marc Iavaroni Bob McAdoo Erik Spoelstra Stan Van Gundy Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured Roster Last transaction: December 18, 2001

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-New Jersey Nets	52	30	.634	–	33–8	19–22	16–8
x-Boston Celtics	49	33	.598	3	27–14	22–19	17–7
x-Orlando Magic	44	38	.537	8	27–14	17–24	12–12
x-Philadelphia 76ers	43	39	.524	9	22–19	21–20	14–11
Washington Wizards	37	45	.451	15	22–19	15–26	12–13
Miami Heat	36	46	.439	16	18–23	18–23	10–14
New York Knicks	30	52	.366	22	19–22	11–30	4–20

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-New Jersey Nets	52	30	.634	–
2	y-Detroit Pistons	50	32	.610	2
3	x-Boston Celtics	49	33	.598	3
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	44	38	.537	8
5	x-Orlando Magic	44	38	.537	8
6	x-Philadelphia 76ers	43	39	.524	9
7	x-Toronto Raptors	42	40	.512	10
8	x-Indiana Pacers	42	40	.512	10
9	Milwaukee Bucks	41	41	.500	11
10	Washington Wizards	37	45	.451	15
11	Miami Heat	36	46	.439	16
12	Atlanta Hawks	33	49	.402	19
13	New York Knicks	30	52	.366	22
14	Cleveland Cavaliers	29	53	.354	23
15	Chicago Bulls	21	61	.256	31

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	—

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

Awards and records

Transactions

References

1. 2001-02 Miami Heat
2. "Heat Gets Gatling in a 3-Team Deal Again". Tampa Bay Times. October 27, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
3. "Gatling Becomes Part of Three-Team Trade". United Press International. October 26, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
4. "Heat Sign Strickland". United Press International. October 23, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
5. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Ellis Moves Again, Signing with Heat". The New York Times. July 29, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
6. "Miami Signs Kendall Gill". United Press International. August 6, 2001. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
7. Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
8. "Jim Jackson Joins Reeling Miami". United Press International. December 3, 2001. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
9. Winderman, Ira (December 15, 2001). "Nets Cruise as Heat Crumbles". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
10. "2001–02 Miami Heat Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
11. "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
12. "2001–02 Miami Heat Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
13. Wise, Mike (September 13, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Kidney Ailment Has Mourning Out Indefinitely". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
14. "Illness May Keep Mourning Out for Season". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
15. Winderman, Ira (September 13, 2002). "Ailment May Bench Mourning for Season". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
16. Kelly, Omar (April 9, 2002). "It's Not Over till It's Over, Heat Insists". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
17. "Timberwolves Sign Kendall Gill". United Press International. September 26, 2002. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
18. "Kings Sign Jim Jackson". United Press International. December 1, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
19. "Miami Heat Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved November 24, 2021.