2001–02 Houston Rockets season

2001–02 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
ArenaCompaq Center
Results
Record28–54 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKTBU
Fox Sports Net Southwest
RadioKTRH

The 2001–02 Houston Rockets season was the 35th season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st season in Houston, Texas.[1] In the 2001 NBA draft, the Rockets selected small forward Richard Jefferson from the University of Arizona with the 13th overall pick,[2] but soon traded him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for rookie power forward, and top draft pick Eddie Griffin out of Seton Hall University.[3][4] During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Glen Rice from the New York Knicks,[5][6][7] and re-acquired former Rockets forward Kevin Willis from the Milwaukee Bucks.[8]

In their first season since 1983–84 without All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets got off to a 7–5 start to the regular season, but then suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak. Rice only played just 20 games due to a knee injury,[9] and Maurice Taylor missed the entire regular season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.[10][11] 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 in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a disappointing 28–54 record.[12]

Team captain Steve Francis averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, but only played 57 games, and starting 56 of them due to recurring foot injuries and migraines,[13][14] while Cuttino Mobley led the Rockets with 21.7 points and 1.5 steals per game, and with 149 three-point field goals, and Kenny Thomas provided the team with 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Walt Williams contributed 9.4 points per game, while Griffin averaged 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Meanwhile, Rice contributed 8.6 points per game, Moochie Norris provided with 8.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, Kelvin Cato averaged 6.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Willis averaged 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.[15]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Francis was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.[16][17][18] In addition, Francis also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second time.[19][20]

Following the season, Williams signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks,[21] and Willis signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[22][23]

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. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 10 Tierre Brown 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) McNeese State
F/C 13 Kelvin Cato 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Iowa State
C 52 Jason Collier 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Georgia Tech
G 3 Steve Francis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Maryland
F/C 33 Eddie Griffin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Seton Hall
F 14 Dan Langhi 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Vanderbilt
G/F 5 Cuttino Mobley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Rhode Island
F 44 Terence Morris 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Maryland
G 12 Moochie Norris 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) West Florida
F 41 Glen Rice  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
F 21 Kenny Thomas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 261 lb (118 kg) New Mexico
G/F 18 Óscar Torres 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Xavier
F/C 2 Maurice Taylor  (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Michigan
F 42 Walt Williams  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) Maryland
F/C 43 Kevin Willis 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Michigan State
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 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
e-Houston Rockets 28 54 .341 30 18–23 10–31 9–15
e-Denver Nuggets 27 55 .329 31 20–21 7–34 8–16
e-Memphis Grizzlies 23 59 .280 35 15–26 8–33 7–17
#
Western Conference
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 e-Los Angeles Clippers 39 43 .476 22
10 e-Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 25
11 e-Houston Rockets 28 54 .341 33
12 e-Denver Nuggets 27 55 .329 34
13 e-Memphis Grizzlies 23 59 .280 38
14 e-Golden State Warriors 21 61 .256 40

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

Player Statistics Citation:[15]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 2001-02 Houston Rockets
  2. ^ "2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Sheridan, Chris (June 28, 2001). "High School Player Tops NBA Draft". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Robbins, Liz (August 11, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking for Balance, the Knicks Trade Rice". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Services, Times Wire (August 11, 2001). "Rice Goes to Houston in Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 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. ^ Gardner, Kris (October 22, 2001). "Rockets Get Kevin Willis". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Berman, Marc (January 7, 2002). "Rice Reunion Derailed by Injury". New York Post. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Rockets' Taylor Will Miss Season". The New York Times. September 6, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Services, Wire (December 17, 2001). "Wizards Keep Rolling". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "2001–02 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ^ "Cartwright Gets Bulls' Promotion". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 29, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "Francis' Migraine Eases Up; Guard Rejoins Team". Chron. January 18, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "2001–02 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "NBA All-Star Game Rosters". United Press International. February 8, 2002. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  19. ^ "Basketball". The Spokesman-Review. February 10, 2002. p. C10. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "Mavericks Sign Walt Williams". United Press International. October 18, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "Spurs Sign C-F Kevin Willis". United Press International. August 27, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  23. ^ Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.

See also

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