The 2001β02 NBA season was the Clippers' 32nd season in the
National Basketball Association and their 18th season in
Los Angeles.[1] The Clippers selected high school basketball star
Tyson Chandler with the second overall pick in the
2001 NBA draft, but soon traded him to the
Chicago Bulls in exchange for
Elton Brand.[2][3][4][5][6] With the acquisition of Brand and the continued improvements of second-year guard
Quentin Richardson,
Corey Maggette and
Michael Olowokandi, the Clippers played their best basketball with a 15β11 start as of December 22.[7] The team began to slip under .500, but still played competitive basketball through most of the first half holding a 25β26 record at the All-Star break,[8] despite
Lamar Odom only playing just 29 games due to a wrist injury,[9][10][11] and second-year guard
Keyon Dooling only playing just 14 games due to an ankle injury.[12][13] However, after holding a 36β33 record in mid-March, the Clippers struggled and lost 10 of their final 13 games. They failed to make the
playoffs finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 39β43 record, which was ninth place in the Western Conference.[14]
Brand averaged 18.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, and was selected for the
2002 NBA All-Star Game,[15][16][17][18] while
Jeff McInnis provided the team with 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game, and Richardson played an increased role as the team's sixth man, averaging 13.3 points per game off the bench. In addition, Maggette contributed 11.4 points per game, while Odom averaged 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, Olowokandi provided with 11.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and second-year forward
Darius Miles averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game off the bench.[19] Richardson also finished in third place in
Sixth Man of the Year voting.[20][21]
The Clippers received shooting guard
Vinny Del Negro from the
Phoenix Suns in a trade early in the season, but he did not play for the team as he was quickly waived. He did come back and became the team's head coach from 2010-2013.
Elton Brand selected as a reserve forward for the Western Conference All-Stars. Brand was chosen as a replacement for the injured
Shaquille O'Neal on the roster. He is the first Clipper All-Star since
Danny Manning was selected in 1994.
Transactions
The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 2001β02 season.
The 2001β02 NBA season was the Clippers' 32nd season in the
National Basketball Association and their 18th season in
Los Angeles.[1] The Clippers selected high school basketball star
Tyson Chandler with the second overall pick in the
2001 NBA draft, but soon traded him to the
Chicago Bulls in exchange for
Elton Brand.[2][3][4][5][6] With the acquisition of Brand and the continued improvements of second-year guard
Quentin Richardson,
Corey Maggette and
Michael Olowokandi, the Clippers played their best basketball with a 15β11 start as of December 22.[7] The team began to slip under .500, but still played competitive basketball through most of the first half holding a 25β26 record at the All-Star break,[8] despite
Lamar Odom only playing just 29 games due to a wrist injury,[9][10][11] and second-year guard
Keyon Dooling only playing just 14 games due to an ankle injury.[12][13] However, after holding a 36β33 record in mid-March, the Clippers struggled and lost 10 of their final 13 games. They failed to make the
playoffs finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 39β43 record, which was ninth place in the Western Conference.[14]
Brand averaged 18.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, and was selected for the
2002 NBA All-Star Game,[15][16][17][18] while
Jeff McInnis provided the team with 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game, and Richardson played an increased role as the team's sixth man, averaging 13.3 points per game off the bench. In addition, Maggette contributed 11.4 points per game, while Odom averaged 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, Olowokandi provided with 11.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and second-year forward
Darius Miles averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game off the bench.[19] Richardson also finished in third place in
Sixth Man of the Year voting.[20][21]
The Clippers received shooting guard
Vinny Del Negro from the
Phoenix Suns in a trade early in the season, but he did not play for the team as he was quickly waived. He did come back and became the team's head coach from 2010-2013.
Elton Brand selected as a reserve forward for the Western Conference All-Stars. Brand was chosen as a replacement for the injured
Shaquille O'Neal on the roster. He is the first Clipper All-Star since
Danny Manning was selected in 1994.
Transactions
The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 2001β02 season.