2001–02 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Denver Nuggets 2002 27 55 Midwest 6 12 Dan Issel (resigned) Mike Evans Kiki VanDeWeghe Stan Kroenke Pepsi Center Did not qualify DEN KTVD Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain KKFN The 2001–02 Denver Nuggets season was the 26th season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 35th season as a franchise. Denver Nuggets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Nuggets signed free agents Isaiah Rider and Avery Johnson; Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World The New York Times October 30, 2001 https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/30/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-against-the-new-generation-lakers-against-the-world.html July 16, 2022 however, Rider only played in just ten games before being waived in November. Nuggets Waive Isiah Rider United Press International November 20, 2001 https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/11/20/Nuggets-waive-Isiah-Rider/7381006232400/ June 9, 2022 After finishing just one game below .500 in winning percentage the previous season, the Nuggets suffered another disastrous setback as Antonio McDyess suffered a preseason knee injury; he would only appear in just ten games this season. Associated Press Plus: Pro Basketball: Nuggets Sign Cook, Former St. John's Star The New York Times October 10, 2001 https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/10/sports/plus-pro-basketball-nuggets-sign-cook-former-st-john-s-star.html October 25, 2022 Nuggets' McDyess Has Knee Surgery Associated Press October 12, 2001 https://apnews.com/article/95302c58b6349d9328ff62be4400e926 January 12, 2022 Regular season With the addition of Johnson, the Nuggets got off to a 6–5 start to the regular season, but then lost nine of their next ten games. One notable incident of the regular season occurred, after a 99–96 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the Pepsi Center on December 11, 2001. Head coach Dan Issel yelled a racial slur towards a Mexican fan; Issel was suspended for four games and was forced to resign, being replaced by assistant coach Mike Evans after a 9–17 start to the season. Associated Press Pro Basketball: Issel Apologizes for Slur and Will Miss 4 Games The New York Times December 13, 2001 https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/13/sports/pro-basketball-issel-apologizes-for-slur-and-will-miss-4-games.html January 12, 2022 Associated Press Nuggets Bench Issel for Outburst Los Angeles Times December 13, 2001 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-dec-13-sp-14388-story.html June 2, 2022 Coach Quits After Slur Controversy CBS News December 27, 2001 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coach-quits-after-slur-controversy/ October 20, 2022 At mid-season, the Nuggets traded Johnson, Nick Van Exel, Raef LaFrentz and Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Juwan Howard, former All-Star guard Tim Hardaway, and second-year forward Donnell Harvey. Broussard Chris Basketball: Van Exel and LaFrentz Are Traded to the Mavericks The New York Times February 22, 2002 https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/22/sports/basketball-van-exel-and-lafrentz-are-traded-to-the-mavericks.html January 12, 2022 Associated Press Mavericks Get Van Exel, LaFrentz Los Angeles Times February 22, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-22-sp-trade22-story.html September 12, 2022 Van Exel, Howard Are Part of Big Trade The Washington Post February 22, 2002 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/02/22/van-exel-howard-are-part-of-big-trade/bd41432c-2410-4693-a0ad-492c0bdb486c/ May 5, 2023 The team posted a 7-game losing streak in March, and finished in sixth place in the Midwest Division with a 27–55 record, 2001–02 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2002_games.html September 20, 2021 missing the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. Howard averaged 17.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 28 games after the trade, while Voshon Lenard averaged 11.5 points per game, and McDyess provided the team with 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. In addition, Hardaway contributed 9.6 points and 5.5 assists per game in 14 games, while George McCloud provided with 8.8 points per game, and Harvey averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 29 games. Meanwhile, Calbert Cheaney contributed 7.3 points per game, and Ryan Bowen averaged 4.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. 2001–02 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2002.html September 20, 2021 The Nuggets finished 20th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 633,846 at the Pepsi Center during the regular season. 2001–02 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2002.html January 25, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, McDyess was traded to the New York Knicks on draft day, after six seasons and two separate stints with the Nuggets, Broussard Chris Pro Basketball: Knicks Get McDyess for Camby and Jackson The New York Times June 27, 2002 https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/27/sports/pro-basketball-knicks-get-mcdyess-for-camby-and-jackson.html January 11, 2022 Associated Press NBA: Nuggets Trade McDyess, Get Draft-Day Makeover ESPN June 26, 2002 https://www.espn.com/nbadraft/story?id=1399451 October 25, 2022 while Lenard signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors, Mathur Ashish Raptors: Every Notable Toronto Free-Agent Signing, by Year Clutch Points June 12, 2020 https://clutchpoints.com/every-notable-toronto-raptors-free-agent-signing-by-year/ October 25, 2022 and Cheaney signed with the Utah Jazz. Buckley Tim Utah Jazz Season Preview 2002-03 Deseret News October 28, 2002 https://www.deseret.com/2002/10/28/19685492/utah-jazz-season-preview-2002-03 October 25, 2022 Meanwhile, McCloud was traded to the Washington Wizards, but was released to free agency, Hardaway was released, and Evans was fired as head coach. Heisler Mark West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish Los Angeles Times October 28, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-28-sp-1westcap28-story.html October 20, 2022 Offseason Draft picks 2001 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 2 47 Ousmane Cisse F St. Jude HS (AL) Roster Denver Nuggets 2001–02 #002147 #CBA135 #A50021 #FFFFFF 27 Mengke Bateer C 6 11 290 China 15 Chris Andersen F 6 10 230 Blinn College 30 Carlos Arroyo G 6 2 202 FIU 32 Ryan Bowen F 6 7 215 Iowa 29 Calbert Cheaney G/F 6 7 209 Indiana 25 Zendon Hamilton C 6 11 250 St. John's 10 Tim Hardaway G 6 0 175 UTEP yes 1 Donnell Harvey F 6 8 220 Florida 7 Juwan Howard F 6 9 240 Michigan 5 Voshon Lenard G 6 4 205 Minnesota 21 George McCloud F 6 6 205 Florida State 24 Antonio McDyess F/C 6 9 220 Alabama yes 41 James Posey G/F 6 8 215 Xavier 11 Kenny Satterfield G 6 2 186 Cincinnati 42 Scott Williams basketball F/C 6 10 230 North Carolina yes Mike Evans Louie Dampier Clyde Drexler Kim Hughes John MacLeod (associate head coach) https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2002.html Roster notes Shooting guard Isaiah Rider was waived on November 20, 2001. Regular season Season standings DEN DEN z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log January 2011 Player statistics Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGNick Van Exel454438.6.408.337.7823.88.10.70.221.4Juwan Howard282834.9.457.000.7707.92.70.60.617.9Raef LaFrentz515132.7.466.434.6677.41.20.63.014.9Voshon Lenard711923.5.410.371.7832.61.80.80.411.5Antonio McDyess101023.6.573.8185.51.81.00.811.3James Posey736330.7.376.283.7935.92.51.60.510.7Tim Hardaway141423.2.373.373.6321.95.51.20.19.6Avery Johnson511323.5.486.000.7471.35.10.70.29.4Isaiah Rider10117.3.457.400.7653.31.20.30.29.3George McCloud692626.5.358.270.8103.63.00.80.38.8Donnell Harvey29423.4.492.6476.21.10.60.78.0Calbert Cheaney684724.0.481.000.6873.51.60.50.37.3Tariq Abdul-Wahad201220.9.379.500.7503.91.10.90.56.8Zendon Hamilton541515.7.420.6524.70.30.40.36.0Kenny Satterfield36415.6.367.259.7831.43.00.90.05.3Mengke Bateer271015.1.402.333.7843.60.80.40.25.1Ryan Bowen752122.5.479.083.7504.00.71.00.54.9Scott Williams411618.0.396.000.7325.10.30.40.84.9Carlos Arroyo20113.8.439.000.7501.42.50.30.14.1Shawnelle Scott211012.0.493.4004.90.40.10.33.9Chris Andersen24110.9.338.000.7863.20.30.31.23.0 Player statistics citation: Awards and records January 2011 Transactions January 2011 References See also 2001-02 NBA season Category:Denver Nuggets seasons Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets Denver Nug