2001–02 Seattle SuperSonics season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 January 2025 Seattle SuperSonics 2002 45 37 Pacific 4 7 Nate McMillan Rick Sund Howard Schultz KeyArena KING-TVKONGFox Sports Net Northwest KJR West First Round(lost to Spurs 2–3) SEA The 2001–02 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 35th season for the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/ August 9, 2026 Season summary Off-season The SuperSonics received the twelfth overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and selected Yugoslavian power forward Vladimir Radmanovic; the team also selected point guard Earl Watson from the University of California, Los Angeles with the 39th overall pick. Associated Press NBA Draft 2001: Wizards Go Young, But Bulls Go Younger ESPN June 27, 2001 https://a.espncdn.com/nba/draft2001/s/2001/0627/1219569.html October 16, 2026 Wise Mike High School Star Taken No. 1 in N.B.A. Draft The New York Times June 28, 2001 https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/students/pop/010629snapfriday.html October 16, 2026 2001 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2001.html October 16, 2026 During the off-season, the SuperSonics signed free agents Calvin Booth, Associated Press NBA: Mavericks' Backup Set to Replace Departed Ewing ESPN July 31, 2001 https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2001/0731/1233384.html October 25, 2022 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 and Jerome James. Transactions The Victoria Advocate September 6, 2001 4B https://books.google.com/books?id=QGdYAAAAIBAJ&dq=2001+seattle+supersonics+signed+center+jerome+james+contract&pg=PA8&article_id=3889,1388603 October 26, 2024 Carpenter Les A Player's Tale: the Strange Path of Jerome James The Seattle Times April 26, 2002 https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20020426&slug=james26 October 17, 2021 For the season, the SuperSonics redesigned their primary logo, replacing the colors dark green and dark red with their traditional color scheme of emerald green, golden yellow and white. The team's primary logo featured a green background with a golden yellow inline, featuring the city name "Seattle" in white letters, and the team nickname "Sonics" in golden yellow letters with green inlines. Underneath the city and team names featured a green circle with a golden yellow inline, featuring a white letter "S" in front of a golden yellow basketball with green seams. Seattle Supersonics Primary Logo Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/2m7tz2iv8wjusqs6ob11nznri/Seattle_Supersonics/2002/Primary_Logo November 24, 2021 The team also redesigned their home and road uniforms, which featured a V-shaped collar. The uniforms also featured a golden yellow and black trim, a stripe across the front of their jerseys which also served as side panels on their jerseys and shorts, and their new alternate logo of a white letter "S" in front of a golden yellow basketball on both sides of their shorts. The white home uniforms featured the team nickname "Sonics" in white letters with golden yellow inlines on the green stripe across the front of their jerseys, which served as green side panels with golden yellow and black outlines. The road uniforms were changed from dark green to emerald green, and featured the city name "Seattle" in green letters with golden yellow inlines on the white stripe, which served as white side panels with black and golden yellow outlines. Seattle SuperSonics Home Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/whhf29ivtbspdppc8vru8azot/Seattle_Supersonics/2002/Home_Uniform November 24, 2021 Seattle SuperSonics Road Uniform Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.net https://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/7252ti7kclumph9br8awyiuh9/Seattle_Supersonics/2002/Road_Uniform November 24, 2021 The team's new primary logo, and new uniforms would both remain in use until 2008; although the uniforms would be slightly updated in 2006, where they would add the jersey numbers to the left leg of their shorts. Regular season Under Nate McMillan's first full season as head coach, the SuperSonics struggled losing five of their first seven games, and held a 9–14 start to the regular season. However, the team won 14 of their next 20 games, and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, holding a 25–23 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=7&year=2002 September 11, 2022 Despite losing six of their final eight games of the season, the SuperSonics finished in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 45–37 record, which was only a one-game improvement over the previous season, earning the seventh seed in the Western Conference, and returning to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence. 2001–02 Seattle SuperSonics Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2002_games.html June 26, 2021 Gary Payton averaged 22.1 points, 9.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Rashard Lewis averaged 16.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, along with 123 three-point field goals, while Brent Barry provided the team with 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and also led them with 164 three-point field goals, Vin Baker contributed 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, but only played 55 games due to a shoulder injury, Cour Jim Sonics Baker in Doubt on Sore Shoulder Midland Reporter-Telegram January 27, 2002 https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Sonics-Baker-in-Doubt-on-Sore-Shoulder-7709336.php May 5, 2023 Associated Press NBA: Hoping for Fast Recovery, Baker Can't Raise Arm ESPN January 28, 2002 https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0128/1319220.html October 24, 2022 Associated Press Jazz Beats the Heat to End Losing Streak Los Angeles Times January 29, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-29-sp-nba29-story.html October 24, 2022 and second-year forward Desmond Mason provided with 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Radmanovic averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, rookie center Predrag Drobnjak provided with 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, James contributed 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and Watson contributed 3.6 points and 2.0 assists per game. 2001–02 Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2002.html June 26, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Payton was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team. NBA All-Star Game Rosters United Press International February 8, 2002 https://www.upi.com/Archives/2002/02/08/NBA-All-Star-game-rosters/6931013144400/ October 23, 2024 NBA.com Staff 2002 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-2002 May 4, 2023 2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_2002.html November 28, 2021 Meanwhile, Mason participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second consecutive year, Basketball The Spokesman-Review February 10, 2002 C10 https://books.google.com/books?id=ApJXAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=2002+NBA+Slam+Dunk+Contest+Jason+Richardson&article_id=1311,7430907&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0qLm6hKCQAxXR48kDHUkfCYI4ChDoAXoECAkQAw#v=onepage&q=2002%20NBA%20Slam%20Dunk%20Contest%20Jason%20Richardson&f=false October 17, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html October 17, 2025 and was also selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team. Rookie Challenge Today The Daily Gazette February 9, 2002 D3 https://books.google.com/books?id=5XIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA19&dq=2002+nba+rookie+challenge+morris+peterson&article_id=2443,2136771&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjS0d-e76uQAxXsnCYFHR1SB4c4ChDoAXoECA4QAw#v=onepage&q&f=false October 17, 2025 2002 NBA Rising Stars: Rookies 103, Sophomores 97 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_2002_rookie.html October 17, 2025 Payton also finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Barry finished in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, with Payton and Mason both finishing tied in twelfth place; 2001–02 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com//awards/awards_2002.html January 11, 2022 Mason also finished tied in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, and McMillan finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting. The SuperSonics finished 21st in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 633,516 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center during the regular season. 2001–02 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2002.html January 25, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 2002 NBA playoffs, the SuperSonics faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by All-Star forward, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, Tim Duncan, All-Star center David Robinson, and rookie point guard Tony Parker. The SuperSonics lost Game 1 to the Spurs on the road, 110–89 at the Alamodome, but managed to win Game 2 on the road, 98–90. The SuperSonics lost Game 3 at home, 102–75 at the KeyArena at Seattle Center, but managed to win Game 4 over the Spurs at home, 91–79 to even the series at 2–2. Hughes Frank  One Giant Leap: Sonics Subdue Short-Handed Spurs, Force Fifth Game  The Spokesman-Review  May 2, 2002  C  https://books.google.com/books?id=YpZXAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq=2002+Seattle+SuperSonics+San+Antonio+Spurs+91-79&article_id=3090,2146742&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjb46mLj7qVAxXaK1kFHT7DAYoQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=2002%20Seattle%20SuperSonics%20San%20Antonio%20Spurs%2091-79&f=false July 4, 2026 Cour Jim  Without Big Men, Spurs Fall: NBA: Without Duncan, Robinson in Middle, Seattle Cruises to a 91-79 Victory to Force Game 5  The Register-Guard  May 2, 2002  F  https://books.google.com/books?id=pFVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18&dq=2002+Seattle+SuperSonics+San+Antonio+Spurs+91-79&article_id=4717,359946&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjb46mLj7qVAxXaK1kFHT7DAYoQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=2002%20Seattle%20SuperSonics%20San%20Antonio%20Spurs%2091-79&f=false July 4, 2026 2002 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 4: San Antonio Spurs at Seattle SuperSonics Box Score, May 1, 2002 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200205010SEA.html July 4, 2026 However, the SuperSonics lost Game 5 to the Spurs at the Alamodome, 101–78, thus losing in a hard-fought five-game series. Associated Press N.B.A.: Roundup: Spurs Ride Duncan's 23 to Advance The New York Times May 4, 2002 https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/04/sports/nba-roundup-spurs-ride-duncan-s-23-to-advance.html July 24, 2021 Adande J.A. Duncan's Presence No Minor Difference Los Angeles Times May 4, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-04-sp-adande04-story.html June 2, 2022 2002 NBA Western Conference First Round: SuperSonics vs. Spurs Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2002-nba-western-conference-first-round-supersonics-vs-spurs.html May 4, 2023 Aftermath This was also Payton's final full season with the SuperSonics, as he would be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks midway through the following season. Popper Steve Pro Basketball: Sonics Deal Payton to Bucks for Allen The New York Times February 21, 2003 https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/21/sports/pro-basketball-sonics-deal-payton-to-bucks-for-allen.html June 12, 2022 Heisler Mark Losses Will Fit Seattle Like a Glove Los Angeles Times February 21, 2003 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-21-sp-heisler21-story.html June 12, 2022 Nichols Rachel Sonics Trade Payton to Bucks The Washington Post February 21, 2003 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/02/21/sonics-trade-payton-to-bucks/f5710e4c-06c6-4405-99c8-2b1508e21d8b/ July 2, 2022 Meanwhile, Baker and Shammond Williams were both traded to the Boston Celtics, after Baker spent five seasons with the SuperSonics, Ford Chad NBA: Celtics Acquire Baker in Five-Player Deal ESPN July 23, 2002 https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2002/0722/1408668.html October 24, 2024 Broussard Chris Pro Basketball: Baker Goes to Boston in a Five-Player Trade The New York Times July 23, 2002 https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/23/sports/pro-basketball-baker-goes-to-boston-in-a-five-player-trade.html July 24, 2021 Associated Press Baker Traded to the Celtics Los Angeles Times July 23, 2002 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-23-sp-nbanotes23-story.html October 20, 2022 and Watson signed as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies. G Earl Watson Officially Joins Memphis United Press International August 7, 2002 https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/08/07/G-Earl-Watson-officially-joins-Memphis/41591028738313/ October 20, 2022 Hughes Frank NBA: West's Shrewd Moves Make Him Best G.M. ESPN September 12, 2002 https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hughes_frank&id=1430852 May 5, 2023 Draft picks 2001 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/club team 1 12 Vladimir Radmanovic SF/PF KK FMP 2 39 Earl Watson PG UCLA 2 41 Bobby Simmons SF/PF DePaul Roster Seattle SuperSonics 2001–02 42 Vin Baker F/C 6 11 232 1971–11–23 Hartford 31 Brent Barry G/F 6 7 185 1971–12–31 Oregon State 52 Calvin Booth F/C 6 11 230 1976–05–07 Penn State yes 14 Predrag Drobnjak F/C 6 11 270 1975–10–27 FR Yugoslavia 33 Jerome James C 7 0 300 1975–11–17 Florida A&M 7 Rashard Lewis F 6 10 235 1979–08–08 Alief Elsik HS (TX) 9 Randy Livingston G 6 4 209 1975–04–02 LSU 35 Art Long F 6 9 250 1972–10–01 Cincinnati yes 24 Desmond Mason G/F 6 7 224 1977–10–11 Oklahoma State 00 Olumide Oyedeji C 6 10 240 1981–05–11 Nigeria 20 Gary Payton G 6 4 180 1968–07–23 Oregon State 77 Vladimir Radmanović F 6 10 227 1980–11–19 FR Yugoslavia 45 Ansu Sesay F 6 9 225 1976–07–29 Mississippi 25 Earl Watson G 6 1 195 1979–06–12 UCLA 1 Shammond Williams G 6 1 201 1975–04–05 North Carolina Nate McMillan Dwane Casey Dwight Daub Dean Demopoulos Bob Weiss https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2002.html Roster Notes Point Guard Shammond Williams holds American and Georgian dual citizenship. He was born in the United States but he later played on the Georgian national team. Regular season Season standings SEA SEA z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log January 2011 Playoffs Seattle SuperSonics yes 2002 Seattle SuperSonics First round yes yes no 1 1 1 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 20 | @ San Antonio | L 89–110 | Vin Baker (22) | Vin Baker (7) | four players tied (2) | Alamodome23,634 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 22 | @ San Antonio | W 98–90 | Gary Payton (21) | Gary Payton (11) | Gary Payton (5) | Alamodome23,059 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 27 | San Antonio | L 75–102 | Gary Payton (20) | Brent Barry (8) | Gary Payton (6) | KeyArena17,072 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 1 | San Antonio | W 91–79 | Gary Payton (28) | Gary Payton (12) | Gary Payton (11) | KeyArena17,072 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 3 | @ San Antonio | L 78–101 | Gary Payton (23) | Gary Payton (9) | Gary Payton (5) | Alamodome23,369 | 2–3 |- SEA yes 2002 Player statistics Season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGGary Payton828240.3.467.314.7974.89.01.60.322.1Brent Barry818137.5.508.424.8465.45.31.80.514.4Rashard Lewis717036.4.468.389.8107.01.71.50.616.8Desmond Mason752032.3.464.271.8484.71.40.90.412.4Vin Baker554131.1.485.125.6336.41.30.40.714.1Vladimir Radmanovic611620.2.412.420.6813.81.30.90.46.7Calvin Booth151518.6.427.9583.61.10.40.96.2Predrag Drobnjak641218.3.461.000.7533.40.80.30.56.8Jerome James564016.9.491.5004.10.40.41.55.3Ansu Sesay9015.8.500.7002.20.90.30.26.4Art Long632715.7.492.5294.00.70.30.44.5Earl Watson64015.1.453.364.6391.32.00.90.13.6Randy Livingston13013.5.278.125.9091.92.00.70.23.2Shammond Williams50212.1.420.373.7951.31.70.40.04.4Antonio Harvey539.4.333.5001.81.00.20.61.8Olumide Oyedeji3616.1.537.6112.20.10.10.11.5 Playoffs PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGGary Payton5541.4.425.267.5868.65.80.60.422.2Desmond Mason5541.0.421.333.5886.21.80.80.411.8Brent Barry5529.8.412.4381.0004.62.80.60.87.8Vin Baker5428.8.5001.000.7785.00.80.61.213.2Rashard Lewis3226.3.375.1671.0003.70.70.30.012.7Vladimir Radmanovic5222.6.438.5381.0003.61.00.20.27.6Randy Livingston5016.0.412.3331.0001.22.00.40.04.0Ansu Sesay4015.0.3751.0003.51.00.01.01.8Jerome James5114.0.391.0002.40.80.01.03.6Predrag Drobnjak3112.7.333.5002.70.70.30.03.3Shammond Williams3012.7.429.500.6671.31.00.70.05.3Olumide Oyedeji305.7.800.2002.00.30.00.03.0 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Gary Payton, All-NBA Second Team Gary Payton, NBA All-Defensive First Team Vladimir Radmanovic, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team Transactions January 2011 References See also 2001-02 NBA season Category:Seattle SuperSonics seasons Seattle