2001–02 Phoenix Suns season

2001–02 Phoenix Suns season
Head coach
General managerBryan Colangelo
OwnerJerry Colangelo
ArenaAmerica West Arena
Results
Record36–46 (.439)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Pacific)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television
RadioKTAR

The 2001–02 Phoenix Suns season was the 34th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Suns acquired All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury from the New Jersey Nets,[2][3][4] re-signed former All-Star Suns guard and three-point specialist Dan Majerle, who was a member of the team when they appeared in the 1993 NBA Finals,[5][6][7] acquired second-year center Jake Voskuhl from the Chicago Bulls, and acquired John Wallace and Jud Buechler from the Detroit Pistons.[8][9] Early into the regular season, Buechler was traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Bo Outlaw in November.[10][11][12]

With the addition of Marbury, and with Penny Hardaway back after only appearing in just four games the previous season due to a knee injury, the Suns lost three of their first four games of the regular season, but soon recovered by posting a five-game winning streak between November and December, and holding an 18–13 record at the end of December. However, the team soon struggled and fell below .500 in winning percentage by posting a five-game losing streak soon afterwards, and later on holding a 24–24 record at the All-Star break.[13]

Head coach Scott Skiles resigned after a 25–26 start to the season, and was replaced with assistant and former Suns guard Frank Johnson,[14][15][16] while Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk were both traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for rookie shooting guard, and top draft pick Joe Johnson, and Randy Brown in a mid-season trade.[17][18][19] Under Frank Johnson, the Suns posted a six-game losing streak in March, and lost eight of their final eleven games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a disappointing 36–46 record, and missing the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1987–88 season.[20]

Marbury averaged 20.4 points and 8.1 assists per game, while Shawn Marion averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and Hardaway provided the team with 12.0 points, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, Joe Johnson contributed 9.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in 27 games after the trade, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while second-year center Jake Tsakalidis provided with 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Tom Gugliotta averaged 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, but continued to struggle with knee injuries, as he only appeared in just 44 games due to left quadriceps tendonitis.[21][22] Meanwhile, Voskuhl averaged 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Wallace contributed 5.0 points per game, Outlaw provided with 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and Majerle contributed 4.6 points per game, but shot just .343 in field-goal percentage.[23]

The Suns finished 17th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 668,939 at the America West Arena during the regular season.[23][24] This season was a disappointment for an organization looking to build a new core of talent. For the first time since the 1996–97 season, the NBA All-Star Game did not feature a Suns player. To complete the season on a low note, a franchise-record of thirteen consecutive NBA playoff appearances ended when the Suns failed to qualify for the postseason.[25]

Following the season, Majerle retired after playing in his second stint with the Suns,[26] and Wallace was released to free agency.

Offseason

NBA draft

Main article: 2001 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Club Team
2 51 Alton Ford Center  United States Houston

Roster

2001–02 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 0 Randy Brown  (IN) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–22 New Mexico State
G 11 Joe Crispin 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1979–07–18 Penn State
F 4 Alton Ford 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1981–05–29 Houston
F 24 Tom Gugliotta  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–12–19 NC State
G 1 Penny Hardaway 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1971–07–18 Memphis
G 2 Joe Johnson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1981–06–29 Arkansas
G 9 Dan Majerle 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1965–09–09 Central Michigan
G 3 Stephon Marbury 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977–02–20 Georgia Tech
F 31 Shawn Marion 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978–05–07 UNLV
F 45 Bo Outlaw 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–04–13 Houston
G 10 Milt Palacio 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1978–02–07 Colorado State
C 25 Jake Tsakalidis 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1979–06–10 Georgia (country)
C 43 Jake Voskuhl 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1977–11–01 Connecticut
F 22 John Wallace 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1974–02–09 Syracuse
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: February 20, 2002

Roster Notes

Regular season

Standings

Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Sacramento Kings 61 21 .744 – 36–5 25–16 15–9
x-Los Angeles Lakers 58 24 .707 3 34–7 24–17 16–8
x-Portland Trail Blazers 49 33 .598 12 30–11 19–22 14–10
x-Seattle SuperSonics 45 37 .549 16 26–15 19–22 13–11
e-Los Angeles Clippers 39 43 .476 22 25–16 14–27 9–15
e-Phoenix Suns 36 46 .439 25 23–18 13–28 12–12
e-Golden State Warriors 21 61 .256 40 14–27 7–34 5–19
#
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

Awards and honors

Week/Month

  • Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Month for March.
  • Stephon Marbury was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 26 through December 2.
  • Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played March 25 through March 31.

Season

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% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Charlie Bell* 5 0 8.4 .273 .000 1.000# 0.8 0.4 .0 .0 1.6
Jud Buechler* 6 0 9.0 .333 .333 . 1.3 0.5 .2 .0 1.0
Joe Crispin* 15 0 8.6 .411 .429^ 1.000# 0.7 1.6 .3 .0 4.6
Vinny Del Negro 2 0 3.0 .250 . . 0.0 1.0 .0 .0 1.0
Tony Delk* 41 1 21.4 .399 .320 .836 3.0 2.0 .8 .1 10.6
Alton Ford 53 0 8.5 .517† . .737 2.0 0.1 .1 .1 3.1
Tom Gugliotta 44 40 25.7 .422 .333 .757 5.0 1.8 .9 .7 6.5
Penny Hardaway 80 56 30.8 .418 .277 .810 4.4 4.1 1.5 .4 12.0
Joe Johnson* 29 27 31.5 .420 .333 .778 4.1 3.6 .9 .4 9.6
Dan Majerle 65 0 18.2 .343 .336^ .590 2.7 1.4 .7 .2 4.6
Stephon Marbury 82 80 38.9 .442 .286 .781 3.2 8.1 .9 .2 20.4
Shawn Marion 81 81 38.4 .469† .393^ .845# 9.9 2.0 1.8 1.1 19.1
Bo Outlaw* 73 36 24.2 .550† .500^ .417 4.6 1.7 .8 1.1 4.7
Milt Palacio* 28 1 9.7 .380 .143 .783 0.8 1.0 .3 .0 2.8
Rodney Rogers* 50 7 25.1 .466 .350^ .828 4.8 1.4 1.0 .3 12.6
Daniel Santiago 3 0 8.0 .500† . . 2.3 0.7 .0 .3 2.7
Jake Tsakalidis 67 47 23.6 .475† .000 .698 5.6 0.3 .3 1.0 7.3
Jake Voskuhl 59 34 15.3 .554† . .752 4.3 0.3 .2 .4 5.0
John Wallace 46 0 10.7 .435 .385^ .870# 1.8 0.6 .2 .2 5.0

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.
# – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Player statistics citation:[23]

Transactions

Trades

July 18, 2001 To Detroit Pistons
Clifford Robinson 		To Phoenix Suns
Jud Buechler
John Wallace
$1.6 million trade exception
July 18, 2001 To New Jersey Nets
Chris Dudley
Jason Kidd
 To Phoenix Suns
Stephon Marbury
Johnny Newman
Soumaila Samake
October 29, 2001 To Chicago Bulls
Soumaila Samake
2003 second-round draft pick ( Matt Bonner)
 To Phoenix Suns
Jake Voskuhl
November 15, 2001 To Orlando Magic
Jud Buechler 		To Phoenix Suns
Bo Outlaw
2002 first-round draft pick ( Amar'e Stoudemire)
To Los Angeles Clippers
Vinny Del Negro
Cash considerations
February 20, 2002 To Boston Celtics
Tony Delk
Rodney Rogers
 To Phoenix Suns
Randy Brown
Joe Johnson
Milt Palacio
2002 first-round draft pick ( Casey Jacobsen)

Free agents

Additions

Date Player Contract Former Team
July 6, 2001 Charlie Bell Undisclosed Michigan State Spartans
July 19, 2001 Dan Majerle Signed to 1-year contract for $1 million Miami Heat
August 29, 2001 Daniel Santiago Re-signed to 1-year contract for $465,850 Phoenix Suns
September 27, 2001 Chris Andersen Undisclosed Fayetteville Patriots (NBA DL)
September 27, 2001 Dan McClintock Undisclosed Denver Nuggets
September 27, 2001 Derek Hood Undisclosed Snaidero Udine (Italy)
September 27, 2001 Kendrick Johnson Undisclosed
January 7, 2002 Joe Crispin Signed for rest of season Southern California Surf (ABA)

Subtractions

Date Player Reason left New team
September 28, 2001 Johnny Newman Waived Dallas Mavericks
October 7, 2001 Chris Andersen Waived Denver Nuggets
October 9, 2001 Dan McClintock Waived Skipper Bologna
October 11, 2001 Kendrick Johnson Waived
October 20, 2001 Derek Hood Waived Mobile Revelers (NBA DL)
December 11, 2001 Charlie Bell Waived Phoenix Eclipse (ABA)
January 7, 2002 Daniel Santiago Waived Lottomatica Roma (Italy)

Player Transactions Citation:[27]

References

  1. ^ "2001-02 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats".
  2. ^ "Both Kidd and Marbury to Get Fresh Starts". ESPN. Associated Press. June 29, 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Robbins, Liz (June 29, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Nets' Shake-Up Ships Marbury for Suns' Kidd". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 29, 2001). "Kidd, Marbury Latest Big Deal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. ^ "Dan Majerle Signs with Suns". United Press International. July 19, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Tutumello, Mike (October 4, 2001). "Majerle Goes Home to the Arizona Heat". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 20, 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. ^ "Pistons Add Robinson in Deal with Suns". ESPN. Associated Press. June 29, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Suns' Robinson Is Dealt to Pistons". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 30, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  10. ^ "Suns Get Outlaw from Magic as Part of Three-Team Deal". ESPN. Associated Press. November 16, 2001. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "Suns Get Outlaw in 3-Team Trade". United Press International. November 16, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  12. ^ Brewer, Jerry (November 17, 2001). "Magic Send Outlaw to Suns". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  14. ^ "Skiles Agrees to Leave, Assistant Johnson Takes Over". ESPN. Associated Press. February 17, 2002. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Skiles Resigns as Suns' Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 18, 2002. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  16. ^ "Suns' Skiles Resigns, Johnson Takes Over". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 18, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  17. ^ "Report: Celts Acquire F Rogers, G Delk from Suns". ESPN. February 20, 2002. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  18. ^ "Boston Acquires Delk, Rogers from Phoenix". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 21, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  19. ^ "Celts, Suns Make Trade; Jackson Set to Be Dealt". Deseret News. February 21, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "2001–02 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "Suns Place Gugliotta on Injured List". United Press International. January 8, 2002. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  22. ^ "Suns Activate Oft-Injured Gugliotta". Midland Daily News. February 12, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "2001–02 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  24. ^ "2001–02 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  25. ^ "Phoenix Suns". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  26. ^ "Buford Clarifies Drug Suspension". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 15, 2002. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  27. ^ "2001–02 Phoenix Suns Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2021.

See also

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