2001–02 Indiana Pacers season


The 2001–02 NBA season was the Pacers' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 35th season as a franchise. The Pacers won six of their first eight games, but then played around.500 for most of the first half of the season. At midseason, the team traded Jalen Rose and Travis Best to the Chicago Bulls for Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Ron Mercer. With a 37–40 record in mid April, the Pacers would win their final five games of the season, and sneak into the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record. Jermaine O'Neal was named Most Improved Player of the season averaging 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He was also selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. Rookie Jamaal Tinsley was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team. However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Pacers would lose in five games to the top-seeded New Jersey Nets, including a double overtime loss in Game 5, which the Nets won 120–109.

Offseason

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
240Jamison BrewerPGUnited StatesAuburn

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

East First Round

New Jersey Nets vs. Indiana Pacers
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available ; met in the 1972 ABA Finals where the Pacers won 4-2.
Although the Nets won the series in five games, it would be most remarkable for more playoff heroics by Reggie Miller. Miller banked in a 40-footer at the buzzer to force overtime, and then flew in for a dunk over three Net defenders with 3.1 seconds left in the extra session to force the second overtime.

Player stats

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Trades