NBA team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2001–02 NBA season was the Pistons' 61st season, the 54th in the National Basketball Association , and the 45th in the Detroit area.[ 1] After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Pistons selected Rodney White from the University of Charlotte with the ninth pick in the 2001 NBA draft .[ 2] [ 3] During the off-season, the team acquired Clifford Robinson from the Phoenix Suns ,[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] and Jon Barry from the Sacramento Kings .[ 7] [ 8] Under new head coach Rick Carlisle ,[ 9] [ 10] the Pistons won 14 of their first 20 games, but then suffered a 7-game losing streak in December. However, after a 19–20 start, they would win 15 of their next 18 games. After a 26–21 record at the All-Star break,[ 11] the Pistons won 24 of their final 35 games, returning to the playoffs after a one-year absence, finishing first place in the Central Division with a 50–32 record, thanks to a 123–89 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks to close out the season.[ 12] [ 13] They won the divisional title for the first time since the 1989–90 season .
Ben Wallace averaged 7.6 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, was named Defensive Player of the Year,[ 14] [ 15] was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Corliss Williamson averaged 13.6 points per game off the bench, and was named Sixth Man of the Year,[ 16] [ 17] while Carlisle was named Coach of the Year.[ 18] [ 19] Jerry Stackhouse led the team in scoring with 21.4 points and 5.3 assists per game, but was not selected for the All-Star Game, while Robinson provided the team with 14.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, Chucky Atkins provided with 12.1 points per game, Barry contributed 9.0 points per game off the bench, and rookie center Željko Rebrača was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.[ 20] Wallace also finished in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and in second place in Most Improved Player voting.[ 21] [ 22]
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Pistons would defeat the Toronto Raptors in five games, and advance to the second round for the first time since 1991 .[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] However, in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, after winning Game 1 over the 3rd-seeded Boston Celtics , 96–84 in Detroit,[ 26] [ 27] the Pistons would lose the next four games, thus the series.[ 28] [ 29] [ 30] Following the season, Stackhouse was traded to the Washington Wizards ,[ 31] [ 32] [ 33] while White was traded to the Denver Nuggets ,[ 34] and Dana Barros was released to free agency.
For the season, the Pistons changed the colors of their primary logo to their traditional color scheme of red, white and blue,[ 35] and also changed their uniforms.[ 36] [ 37] The logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2005.
Draft picks
Roster
2001–02 Detroit Pistons roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
C
9
Alexander, Victor
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1969–08–31
Iowa State
G
7
Atkins, Chucky
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
1974–08–14
South Florida
G
1
Barros, Dana
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
163 lb (74 kg)
1967–04–13
Boston College
G
20
Barry, Jon
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1969–07–25
Georgia Tech
F
35
Cardinal, Brian
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1977–05–02
Purdue
G/F
12
Curry, Michael
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1968–08–22
Georgia Southern
G
14
Jones, Damon
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1976–08–25
Houston
C
31
Moore, Mikki
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1975–11–04
Nebraska
C
39
Rebrača, Željko
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
257 lb (117 kg)
1972–04–09
Serbia
F
30
Robinson, Clifford
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1966–12–16
Connecticut
G/F
42
Stackhouse, Jerry (C)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1974–11–05
North Carolina
C
44
Varda, Ratko
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
247 lb (112 kg)
1979–05–06
Serbia
F/C
3
Wallace, Ben (C)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1974–09–10
Virginia Union
F
5
White, Rodney
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
238 lb (108 kg)
1980–06–28
Charlotte
F
34
Williamson, Corliss
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1973–12–04
Arkansas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: October 29, 2001
Regular season
Season standings
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
2001-02 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
—
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
2–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–3
Boston
2–2
—
2–1
2–2
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
0–2
3–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
3–1
4–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
Charlotte
2–2
1–2
—
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
Chicago
1–3
2–2
0–4
—
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
0–4
3–1
0–3
1–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
1–3
Cleveland
1–3
0–4
1–3
3–1
—
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–2
Dallas
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
—
4–0
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
Denver
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
—
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–3
1–3
3–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–2
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–1
1–3
0–2
Detroit
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–0
—
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
Golden State
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
3–1
1–1
—
1–3
0–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–4
1–1
Houston
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
3–1
—
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
Indiana
3–1
0–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
2–0
2–0
—
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
1–3
2–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
3–1
L.A. Clippers
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
1–1
—
1–3
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
0–4
1–1
L.A. Lakers
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
4–0
2–0
3–1
—
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
Memphis
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–3
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
—
1–1
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
3–1
0–2
Miami
1–3
1–3
0–3
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
—
3–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–2
2–2
Milwaukee
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
—
0–2
1–2
1–3
2–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
0–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
Minnesota
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
4–0
2–0
2–0
—
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
New Jersey
1–2
1–3
3–1
4–0
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–1
1–1
—
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
New York
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
3–1
0–2
0–4
—
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–0
1–1
1–3
Orlando
3–1
1–3
1–3
3–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–2
1–1
1–3
4–0
—
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
Philadelphia
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–1
3–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
—
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–3
Phoenix
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
—
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–2
0–2
Portland
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
—
2–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
Sacramento
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
0–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
—
3–1
2–2
2–0
4–0
1–1
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–3
—
2–2
1–1
4–0
2–0
Seattle
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–2
—
2–0
1–3
1–1
Toronto
4–0
2–2
2–2
4–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
0–4
1–1
2–2
0–3
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
—
1–1
1–2
Utah
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
1–3
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–1
—
2–0
Washington
3–0
1–3
1–3
3–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
0–4
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
—
Game log
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(January 2011 )
Playoffs
2002 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
2002 schedule
Player statistics
Season
Playoffs
Awards and records
Transactions
This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it .
(January 2011 )
References
^ 2001-02 Detroit Pistons
^ Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "Pro Basketball; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 15, 2022 .
^ Sheridan, Chris (June 28, 2001). "High School Player Tops NBA Draft" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 24, 2021 .
^ Press, Associated (June 30, 2001). "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Suns' Robinson Is Dealt to Pistons" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 24, 2021 .
^ Press, Associated (June 30, 2001). "Suns Deal Robinson to Pistons" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 19, 2022 .
^ "Suns Send Robinson to Pistons" . United Press International . June 29, 2001. Retrieved November 30, 2022 .
^ "Pistons Trade Cleaves to Kings for Barry, Pick" . Chicago Tribune . September 8, 2001. Retrieved July 2, 2022 .
^ "Cleaves Becomes a King" . CBC . September 7, 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2022 .
^ "N.B.A. ROUNDUP; Carlisle Named Pistons' New Coach" . The New York Times . May 26, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2021 .
^ Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 16, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved September 11, 2022 .
^ "Detroit 123, Milwaukee 89" . United Press International . April 17, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2022 .
^ "2001–02 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021 .
^ Press, Associated (April 23, 2002). "Pistons' Wallace Wins Award in a Landslide" . ESPN . Retrieved October 20, 2022 .
^ "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ Ticker, Sports (April 23, 2002). "Sixth Man Recipient Joins Wallace as Award Winner" . ESPN . Retrieved October 25, 2022 .
^ "NBA & ABA Sixth Man of the Year Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ Lage, Larry (May 7, 2002). "Carlisle Wins NBA Coach of Year" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 27, 2021 .
^ "NBA & ABA Coach of the Year Award Winners" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ "2001–02 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021 .
^ "2001–02 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 11, 2022 .
^ "Pacer NBA's Most Improved" . The Age . April 27, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (May 3, 2002). "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Pistons Survive Raptors to Advance to Round 2" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 24, 2021 .
^ "Stackhouse Delivers at Opportune Time" . The Washington Post . May 3, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2022 .
^ "Detroit 85, Toronto 82" . United Press International . May 3, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (May 6, 2002). "Pistons Just Point to the Defense" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 20, 2022 .
^ "2002 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 1: Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons Box Score, May 5, 2002" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved October 20, 2022 .
^ Press, Associated (May 15, 2002). "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Return to Eastern Finals" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 24, 2021 .
^ Press, Associated (May 15, 2002). "Celtics Oust Pistons" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 26, 2022 .
^ Lage, Larry (May 15, 2002). "Celtics Rev Up, Eliminate Pistons" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 2, 2022 .
^ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons' Stackhouse Traded to Wizards" . The New York Times . September 12, 2002. Retrieved April 4, 2017 .
^ "Stackhouse Goes to Wizards" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. September 12, 2002. Retrieved November 30, 2022 .
^ Wyche, Steve (September 12, 2002). "Wizards Get Stackhouse from Detroit" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 15, 2022 .
^ "Pistons Send Rodney White to Denver" . United Press International . October 1, 2002. Retrieved October 24, 2022 .
^ "Detroit Pistons Logo" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved November 24, 2021 .
^ "Detroit Pistons Uniform" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved November 24, 2021 .
^ "Detroit Pistons Uniform" . Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net . Retrieved November 24, 2021 .
See also
Founded in 1937
Formerly the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (1937–1948) and the Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957)
Based in Detroit, Michigan
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s