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2001–02 Chicago Bulls season

NBA professional basketball team season

WCIU-TV Fox Sports Net Chicago

The 2001–02 Chicago Bulls season was the 36th season for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association. After finishing with the worst record the previous season, the Bulls received the fourth overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and selected center and high school basketball star Eddy Curry, and acquired center, top draft pick, and high school basketball star Tyson Chandler from the Los Angeles Clippers, who selected him with the second overall pick. During the off-season, the team re-acquired former Bulls forward Charles Oakley from the Toronto Raptors, acquired Greg Anthony from the Portland Trail Blazers, and signed free agents Eddie Robinson, and Kevin Ollie. Oakley had played three seasons for the Bulls from 1985 to 1988.

However, the Bulls still struggled losing 23 of their first 27 games of the regular season, posting a ten-game losing streak in November. Head coach Tim Floyd resigned on Christmas Eve after a 4–21 start to the season, then after two games under assistant Bill Berry, the team hired former Bulls center Bill Cartwright as their new coach. At mid-season, the Bulls traded Ollie along with Ron Mercer, Ron Artest, and Brad Miller to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Jalen Rose and Travis Best, while Anthony was released to free agency, and later on signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls struggled all season long finishing in last place in the Central Division with a 21–61 record; their record was also tied with the Golden State Warriors as the worst regular-season record in the league.

Rose averaged 23.8 points and 5.3 assists per game in 30 games with the Bulls after the trade, while second-year forward Marcus Fizer averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Best provided the team with 9.3 points and 5.0 assists per game in 30 games. In addition, second-year guard Jamal Crawford contributed 9.3 points per game, but only played just 23 games due to a torn ACL, while Robinson provided with 9.0 points per game, but only played just 29 games also due to injury, and rookie shooting guard, and second-round draft pick Trenton Hassell contributed 8.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Curry averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, Chandler averaged 6.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, Fred Hoiberg contributed 4.4 points per game, and Oakley provided with 3.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fizer was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team. The Bulls finished ninth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 776,311 at the United Center during the regular season.

Following the season, Oakley signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards, and Best signed with the Miami Heat. (See 2001–02 Chicago Bulls season#Regular season)

NBA draft

Main article: 2001 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College / Club Team
1	4	Eddy Curry	C
2	29	Trenton Hassell	SG	Austin Peay
2	44	Sean Lampley	SF	California

Roster

Tim Floyd (resigned)
Bill Berry (interim)
Bill Cartwright
Norm Ellenberger
Pete Myers
Fred Tedeschi (trainer)

Regular season

In 2001-02, the make-up and direction of the Chicago Bulls changed significantly: by the season's end, a pair of 18-year-old phenoms and an All-Star caliber player were in the line-up while Elton Brand, once thought to be the franchise's cornerstone for rebuilding efforts, was not. The result was a renewed sense of optimism and hope surrounding the team's future with Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry and Jalen Rose as the centers of attention.

It all began on the night of the 2001 NBA draft, when the Bulls used their first-round pick, fourth overall, to select Thornwood High School's Eddy Curry, a 6–11, 285-pound center. Minutes later, Chicago dealt Brand to the L.A. Clippers for Dominguez High School product Tyson Chandler (picked second overall) and Brian Skinner. Chicago also acquired one of the steals of the draft in Trenton Hassell out of Austin Peay in the second round.

With the addition of free agent Eddie Robinson (signed Aug. 7), the new look Bulls, a young and athletic squad, were ready to take the floor. The importance of having NBA experience was again displayed as the team struggled and finished the season 21–61. The beginning of the year was not pleasant for Chicago. The Bulls set a franchise record for worst loss with a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 8, Head Coach Tim Floyd, who compiled a 49–190 record over four seasons with the club, resigned on Christmas Eve. Bill Berry was named interim coach and four days later, Bill Cartwright was named head coach on Dec. 28.

The team went on to suffer an 18-game road losing streak from Nov. 2 to Jan. 11. On Feb. 18, the Bulls grabbed a franchise-low 25 rebounds in Miami.

A change was needed and on February 19, it was delivered in the form of a seven-player trade. The Bulls acquired Jalen Rose, Travis Best and Norman Richardson from the Indiana Pacers for Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Ron Mercer and Kevin Ollie.

“We feel Jalen is an outstanding all-around player who can play three positions offensively and defensively,” EVP of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause explained. “He’s a very good passer, extremely unselfish, a fine scorer and in the prime of his career at age 29. His leadership qualities and versatility are an added plus.”

“I'm excited about it,” Rose said upon his arrival to Chicago. “I embrace the opportunity. Every kid dreams about standing in this position talking about having an opportunity to take a team to a championship level.”

The team went on to post their first three-game winning streak in two years from Feb. 20–23. Jamal Crawford, who tore his ACL over the summer and required surgery to repair it, returned to the active roster on March 3 after missing the first 58 games of the season. On March 11, the Bulls and Bill Cartwright mutually agreed to a three-year extension on the head coach's contract. Other notes from the season included Marcus Fizer’s (sophomore team) participation in the Schick Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend and Trenton Hassell being named to the NBA’s ‘got milk?’ Rookie of the Month for February.

Season standings

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
†	36	35	26.7	.394	.322	.671	2.4	5.6	1.4	.1	8.4
†	27	26	30.5	.433	.396	.628	4.9	2.9	2.8	.9	15.6
	50	0	12.8	.404	.000	.586	3.2	.5	.3	.5	3.7
†	30	18	26.4	.441	.320	.922	2.7	5.0	1.1	.0	9.3
	71	31	19.6	.497		.604	4.8	.8	.4	1.3	6.1
	23	6	20.9	.476	.448	.769	1.5	2.4	.8	.2	9.3
	72	31	16.0	.501		.656	3.8	.3	.2	.7	6.7
	76	20	25.8	.438	.171	.668	5.6	1.6	.6	.3	12.3
	45	6	13.5	.361	.374	.815	1.0	1.8	.2	.2	5.4
	78	47	28.7	.425	.364	.763	3.3	2.2	.7	.6	8.7
	79	8	17.8	.416	.261	.840	2.7	1.7	.8	.1	4.4
†	40	40	37.6	.399	.298	.778	3.9	3.0	.8	.3	16.8
†	48	47	29.0	.460	.500	.751	8.4	2.1	1.1	.6	12.7
	57	36	24.3	.369	.167	.750	6.0	2.0	.9	.2	3.8
†	52	17	22.0	.383	.500	.838	2.5	3.7	.7	.0	5.8
†	8	0	7.9	.435	.500	.667	.9	.1	.0	.0	3.8
	29	12	22.5	.453	.400	.750	2.7	1.3	.8	.4	9.0
†	30	30	40.5	.470	.370	.839	4.1	5.3	1.1	.5	23.8

† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Bulls only.

Player statistics citation:

Transactions

Trades

February 19, 2002	To Indiana PacersRon Artest, Brad Miller and Ron Mercer	To Chicago BullsJalen Rose, Norm Richardson, and a second round draft pick

Subtractions

Player	Reason left	New team
Greg Anthony	Waived	Milwaukee Bucks

Player Transactions Citation:

References

"2001-02 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats".
(June 27, 2001). "Wizards Go Young, But Bulls Go Younger". ESPN.
Wise, Mike. (June 28, 2001). "High School Star Taken No. 1 in N.B.A. Draft". The New York Times.
"2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
(July 14, 2001). "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Bulls Get Oakley for a Second Time". The New York Times.
Smith, Sam. (July 14, 2001). "Oakley's Tough, Respected". Chicago Tribune.
(July 19, 2001). "Oakley Returns to Bulls in Trade". ESPN.
(July 20, 2001). "Bulls Acquire Greg Anthony". United Press International.
Johnson, K.C.. (July 18, 2001). "Bulls Are Plotting More Moves". Chicago Tribune.
(August 7, 2001). "Eddie Robinson Signs with Bulls". CBC.
Wise, Mike. (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times.
(February 19, 2002). "Bulls Acquire Rose for Mercer, Three Others". ESPN.
(February 20, 2002). "Pacers Send Rose to Bulls in Seven-Player Trade". The Washington Post.
Jones, Grahame L.. (February 21, 2002). "Bulls' Trade Ensures Reign of Terrible". Los Angeles Times.
Smith, Sam. (March 1, 2002). "Anthony Will Be Waived". Chicago Tribune.
(March 4, 2002). "Bucks Sign Point Guard Greg Anthony". Midland Daily News.
"2001–02 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
"2001–02 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
(February 9, 2002). "Rookie Challenge Today". The Daily Gazette.
"2002 NBA Rising Stars: Rookies 103, Sophomores 97". Basketball-Reference.
"2001–02 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.
"2001–02 Chicago Bulls Transactions". Basketball-Reference.

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