2001–02 Denver Nuggets season
NBA professional basketball team season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2001–02 NBA season was the Nuggets' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 35th season as a franchise.[1] During the off-season, the Nuggets signed free agents Isaiah Rider and Avery Johnson.[2] However, Rider would play in just ten games before being waived on November 20.[3] After finishing just two games below .500 the previous season, the Nuggets suffered another disastrous setback as Antonio McDyess suffered a preseason knee injury, which limited him to just ten games.[4][5] The Nuggets got off to a 6–5 start, but then lost nine of their next ten games.
2001–02 Denver Nuggets season | |||
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Head coach |
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General manager | Kiki VanDeWeghe | ||
Owner(s) | Stan Kroenke | ||
Arena | Pepsi Center | ||
Results | |||
Record | 27–55 (.329) | ||
Place | Division: 6th (Midwest) Conference: 12th (Western) | ||
Playoff finish | Did not qualify | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
Local media | |||
Television | |||
Radio | KKFN | ||
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Things would only get worse on December 11 after a 99–96 home loss to the Charlotte Hornets, as head coach Dan Issel got into hot water after yelling a racial slur at a Mexican fan; Issel was suspended for four games and was forced to resign, being replaced by his assistant Mike Evans after a 9–17 start.[6][7][8] At midseason, Nick Van Exel was traded along with Johnson, Raef LaFrentz and Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Juwan Howard, All-Star guard Tim Hardaway, and second-year forward Donnell Harvey.[9][10][11][12] The Nuggets went on a 7-game losing streak in March, and finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 27–55 record.[13]
Howard averaged 17.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game with the team, while McDyess averaged 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.[14] Following the season, McDyess was traded to the New York Knicks,[15][16] while Voshon Lenard signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors,[17] Calbert Cheaney signed with the Utah Jazz,[18] George McCloud was traded to the Washington Wizards, but was released to free agency, Hardaway was released, and Evans was fired as head coach.[19]