The 2002 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2001–02 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. In a best-of-seven series, the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers swept the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets to three-peat as NBA champions, winning their 14th championship in team history.
The Lakers became the first team since the Chicago Bulls to achieve a three-peat in NBA history. The series began on June 5 and ended on June 12. Lakers coach Phil Jackson won his ninth ring, tying him with Red Auerbach for most all-time. During the series, he surpassed Pat Riley for most career playoffs wins with 156. Shaquille O'Neal of the Lakers was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the third consecutive year, after dominant performances averaging 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game.
This was the last Finals to date to be broadcast by NBC, as ABC would acquire the broadcast rights starting in 2003. , the Lakers are the most recent team in the four North American major professional sports leagues to accomplish a three-peat.
Background After the September 11th terrorist attack, NBA jerseys during the 2001–02 season included a memorial patch. For the 2002 Finals, because a memorial patch was already placed on the right chest, the Finals patch was simplified and integrated with the NBA logoman left side of the jerseys.
New Jersey Nets
Entering the 2001–02 season, the New Jersey Nets were enduring a three-year playoff drought and had a 73–141 record over that span. In 1999, the Nets hired Rod Thorn as team president and immediately, he hired the recently retired Byron Scott to coach New Jersey. Thorn then dealt for Stephon Marbury in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves, trading Sam Cassell away to the Bucks.Nets Trade History NBA.com/nets Due to the Nets' 31–51 season in 1999–2000 season, they had the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, which they used to select power forward Kenyon Martin out of the University of Cincinnati.Holding to form: Nets take Martin with first pick SportsIllustrated.com Despite the reshuffling of the roster and an NBA All-Rookie Team season for Martin, New Jersey struggled, ending the season with a 26–56 () record, and owned the 7th pick in the upcoming draft.
With another lottery pick, Thorn dealt it to the Houston Rockets for draftees Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong. The next day, Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo announced a franchise-shaking trade; Phoenix would swap their point guard Jason Kidd for his New Jersey counterpart Stephon Marbury.Kidd, Marbury primary players in trade, USA Today
With the Princeton offense installed from the coaching staff, the Nets rebounded to a 52–30 () mark, a twenty-six-win improvement from the last season, and clinched the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference. Kidd finished the season awarded with first team spots on both the All-NBABryant, McGrady are first-time All-NBA selections, USA Today and All-Defensive TeamsPayton ties mark with ninth All-Defensive slot USA Today and was selected for his fifth All-Star game. He also finished runner-up to San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan in the Most Valuable Player voting.It's official: Duncan captures MVP award USA Today. Retrieved December 28, 2008 Richard Jefferson was an All-Rookie second team selection and Thorn, the architect of the franchise's resurgence, was awarded NBA Executive of the Year. \ In the first round of the playoffs, New Jersey survived a scare against the Indiana Pacers, escaping game five in double overtime to advance.Weary Kidd Leads Nets in Double OT Classic NBA.com It was the Nets' first playoff series win since 1984. They then dismissed the Charlotte Hornets in five games before meeting their Atlantic Division rivals, the Boston Celtics, in the conference finals.No Kidding, Nets Will Contend for East Title NBA.com The Nets and Celtics split the first two games in New Jersey before moving to Boston. In game 3, the Nets were dominating the Celtics, leading by as much as 21 in the fourth quarter. However, Boston, led by small forward Paul Pierce, then proceeded to outscore New Jersey 41–16 in the final period, rallying to win 94 to 90. Pierce himself scored 19 points, more than the Nets combined in the fourth, to complete the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history.Pierce sparks Celtics after being down 21 ESPN.comNets allow Celtics to pull off biggest comeback ever Sports Illustrated.com
The Nets rebounded in a 94–92 game 4 victory, that saw another Boston comeback, albeit one that fell short because Pierce missed crucial free throws late.Facing Another Collapse, Nets Don't Buckle Accessed June 15, 2009. New Jersey then took control of the series and won the next two games in large fashion to finish off Boston in six games, earning the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance and becoming the third former American Basketball Association (ABA) team to make the Finals (the Spurs and the Pacers being the first two). With averages of 17.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game during the six-game conference finals, Kidd become only the fourth player in NBA history to average a triple-double over a course of a series and the second to have at least three.Averaging a Triple-Double in a Playoff Series NBA.com. Retrieved November 10, 2008JockBio: Jason Kidd Biography JockBio. Retrieved December 28, 2008
Los Angeles Lakers
In stark contrast to New Jersey, the Los Angeles Lakers entered the season with high expectations, having won the last two NBA championships. In addition, Los Angeles was coming off of a 15–1 ( winning percentage) run through the 2001 NBA playoffs, the greatest in NBA history, besting the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers' 12–1 () run and were the first team to go undefeated on the road in the playoffs.A Playoffs for the Ages NBA.com Since Phil Jackson had arrived to coach the Lakers in 1999, they had a 123–41 mark in the regular season and a 28–9 record in the postseason.
Amid tensions between co-captains Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the franchise had another stellar season, finishing 58–24 (), good for second in the Pacific Division and earning the third seed in the Western Conference. Bryant and O'Neal were voted starters in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, where Bryant won the game MVP trophy in his hometown Philadelphia.West Wins! Kobe Stakes Claim in All-Star Lore NBA.com The duo appeared on the All-NBA First Team and Bryant was honored with a Second-Team All-Defensive Team selection.
The Lakers shot out to another quick start in the playoffs, finishing the Portland Trail Blazers in three games with a Robert Horry game-winner. The San Antonio Spurs were dispatched in five games before Los Angeles met their biggest challenge in the duration of their championship reign in the Western Conference finals: the Sacramento Kings. With the best record in the West, the Kings held home court advantage against the Lakers and split the first two games in ARCO Arena before the series shifted to Staples Center, where Sacramento blew out Los Angeles in game 3 and led as much as 27 before settling with a 103–90 decision.Kings' big lead proves too much for Lakers ESPN.com
In game 4, Sacramento led Los Angeles 40–20 at the end of the first quarter and held a lead as large as 26. But, the Lakers staged a second-half comeback to win 100–99, punctuated by Horry's buzzer-beating three-point shot.Lakers tie series with Kings on late 3-pointer ESPN.com Back in Sacramento for game 5, the Kings staged some late-game heroics of their own as Mike Bibby nailed a jumper with 8.2 seconds remaining, giving his team not only a 92–91 win, but a 3–2 series advantage.Bibby's shot falls, Bryant's misses as Kings win ESPN.com
With their season on the line, the Lakers returned home for game 6. In a controversial contest, one in which the Lakers attempted 27 free throws in the fourth quarter to Sacramento's nine, O'Neal and Bryant had one of their most dominant performances as a duo. O'Neal recorded 41 points and 17 rebounds while Bryant contributed 31 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to force a game 7 in ARCO Arena.O'Neal rises to the occasion; Lakers force Game 7 ESPN.com The outrage was such that politician Ralph Nader demanded an investigation.Ralph Nader Cries Foul Against the NBA NPR.com In game 7, the Lakers prevailed in overtime 112–106 to earn their third straight NBA Finals berth.
Road to the Finals
Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference champion) New Jersey Nets (Eastern Conference champion)3rd seed in the West, 2nd (tied) best league recordRegular season1st seed in the East, 5th best league recordDefeated the (6) Portland Trail Blazers, 3–0First roundDefeated the (8) Indiana Pacers, 3–2Defeated the (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4–1Conference semifinalsDefeated the (4) Charlotte Hornets, 4–1Defeated the (1) Sacramento Kings, 4–3Conference finalsDefeated the (3) Boston Celtics, 4–2
Regular season series The Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey Nets split both games in the regular season, each winning on their home court.
Rosters
Los Angeles Lakers
New Jersey Nets
Series summary Game Date Road team Result Home team Game 1 June 5 New Jersey Nets 94–99 (0–1) Los Angeles Lakers Game 2 June 7 New Jersey Nets 83–106 (0–2) Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 June 9 Los Angeles Lakers 106–103 (3–0) New Jersey Nets Game 4 June 12 Los Angeles Lakers 113–107 (4–0) New Jersey Nets
Game summaries All times listed below are Eastern Daylight Time. If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.
Game 1
Los Angeles's Staples Center sold out for the inaugural game of the 2002 NBA Finals, with nearly 19,000 on hand. The Nets trotted out a lineup of Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles, Kenyon Martin, Keith Van Horn, and Todd MacCulloch to hold up against the two-time defending and heavily favored champions. The Lakers brought out Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Shaquille O'Neal, Robert Horry, and Kobe Bryant, who drew the assignment of guarding Kidd. New Jersey head coach Byron Scott, a member of the Showtime Lakers, received a standing ovation.
Taking advantage of a late arrival to the arena by New Jersey, L.A. dominated the first 17 minutes of play with a 42–19 score by the 6:41 mark in the second quarter. From that point on, the Nets went on a 17–6 run to close the lead to a respectable 12. They had no answer for O'Neal, however, who had bullied MacCulloch into 16 points and 6 rebounds by half-time. The Nets outscored the Lakers in the third but stood steadfast as Bryant scored 11 of his 22 in the third.
New Jersey battled back, coming as close as three several times in the final quarter. Desperate to take the lead, they utilized the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy midway in the fourth. It backfired, as O'Neal was 5–8 from the free throw line and had 16 points and 9 rebounds in the period alone.
New Jersey was doomed by their late start and poor shooting. The Nets, who shot 45% from the field and 74% on free throws were 39% and 57% respectively. Kidd finished with a triple-double, the 26th in Finals history and the first since Charles Barkley's in game 4 of the 1993 Finals.
Game 2
Game 3
Beginning halfway through the first quarter, the Lakers built up a sizable lead for most of the game. However, the Nets would quickly tie and take the lead at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter with a Kenyon Martin and Jason Kidd two point shot, respectively. With three minutes to go in the fourth, Robert Horry hit a three pointer to give the Lakers a 98–96 lead, which would end up never going away and gave them the edge over the Nets, as they would go on to win 106–103.
Game 4
Player statistics
Los Angeles Lakers
| align="left" | || 4 || 4 || 43.8 || .514 || .545 || .806 || 5.8 || 5.3 || 1.5 || 0.8 || 26.8 |-