2001–02 Houston Rockets season

2001–02 Houston Rockets season
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
ArenaCompaq Center
Results
Record28–54 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKTBU
Fox Sports Net Southwest
RadioKTRH

The 2001–02 Houston Rockets season was the 35th season for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st season in Houston, Texas.[1] The Rockets received the 13th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and selected small forward Richard Jefferson from the University of Arizona, selected center Jason Collins out of Stanford University with the 18th overall pick, and also selected shooting guard Brandon Armstrong out of Pepperdine University with the 23rd overall pick. However, the Rockets soon traded all three players to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for rookie power forward, and first-round draft pick Eddie Griffin out of Seton Hall University on draft day.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Glen Rice from the New York Knicks,[5][6][7] and re-acquired former Rockets forward Kevin Willis from the Milwaukee Bucks.[8]

With the addition of Rice and Griffin, and in their first season since 1983–84 without All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets got off to a 7–5 start to the regular season. However, the team suffered a dreadful 15-game losing streak afterwards, as Rice only played just 20 games due to a knee injury,[9] and Maurice Taylor was out for the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.[10][11] Due to injuries that hindered their roster for parts of the year, the Rockets played mediocre basketball all season long, losing 15 of their final 18 games, and finishing in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a disappointing 28–54 record.[12]

Team captain Steve Francis averaged 21.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, but only played 57 games due to recurring foot injuries and migraines,[13][14] while Cuttino Mobley led the Rockets with 21.7 points and 1.5 steals per game, and with 149 three-point field goals, and Kenny Thomas provided the team with 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. In addition, Walt Williams contributed 9.4 points per game, while Griffin averaged 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Meanwhile, Rice contributed 8.6 points per game, Moochie Norris provided with 8.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, Kelvin Cato averaged 6.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Willis averaged 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.[15]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Francis was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance.[16][17][18] In addition, Francis also participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second time.[19][20] The Rockets finished 28th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 481,227 at the Compaq Center during the regular season, which was the second-lowest in the league.[15][21]

Following the season, Williams signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks,[22] and Willis signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[23][24]

Offseason

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
113Richard JeffersonSF United StatesArizona
118Jason CollinsC United StatesStanford
123Brandon ArmstrongSG United StatesPepperdine

Roster

2001–02 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 10 Tierre Brown 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) McNeese State
F/C 13 Kelvin Cato 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Iowa State
C 52 Jason Collier 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Georgia Tech
G 3 Steve Francis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Maryland
F/C 33 Eddie Griffin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Seton Hall
F 14 Dan Langhi 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Vanderbilt
G/F 5 Cuttino Mobley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Rhode Island
F 44 Terence Morris 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 221 lb (100 kg) Maryland
G 12 Moochie Norris 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) West Florida
F 41 Glen Rice Injured 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan
F 21 Kenny Thomas 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 261 lb (118 kg) New Mexico
G/F 18 Óscar Torres 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Xavier
F/C 2 Maurice Taylor Injured (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Michigan
F 42 Walt Williams Injured 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 219 lb (99 kg) Maryland
F/C 43 Kevin Willis 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Michigan State
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 5824.707–32–926–1521–3
x-Dallas Mavericks 5725.695130–1127–1416–8
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 5032.610829–1221–2015–9
x-Utah Jazz 4438.5371425–1619–228–16
e-Houston Rockets 2854.3413018–2310–319–15
e-Denver Nuggets 2755.3293120–217–348–16
e-Memphis Grizzlies 2359.2803515–268–337–17
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Sacramento Kings6121.744–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5824.7073
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.7073
4 x-Dallas Mavericks5725.6954
5 x-Minnesota Timberwolves5032.61011
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59812
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics4537.54916
8 x-Utah Jazz4438.53717
9 e-Los Angeles Clippers3943.47622
10 e-Phoenix Suns3646.43925
11 e-Houston Rockets2854.34133
12 e-Denver Nuggets2755.32934
13 e-Memphis Grizzlies2359.28038
14 e-Golden State Warriors2161.25640

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Tierre Brown 40110.1.426.333.7501.11.8.5.13.1
Kelvin Cato 757325.6.583.000.5827.0.4.51.36.6
Jason Collier 25214.6.432.000.7503.3.4.2.24.2
Steve Francis 575641.1.417.324.7737.06.41.2.421.6
Eddie Griffin 732426.0.366.330.7445.7.7.21.88.8
Dan Langhi 34812.8.392.250.7272.0.4.2.13.1
Cuttino Mobley 747442.1.438.395.8504.12.51.5.521.7
Terence Morris 681216.3.384.192.6433.1.9.3.43.8
Moochie Norris 822627.4.398.269.7513.04.91.0.08.1
Glen Rice 202030.3.389.281.8002.41.6.6.28.6
Kenny Thomas 727134.5.478.000.6647.21.91.2.914.1
Óscar Torres 651316.5.396.294.7811.9.6.4.16.0
Walt Williams 482523.3.419.426.7843.41.4.4.29.4
Kevin Willis 52516.6.440.000.7475.8.3.5.46.1

Player statistics citation:[15]

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ↑ "Houston Rockets". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  2. ↑ Wise, Mike (June 28, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Three High School Stars Are Among First Four Chosen". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ Sheridan, Chris (June 28, 2001). "High School Player Tops NBA Draft". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ "2001 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ Robbins, Liz (August 11, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Looking for Balance, the Knicks Trade Rice". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  6. ↑ Services, Times Wire (August 11, 2001). "Rice Goes to Houston in Three-Team Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  8. ↑ Gardner, Kris (October 22, 2001). "Rockets Get Kevin Willis". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ Berman, Marc (January 7, 2002). "Rice Reunion Derailed by Injury". New York Post. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Rockets' Taylor Will Miss Season". The New York Times. September 6, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ Services, Wire (December 17, 2001). "Wizards Keep Rolling". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ "2001–02 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Cartwright Gets Bulls' Promotion". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 29, 2001. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Francis' Migraine Eases Up; Guard Rejoins Team". Chron. January 18, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 "2001–02 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  16. ↑ "NBA All-Star Game Rosters". United Press International. February 8, 2002. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ "2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Basketball". The Spokesman-Review. February 10, 2002. p. C10. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  20. ↑ "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2001–02 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Mavericks Sign Walt Williams". United Press International. October 18, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Spurs Sign C-F Kevin Willis". United Press International. August 27, 2002. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  24. ↑ Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
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