The 2001-02 Seattle SuperSonics season marked the franchise’s 35th season in the NBA. The team, coached by Nate McMillan, concluded the regular season with a record of 45 wins and 37 losses, finishing fourth in the Pacific Division. Despite a solid performance, the SuperSonics failed to secure a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Key players for the Sonics included Gary Payton, who continued to be the cornerstone of the team, averaging 22.1 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Payton’s leadership and performance earned him an All-Star selection. Rashard Lewis also had a notable season, contributing 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, establishing himself as a valuable forward for Seattle.
Throughout the season, the SuperSonics showed inconsistency, with impressive wins against top teams, yet struggled with consistency against lower-tier opponents. This inconsistency was a significant factor in their failure to reach the postseason. The team also underwent roster changes, notably trading Vin Baker to the Boston Celtics in a multi-team trade that brought Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko, and Joseph Forte to Seattle.
Despite missing the playoffs, the season saw the emergence of young talents like rookie Vladimir Radmanović, who provided depth and potential for the future. Overall, the 2001-02 season was a period of transition for the Seattle SuperSonics, as they aimed to rebuild and make a stronger push in subsequent seasons. The team’s performance laid the groundwork for future strategic decisions in the franchise’s quest for success.
- Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-3
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 2001-02 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Gary Payton | 82 | 22.1 | 4.8 | 9.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 31.4 | 5 | 22.2 | 8.6 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 26.7 |
| Rashard Lewis | 71 | 16.8 | 7.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 38.9 | 3 | 12.7 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Brent Barry | 81 | 14.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 42.4 | 5 | 7.8 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 43.8 |
| Vin Baker | 55 | 14.1 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 12.5 | 5 | 13.2 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 100.0 |
| Desmond Mason | 75 | 12.4 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 27.1 | 5 | 11.8 | 6.2 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 33.3 |
| Predrag Drobnjak | 64 | 6.8 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Vladimir Radmanović | 61 | 6.7 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 42.0 | 5 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 53.8 |
| Ansu Sesay | 9 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Booth | 15 | 6.2 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jerome James | 56 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 5 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Art Long | 63 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Shammond Williams | 50 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 37.3 | 3 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Earl Watson | 64 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 36.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Randy Livingston | 13 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 12.5 | 5 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Antonio Harvey | 5 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Olumide Oyedeji | 36 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Seattle SuperSonics in the 2002 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 2002 NBA Playoffs, the Seattle SuperSonics faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the SuperSonics were outmatched by the Spurs' disciplined defense and the stellar play of Tim Duncan, ultimately losing the series 3-2. This marked another early exit for Seattle, as they struggled to translate regular-season success into playoff victories.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-89 | |
| Apr 22, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 98-90 | |
| Apr 27, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-75 | |
| May 01, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 91-79 | |
| May 03, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 101-78 |
Seattle SuperSonics 2001-02 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2001-02 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2001 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 101-95 | |
| Nov 01, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-108 | |
| Nov 03, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 91-74 | |
| Nov 05, 2001 | @ Orlando Magic | W 123-119 | |
| Nov 06, 2001 | @ Miami Heat | L 87-85 | |
| Nov 08, 2001 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-94 | |
| Nov 09, 2001 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-94 | |
| Nov 11, 2001 | @ Washington Wizards | W 99-84 | |
| Nov 13, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 92-91 | |
| Nov 16, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-91 | |
| Nov 17, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-93 | |
| Nov 20, 2001 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-97 | |
| Nov 21, 2001 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-93 | |
| Nov 23, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-81 | |
| Nov 25, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-88 | |
| Nov 27, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-102 | |
| Nov 28, 2001 | @ Utah Jazz | L 112-88 | |
| Nov 30, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-92 | |
| Dec 02, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-83 | |
| Dec 04, 2001 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-83 | |
| Dec 05, 2001 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 95-91 | |
| Dec 07, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-94 | |
| Dec 08, 2001 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-92 | |
| Dec 11, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-93 | |
| Dec 12, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 114-94 | |
| Dec 16, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-91 | |
| Dec 19, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-92 | |
| Dec 21, 2001 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-108 | |
| Dec 22, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-89 | |
| Dec 27, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-90 | |
| Dec 29, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-75 | |
| Jan 04, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 87-77 | |
| Jan 06, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 89-77 | |
| Jan 07, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 100-88 | |
| Jan 09, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 111-106 | |
| Jan 11, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-100 | |
| Jan 16, 2002 | @ Utah Jazz | L 95-80 | |
| Jan 18, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 96-90 | |
| Jan 19, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-77 | |
| Jan 21, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-98 | |
| Jan 23, 2002 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 111-101 | |
| Jan 24, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 99-88 | |
| Jan 26, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 95-86 | |
| Jan 29, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 92-86 | |
| Jan 31, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-95 | |
| Feb 02, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-91 | |
| Feb 05, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 113-87 | |
| Feb 06, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 90-79 | |
| Feb 12, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-106 | |
| Feb 14, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 92-87 | |
| Feb 16, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-79 | |
| Feb 17, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 126-116 | |
| Feb 19, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 103-91 | |
| Feb 20, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 90-84 | |
| Feb 22, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-96 | |
| Feb 24, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 101-92 | |
| Feb 26, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-89 | |
| Feb 27, 2002 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 98-81 | |
| Mar 01, 2002 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-87 | |
| Mar 03, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 96-71 | |
| Mar 05, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-83 | |
| Mar 07, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 92-89 | |
| Mar 09, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-90 | |
| Mar 11, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 119-108 | |
| Mar 12, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-98 | |
| Mar 15, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-98 | |
| Mar 16, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 95-87 | |
| Mar 19, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-93 | |
| Mar 22, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-82 | |
| Mar 23, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 88-85 | |
| Mar 25, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-92 | |
| Mar 27, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-82 | |
| Mar 29, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 79-76 | |
| Mar 30, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 92-87 | |
| Apr 02, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 100-98 | |
| Apr 03, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 90-88 | |
| Apr 05, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 86-83 | |
| Apr 08, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-100 | |
| Apr 09, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 99-92 | |
| Apr 13, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-99 | |
| Apr 15, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-104 | |
| Apr 17, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-94 |