The 2001-02 season was a significant year for the Memphis Grizzlies, marking their inaugural season in Memphis after relocating from Vancouver. Under the guidance of head coach Sidney Lowe, the Grizzlies aimed to establish a foothold in their new home. However, it was a challenging season as the team struggled to find a winning formula.
The Grizzlies ended the season with a 23-59 record, finishing 7th in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. Despite the disappointing overall performance, the season was notable for the emergence of Pau Gasol, the third overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. Gasol had an impressive rookie year, averaging 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Throughout the season, the Grizzlies faced difficulties in maintaining consistency both offensively and defensively. The team ranked near the bottom of the league in both points allowed and points scored. Key players like Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jason Williams contributed significantly but were unable to lift the team’s overall performance consistently.
The 2001-02 season set the foundation for future development as the Grizzlies built around young talents like Gasol. While the win-loss record might not have been favorable, the move to Memphis and the emergence of Gasol provided a sense of optimism for the franchise’s future.
- Regular Season Record: 23-59
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Memphis Grizzlies 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% |
| Pau Gasol | 82 | 17.6 | 8.9 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Jason Williams | 65 | 14.8 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 29.5 | |||||||
| Shane Battier | 78 | 14.4 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 37.3 | |||||||
| Lorenzen Wright | 43 | 12.0 | 9.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Stromile Swift | 68 | 11.8 | 6.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Michael Dickerson | 4 | 10.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 38.1 | |||||||
| Rodney Buford | 63 | 9.4 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 24.3 | |||||||
| Brevin Knight | 53 | 7.0 | 2.1 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Grant Long | 66 | 6.3 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 17.7 | |||||||
| Tony Massenburg | 73 | 5.5 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100.0 | |||||||
| Elliot Perry | 2 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Will Solomon | 62 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 28.4 | |||||||
| Eddie Gill | 23 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 31.8 | |||||||
| Nick Anderson | 15 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 27.1 | |||||||
| Antonis Fotsis | 28 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 30.4 | |||||||
| Isaac Austin | 21 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Isaac Fontaine | 6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 | |||||||
Memphis Grizzlies 2001-02 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2001-02 season for the Memphis Grizzlies.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 2001 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 90-80 | |
| Nov 02, 2001 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 111-102 | |
| Nov 04, 2001 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 94-85 | |
| Nov 06, 2001 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 113-101 | |
| Nov 07, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 108-92 | |
| Nov 09, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-86 | |
| Nov 12, 2001 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 86-79 | |
| Nov 15, 2001 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-85 | |
| Nov 17, 2001 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-93 | |
| Nov 21, 2001 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-94 | |
| Nov 23, 2001 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 103-89 | |
| Nov 24, 2001 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 91-84 | |
| Nov 26, 2001 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 98-94 | |
| Nov 29, 2001 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 91-88 | |
| Nov 30, 2001 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 102-85 | |
| Dec 02, 2001 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 93-87 | |
| Dec 03, 2001 | @ Orlando Magic | L 113-71 | |
| Dec 06, 2001 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 105-80 | |
| Dec 08, 2001 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-83 | |
| Dec 11, 2001 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 91-81 | |
| Dec 13, 2001 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 89-86 | |
| Dec 15, 2001 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 93-84 | |
| Dec 16, 2001 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 104-87 | |
| Dec 18, 2001 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-105 | |
| Dec 20, 2001 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-88 | |
| Dec 21, 2001 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-108 | |
| Dec 23, 2001 | @ Boston Celtics | L 85-80 | |
| Dec 26, 2001 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 107-85 | |
| Dec 28, 2001 | @ Miami Heat | W 91-86 | |
| Dec 30, 2001 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 83-79 | |
| Jan 02, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 92-74 | |
| Jan 04, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-109 | |
| Jan 06, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 89-77 | |
| Jan 08, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 84-81 | |
| Jan 10, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 12, 2002 | @ Utah Jazz | W 97-95 | |
| Jan 14, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-81 | |
| Jan 17, 2002 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 108-97 | |
| Jan 19, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 119-103 | |
| Jan 21, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 112-98 | |
| Jan 23, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 107-95 | |
| Jan 24, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-82 | |
| Jan 26, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 95-92 | |
| Jan 28, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-115 | |
| Jan 30, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 83-82 | |
| Feb 01, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-85 | |
| Feb 03, 2002 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 97-79 | |
| Feb 05, 2002 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 86-79 | |
| Feb 07, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-103 | |
| Feb 12, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 85-78 | |
| Feb 14, 2002 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 100-85 | |
| Feb 17, 2002 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 92-78 | |
| Feb 19, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-93 | |
| Feb 21, 2002 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 78-72 | |
| Feb 25, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 90-77 | |
| Feb 26, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 104-91 | |
| Feb 28, 2002 | @ Utah Jazz | L 114-70 | |
| Mar 01, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 96-83 | |
| Mar 03, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-71 | |
| Mar 04, 2002 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 95-76 | |
| Mar 07, 2002 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 122-111 | |
| Mar 09, 2002 | vs. Miami Heat | L 93-88 | |
| Mar 11, 2002 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 79-78 | |
| Mar 12, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 98-84 | |
| Mar 15, 2002 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-97 | |
| Mar 17, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 87-76 | |
| Mar 19, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | L 101-92 | |
| Mar 21, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 95-93 | |
| Mar 23, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 111-100 | |
| Mar 25, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 103-100 | |
| Mar 27, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-82 | |
| Mar 30, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 105-99 | |
| Apr 02, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 107-83 | |
| Apr 03, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 92-81 | |
| Apr 05, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 99-81 | |
| Apr 06, 2002 | @ Washington Wizards | L 88-85 | |
| Apr 09, 2002 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 97-86 | |
| Apr 11, 2002 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-99 | |
| Apr 13, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 113-92 | |
| Apr 14, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | W 98-95 | |
| Apr 16, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 92-84 | |
| Apr 17, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-94 |