The 2001-02 Utah Jazz season marked a significant chapter for the franchise, as it was a period of transition and resilience. Under the guidance of legendary head coach Jerry Sloan, the Jazz finished the regular season with a 44-38 record, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference. This performance was noteworthy given the aging core of the team, led by NBA veterans Karl Malone and John Stockton.
Karl Malone, at age 38, continued to be a dominant force, averaging 22.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, showcasing his enduring skill and leadership. John Stockton, the quintessential playmaker, contributed with 13.4 points and 8.2 assists per game, maintaining his role as a pivotal facilitator on the court. The roster also included notable players like Bryon Russell and Andrei Kirilenko, who provided essential support throughout the season.
The Jazz’s playoff run was short-lived as they faced the top-seeded Sacramento Kings in the first round. Despite their experience and determination, Utah was unable to overcome the Kings’ depth and youth, resulting in a 3-1 series defeat. This season was emblematic of the gradual decline of the Stockton-Malone era, as the team faced challenges in transitioning to a younger roster while maintaining competitiveness in a stacked Western Conference.
The 2001-02 season was a testament to the enduring legacy and competitive spirit of the Utah Jazz, even as they navigated the complexities of an evolving NBA landscape.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-3
Utah Jazz 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% |
| Karl Malone | 80 | 22.4 | 8.6 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 36.0 | 4 | 20.0 | 7.5 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Donyell Marshall | 58 | 14.8 | 7.6 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 30.9 | 4 | 14.3 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 50.0 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 13.4 | 3.2 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 32.1 | 4 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 28.6 |
| Andrei Kirilenko | 82 | 10.7 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 25.0 | 4 | 8.8 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Bryon Russell | 66 | 9.6 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 34.1 | 4 | 7.0 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| John Crotty | 41 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 44.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Scott Padgett | 75 | 6.7 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 43.4 | 4 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jarron Collins | 70 | 6.4 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rusty LaRue | 33 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 34.0 | 4 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| DeShawn Stevenson | 67 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Starks | 66 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 30.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Quincy Lewis | 36 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 16.7 | 4 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 20.0 |
| Greg Ostertag | 74 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 6.8 | 8.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| John Amaechi | 54 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Utah Jazz in the 2002 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Sacramento Kings
In the 2002 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz locked horns with the Sacramento Kings in the first round. Despite the seasoned duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Jazz were overpowered by the Kings' depth and dynamism, resulting in a 3-1 series defeat. Sacramento's up-tempo style and formidable roster ultimately proved too much for the aging Jazz squad.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 89-86 | |
| Apr 23, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 93-86 | |
| Apr 27, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 90-87 | |
| Apr 29, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 91-86 |
Utah Jazz 2001-02 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2001-02 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2001 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 119-112 | |
| Nov 01, 2001 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-101 | |
| Nov 03, 2001 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 91-74 | |
| Nov 04, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-96 | |
| Nov 06, 2001 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-83 | |
| Nov 07, 2001 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 96-89 | |
| Nov 10, 2001 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 117-96 | |
| Nov 12, 2001 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 105-98 | |
| Nov 14, 2001 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-79 | |
| Nov 16, 2001 | @ Washington Wizards | W 101-92 | |
| Nov 17, 2001 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-93 | |
| Nov 21, 2001 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 90-89 | |
| Nov 23, 2001 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-101 | |
| Nov 26, 2001 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 111-104 | |
| Nov 28, 2001 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-88 | |
| Nov 30, 2001 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 98-76 | |
| Dec 01, 2001 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 100-97 | |
| Dec 04, 2001 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 104-100 | |
| Dec 07, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 102-86 | |
| Dec 08, 2001 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-101 | |
| Dec 10, 2001 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 107-98 | |
| Dec 12, 2001 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-87 | |
| Dec 14, 2001 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 93-85 | |
| Dec 15, 2001 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 100-80 | |
| Dec 18, 2001 | @ Miami Heat | W 95-56 | |
| Dec 19, 2001 | @ Orlando Magic | L 98-90 | |
| Dec 21, 2001 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-92 | |
| Dec 22, 2001 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 104-90 | |
| Dec 26, 2001 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-86 | |
| Dec 27, 2001 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-87 | |
| Dec 29, 2001 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 89-81 | |
| Jan 04, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 93-86 | |
| Jan 05, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 113-111 | |
| Jan 08, 2002 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 98-84 | |
| Jan 10, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 83-79 | |
| Jan 12, 2002 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 97-95 | |
| Jan 14, 2002 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 106-97 | |
| Jan 16, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-80 | |
| Jan 17, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-98 | |
| Jan 19, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 21, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 101-99 | |
| Jan 23, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 98-92 | |
| Jan 24, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 113-80 | |
| Jan 26, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 114-90 | |
| Jan 28, 2002 | vs. Miami Heat | W 101-89 | |
| Jan 30, 2002 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 90-78 | |
| Feb 02, 2002 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 97-96 | |
| Feb 04, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 104-97 | |
| Feb 05, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 86-79 | |
| Feb 12, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 98-82 | |
| Feb 14, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-91 | |
| Feb 15, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 94-85 | |
| Feb 17, 2002 | @ New York Knicks | W 92-89 | |
| Feb 18, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-92 | |
| Feb 20, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 110-99 | |
| Feb 26, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-81 | |
| Feb 28, 2002 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 114-70 | |
| Mar 02, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 116-105 | |
| Mar 04, 2002 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 100-82 | |
| Mar 06, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 92-84 | |
| Mar 08, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | L 85-79 | |
| Mar 10, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 95-92 | |
| Mar 11, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 79-78 | |
| Mar 14, 2002 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 100-82 | |
| Mar 15, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 100-97 | |
| Mar 17, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 96-89 | |
| Mar 19, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 94-87 | |
| Mar 21, 2002 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 94-79 | |
| Mar 23, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-103 | |
| Mar 25, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-92 | |
| Mar 26, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 28, 2002 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-91 | |
| Mar 30, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-92 | |
| Apr 02, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 98-90 | |
| Apr 03, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-87 | |
| Apr 05, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 117-109 | |
| Apr 08, 2002 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 105-96 | |
| Apr 09, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-82 | |
| Apr 11, 2002 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 97-96 | |
| Apr 13, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 109-101 | |
| Apr 16, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 96-87 | |
| Apr 17, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 86-84 |