The 2001-02 New York Knicks season was a challenging chapter in the franchise’s history. Under head coach Don Chaney, the team aimed to bounce back from a disappointing 2000-01 season but faced significant hurdles. The Knicks ended the season with a 30-52 record, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division and missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1986-87 season.
Key issues for the Knicks included injuries and inconsistency in performance. Allan Houston led the team with an average of 20.4 points per game, while Latrell Sprewell contributed 19.4 points per game. Despite their efforts, the team struggled with a lack of depth and defensive inadequacies, which were exacerbated by the absence of veteran center Patrick Ewing, who had been traded in the prior season.
During the season, the Knicks made several roster changes in an attempt to improve. Notably, they traded for point guard Howard Eisley and forward Shandon Anderson from the Utah Jazz. However, these moves did not significantly alter the team’s fortunes. Additionally, the Knicks faced turmoil in the front office, with general manager Scott Layden under scrutiny for the team’s poor performance.
Overall, the 2001-02 season marked a period of transition and rebuilding for the New York Knicks. The team’s failure to make the playoffs ended a string of 14 consecutive postseason appearances, signaling the need for a reevaluation of both strategy and personnel in the upcoming years.
- Regular Season Record: 30-52
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks 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% |
| Allan Houston | 77 | 20.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 39.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Latrell Sprewell | 81 | 19.4 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 36.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kurt Thomas | 82 | 13.9 | 9.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Marcus Camby | 29 | 11.1 | 11.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Clarence Weatherspoon | 56 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mark Jackson | 82 | 8.4 | 3.8 | 7.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 40.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Othella Harrington | 77 | 7.7 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Charlie Ward | 63 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 32.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Shandon Anderson | 82 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 27.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Howard Eisley | 39 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 24.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Lavor Postell | 23 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 23.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Travis Knight | 49 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Larry Robinson | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Felton Spencer | 32 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
New York Knicks 2001-02 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2001-02 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2001 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 93-91 | |
| Nov 02, 2001 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 97-93 | |
| Nov 03, 2001 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 84-79 | |
| Nov 06, 2001 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 104-94 | |
| Nov 07, 2001 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 82-64 | |
| Nov 09, 2001 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 103-95 | |
| Nov 10, 2001 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 90-71 | |
| Nov 13, 2001 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 89-82 | |
| Nov 15, 2001 | vs. Miami Heat | W 83-74 | |
| Nov 16, 2001 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-83 | |
| Nov 18, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 99-86 | |
| Nov 20, 2001 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 94-70 | |
| Nov 21, 2001 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 96-72 | |
| Nov 24, 2001 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 78-71 | |
| Nov 26, 2001 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 88-83 | |
| Nov 28, 2001 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 01, 2001 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 100-97 | |
| Dec 03, 2001 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 89-86 | |
| Dec 04, 2001 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 85-71 | |
| Dec 08, 2001 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 101-99 | |
| Dec 11, 2001 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-93 | |
| Dec 13, 2001 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 99-97 | |
| Dec 14, 2001 | @ Washington Wizards | L 96-80 | |
| Dec 16, 2001 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 114-96 | |
| Dec 18, 2001 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 100-95 | |
| Dec 20, 2001 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 90-88 | |
| Dec 22, 2001 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 87-86 | |
| Dec 25, 2001 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 102-94 | |
| Dec 28, 2001 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 98-88 | |
| Dec 30, 2001 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 94-90 | |
| Jan 03, 2002 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 108-101 | |
| Jan 05, 2002 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 90-81 | |
| Jan 07, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 90-79 | |
| Jan 08, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 88-86 | |
| Jan 10, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 111-89 | |
| Jan 12, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-97 | |
| Jan 16, 2002 | @ Boston Celtics | L 101-100 | |
| Jan 19, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 97-89 | |
| Jan 21, 2002 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 111-68 | |
| Jan 23, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 96-92 | |
| Jan 24, 2002 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 96-91 | |
| Jan 26, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 129-127 | |
| Jan 29, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 78-71 | |
| Feb 01, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 92-87 | |
| Feb 03, 2002 | vs. Miami Heat | L 94-83 | |
| Feb 05, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 07, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 92-89 | |
| Feb 12, 2002 | @ Orlando Magic | L 122-114 | |
| Feb 13, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 89-82 | |
| Feb 15, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 101-90 | |
| Feb 17, 2002 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 92-89 | |
| Feb 20, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-109 | |
| Feb 22, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-93 | |
| Feb 24, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-91 | |
| Feb 28, 2002 | @ Miami Heat | L 100-86 | |
| Mar 01, 2002 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 89-87 | |
| Mar 03, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 99-83 | |
| Mar 05, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-89 | |
| Mar 07, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 104-93 | |
| Mar 08, 2002 | @ Utah Jazz | W 85-79 | |
| Mar 10, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-103 | |
| Mar 12, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-96 | |
| Mar 14, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 113-96 | |
| Mar 16, 2002 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 105-95 | |
| Mar 17, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 104-99 | |
| Mar 19, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 101-92 | |
| Mar 21, 2002 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 118-89 | |
| Mar 24, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 90-82 | |
| Mar 25, 2002 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 84-83 | |
| Mar 27, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 89-82 | |
| Mar 29, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-77 | |
| Mar 31, 2002 | @ Orlando Magic | L 97-90 | |
| Apr 02, 2002 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 91-85 | |
| Apr 04, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 88-80 | |
| Apr 05, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 86-83 | |
| Apr 07, 2002 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 116-82 | |
| Apr 09, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 108-97 | |
| Apr 11, 2002 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 104-101 | |
| Apr 12, 2002 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-92 | |
| Apr 14, 2002 | @ Miami Heat | W 94-67 | |
| Apr 16, 2002 | @ Washington Wizards | L 116-112 | |
| Apr 17, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 99-94 |