2001–02 Denver Nuggets season


The 2001–02 NBA season was the Nuggets' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 35th season as a franchise. During the offseason, the Nuggets signed free agents Isaiah Rider and Avery Johnson. However, Rider would play in just ten games before being waived on November 20. After finishing just two games below.500 the previous season, the Nuggets suffered another disastrous setback as Antonio McDyess suffered a preseason knee injury, which limited him to just ten games. Things would only get worse in December as head coach Dan Issel got into hot water after yelling a racial slur at a Mexican fan. Issel was suspended for four games and was forced to resign, being replaced by his assistant Mike Evans. At midseason, Nick Van Exel was traded along with Johnson, Raef LaFrentz and Tariq Abdul-Wahad to the Dallas Mavericks for Juwan Howard and Tim Hardaway. The Nuggets finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 27–55 record.
Following the season, McDyess was traded to the New York Knicks, Voshon Lenard signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors, Calbert Cheaney signed with the Utah Jazz, Hardaway and George McCloud were both released, and Evans was fired as coach.

Offseason

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club Team
247Ousmane CisseFSt. Jude HS

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions