# 2001–02 Phoenix Suns season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 34th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Suns acquired All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury from the New Jersey Nets, re-signed former All-Star Suns guard and three-point specialist Dan Majerle, who was a member of the team when they appeared in the 1993 NBA Finals, and acquired John Wallace and Jud Buechler from the Detroit Pistons. Early into the season, Buechler was traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Bo Outlaw in November.
The Suns got off to a 18–13 start, but soon began to slip under .500 as the season progressed as head coach Scott Skiles struggled to a 25–26 record, and was replaced by former Suns guard Frank Johnson. The Suns posted a six-game losing streak in March and lost eight of their final eleven games, finishing the regular season at 36–46, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1988. All home games were played at America West Arena.
Marbury would lead the team in scoring and assists, averaging 20.4 points and 8.1 assists per game, becoming the first Suns player to average 20 or more points per game since Kevin Johnson during the 1996–97 season. Shawn Marion increased his scoring as well, averaging 19.1 points per game along with 9.9 rebounds per game. Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk both continued to provide the team with scoring off the bench, before both being traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for top draft pick Joe Johnson midway through the season. Penny Hardaway returned to appear in 80 games, after being sidelined all but four games the season before, and averaged 12.0 points and 4.1 assists per game. Johnson, who earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors, rounded out a team rich in talent at the guard position. Tom Gugliotta was again plagued by knee injury, only playing just 44 games due to left quadriceps tendonitis.
The season was a disappointment for an organization looking to build a new core of talent. For the first time since the 1996–97 season, the All-Star Game did not feature a Suns player. To complete the season on a low note, a franchise-record of 13 straight playoff appearances was snapped when the Suns failed to qualify for postseason play. Following the season, Majerle retired after playing in his second stint with the Suns, and Wallace was released to free agency.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Club Team |
| 2 | 51 | Alton Ford | Forward | United States | Houston |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Point guard Randy Brown was acquired from the Boston Celtics at midseason, but did not play for the Suns this season due to a right adductor strain.

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Sacramento Kings | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 36–5 | 25–16 | 15–9 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 3 | 34–7 | 24–17 | 16–8 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 12 | 30–11 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 45 | 37 | .549 | 16 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 13–11 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 | 25–16 | 14–27 | 9–15 |
| Phoenix Suns | 36 | 46 | .439 | 25 | 23–18 | 13–28 | 12–12 |
| Golden State Warriors | 21 | 61 | .256 | 40 | 14–27 | 7–34 | 5–19 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Sacramento Kings | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 58 | 24 | .707 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 4 |
| 5 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 12 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 45 | 37 | .549 | 16 |
| 8 | x-Utah Jazz | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 |
| 9 | Los Angeles Clippers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 10 | Phoenix Suns | 36 | 46 | .439 | 25 |
| 11 | Houston Rockets | 28 | 54 | .341 | 33 |
| 12 | Denver Nuggets | 27 | 55 | .329 | 34 |
| 13 | Memphis Grizzlies | 23 | 59 | .280 | 38 |
| 14 | Golden State Warriors | 21 | 61 | .256 | 40 |

### Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Memphis | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Miami | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | — |

## Awards and honors
### Week/Month

* Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Month for March.
* Stephon Marbury was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 26 through December 2.
* Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played March 25 through March 31.

### Season

* Joe Johnson was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Charlie Bell* | 5 | 0 | 8.4 | .273 | .000 | 1.000# | 0.8 | 0.4 | .0 | .0 | 1.6 |
| Jud Buechler* | 6 | 0 | 9.0 | .333 | .333 | . | 1.3 | 0.5 | .2 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Joe Crispin* | 15 | 0 | 8.6 | .411 | .429^ | 1.000# | 0.7 | 1.6 | .3 | .0 | 4.6 |
| Vinny Del Negro | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | .250 | . | . | 0.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Tony Delk* | 41 | 1 | 21.4 | .399 | .320 | .836 | 3.0 | 2.0 | .8 | .1 | 10.6 |
| Alton Ford | 53 | 0 | 8.5 | .517† | . | .737 | 2.0 | 0.1 | .1 | .1 | 3.1 |
| Tom Gugliotta | 44 | 40 | 25.7 | .422 | .333 | .757 | 5.0 | 1.8 | .9 | .7 | 6.5 |
| Penny Hardaway | 80 | 56 | 30.8 | .418 | .277 | .810 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 1.5 | .4 | 12.0 |
| Joe Johnson* | 29 | 27 | 31.5 | .420 | .333 | .778 | 4.1 | 3.6 | .9 | .4 | 9.6 |
| Dan Majerle | 65 | 0 | 18.2 | .343 | .336^ | .590 | 2.7 | 1.4 | .7 | .2 | 4.6 |
| Stephon Marbury | 82 | 80 | 38.9 | .442 | .286 | .781 | 3.2 | 8.1 | .9 | .2 | 20.4 |
| Shawn Marion | 81 | 81 | 38.4 | .469† | .393^ | .845# | 9.9 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 19.1 |
| Bo Outlaw* | 73 | 36 | 24.2 | .550† | .500^ | .417 | 4.6 | 1.7 | .8 | 1.1 | 4.7 |
| Milt Palacio* | 28 | 1 | 9.7 | .380 | .143 | .783 | 0.8 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | 2.8 |
| Rodney Rogers* | 50 | 7 | 25.1 | .466 | .350^ | .828 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .3 | 12.6 |
| Daniel Santiago | 3 | 0 | 8.0 | .500† | . | . | 2.3 | 0.7 | .0 | .3 | 2.7 |
| Jake Tsakalidis | 67 | 47 | 23.6 | .475† | .000 | .698 | 5.6 | 0.3 | .3 | 1.0 | 7.3 |
| Jake Voskuhl | 59 | 34 | 15.3 | .554† | . | .752 | 4.3 | 0.3 | .2 | .4 | 5.0 |
| John Wallace | 46 | 0 | 10.7 | .435 | .385^ | .870# | 1.8 | 0.6 | .2 | .2 | 5.0 |
* – Stats with the Suns. † – Minimum 300 field goals made. ^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made. # – Minimum 125 free throws made.

## Transactions
### Trades

| July 18, 2001 | To Detroit Pistons Clifford Robinson | To Phoenix Suns Jud Buechler John Wallace $1.6 million trade exception |
| July 18, 2001 | To New Jersey Nets Chris Dudley Jason Kidd | To Phoenix Suns Stephon Marbury Johnny Newman Soumaila Samake |
| October 29, 2001 | To Chicago Bulls Soumaila Samake 2003 second-round draft pick ( Matt Bonner) | To Phoenix Suns Jake Voskuhl |
| November 15, 2001 | To Orlando Magic Jud Buechler | To Phoenix Suns Bo Outlaw 2002 first-round draft pick ( Amar'e Stoudemire) |
| November 15, 2001 | To Los Angeles Clippers Vinny Del Negro Cash considerations |
| February 20, 2002 | To Boston Celtics Tony Delk Rodney Rogers | To Phoenix Suns Randy Brown Joe Johnson Milt Palacio 2002 first-round draft pick ( Casey Jacobsen) |

### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract | Former Team |
| July 6, 2001 | Charlie Bell | Undisclosed | Michigan State Spartans |
| July 19, 2001 | Dan Majerle | Signed to 1-year contract for $1 million | Miami Heat |
| August 29, 2001 | Daniel Santiago | Re-signed to 1-year contract for $465,850 | Phoenix Suns |
| September 27, 2001 | Chris Andersen | Undisclosed | Fayetteville Patriots (NBA DL) |
| September 27, 2001 | Dan McClintock | Undisclosed | Denver Nuggets |
| September 27, 2001 | Derek Hood | Undisclosed | Snaidero Udine (Italy) |
| September 27, 2001 | Kendrick Johnson | Undisclosed | |
| January 7, 2002 | Joe Crispin | Signed for rest of season | Southern California Surf (ABA) |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| September 28, 2001 | Johnny Newman | Waived | Dallas Mavericks |
| October 7, 2001 | Chris Andersen | Waived | Denver Nuggets |
| October 9, 2001 | Dan McClintock | Waived | Skipper Bologna |
| October 11, 2001 | Kendrick Johnson | Waived | |
| October 20, 2001 | Derek Hood | Waived | Mobile Revelers (NBA DL) |
| December 11, 2001 | Charlie Bell | Waived | Phoenix Eclipse (ABA) |
| January 7, 2002 | Daniel Santiago | Waived | Lottomatica Roma (Italy) |
Player Transactions Citation: