The2001–02 Chicago Bulls season was the 36th season for theChicago Bulls in theNational Basketball Association.^[1] After finishing with the worst record the previous season, the Bulls received the fourth overall pick in the2001 NBA draft, and selected center and high school basketball starEddy Curry, and acquired center, top draft pick, and high school basketball starTyson Chandler from theLos Angeles Clippers, who selected him with the second overall pick.^[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team re-acquired former Bulls forwardCharles Oakley from theToronto Raptors,^[5][6][7] acquiredGreg Anthony from thePortland Trail Blazers,^[8] and signed free agentsEddie Robinson,^[9][10] andKevin Ollie.^[11] Oakley had played three seasons for the Bulls from 1985 to 1988.

However, the Bulls still struggled losing 23 of their first 27 games of the regular season, posting a ten-game losing streak in November. Head coachTim Floyd resigned on Christmas Eve after a 4–21 start to the season, then after two games under assistantBill Berry, the team hired former Bulls centerBill Cartwright as their new coach. At mid-season, the Bulls traded Ollie along withRon Mercer,Ron Artest, andBrad Miller to theIndiana Pacers in exchange forJalen Rose andTravis Best,^[12][13][14] while Anthony was released to free agency, and later on signed with theMilwaukee Bucks.^[15][16] The Bulls struggled all season long finishing in last place in theCentral Division with a 21–61 record.^[17]

Rose averaged 23.8 points and 5.3 assists per game in 30 games with the Bulls after the trade, while second-year forwardMarcus Fizer averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Best provided the team with 9.3 points and 5.0 assists per game in 30 games. In addition, second-year guardJamal Crawford contributed 9.3 points per game, but only played just 23 games due to a torn ACL, while Robinson provided with 9.0 points per game, but only played just 29 games also due to injury, and rookie shooting guard, and second-round draft pickTrenton Hassell contributed 8.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Curry averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, Chandler averaged 6.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game,Fred Hoiberg contributed 4.4 points per game, and Oakley provided with 3.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.^[18]

During theNBA All-Star weekend at theFirst Union Center inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, Fizer was selected for theNBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Sophomores team.^[19][20] Following the season, Oakley signed as a free agent with theWashington Wizards, and Best signed with theMiami Heat. (See2001–02 Chicago Bulls season#Regular season)

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Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College / Club Team
1	4	Eddy Curry	C	United States
2	29	Trenton Hassell	SG	United States	Austin Peay
2	44	Sean Lampley	SF	United States	California

2001–02 Chicago Bulls roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 44 Dalibor Bagaric 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1980–02–07 Croatia G 6 Travis Best 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1972–07–12 Georgia Tech F/C 3 Tyson Chandler 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1982–10–02 Dominguez HS (CA) G 1 Jamal Crawford 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1980–03–20 Michigan C 2 Eddy Curry 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1982–12–05 Thornwood HS (IL) F 21 Marcus Fizer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 262 lb (119 kg) 1978–08–10 Iowa State G 11 A.J. Guyton 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1978–02–12 Indiana G/F 22 Trenton Hassell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1979–03–04 Austin Peay G 20 Fred Hoiberg 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 1972–10–15 Iowa State F/C 34 Charles Oakley  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union G 31 Norm Richardson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1979–07–24 Hofstra G/F 32 Eddie Robinson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1976–04–19 Central Oklahoma G/F 5 Jalen Rose 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–01–30 Michigan

Head coach Tim Floyd (resigned) Bill Berry (interim) Bill Cartwright Assistant(s) Norm Ellenberger Pete Myers Fred Tedeschi (trainer) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: March 1, 2002

In2001-02, the make-up and direction of the Chicago Bulls changed significantly: by the season's end, a pair of 18-year-old phenoms and an All-Star caliber player were in the line-up whileElton Brand, once thought to be the franchise's cornerstone for rebuilding efforts, was not. The result was a renewed sense of optimism and hope surrounding the team's future withTyson Chandler,Eddy Curry andJalen Rose as the centers of attention.

It all began on the night of the2001 NBA draft, when the Bulls used their first-round pick, fourth overall, to select Thornwood High School's Eddy Curry, a 6–11, 285-pound center. Minutes later, Chicago dealt Brand to theL.A. Clippers for Dominguez High School product Tyson Chandler (picked second overall) andBrian Skinner. Chicago also acquired one of the steals of the draft inTrenton Hassell out of Austin Peay in the second round.

With the addition of free agentEddie Robinson (signed Aug. 7), the new look Bulls, a young and athletic squad, were ready to take the floor. The importance of having NBA experience was again displayed as the team struggled and finished the season 21–61. The beginning of the year was not pleasant for Chicago. The Bulls set a franchise record for worst loss with a 53-point loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 8, Head CoachTim Floyd, who compiled a 49–190 record over four seasons with the club, resigned on Christmas Eve.Bill Berry was named interim coach and four days later,Bill Cartwright was named head coach on Dec. 28.

The team went on to suffer an 18-game road losing streak from Nov. 2 to Jan. 11. On Feb. 18, the Bulls grabbed a franchise-low 25 rebounds in Miami.

A change was needed and on February 19, it was delivered in the form of a seven-player trade. The Bulls acquired Jalen Rose,Travis Best andNorman Richardson from theIndiana Pacers forBrad Miller,Ron Artest,Ron Mercer andKevin Ollie.

“We feel Jalen is an outstanding all-around player who can play three positions offensively and defensively,” EVP of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause explained. “He’s a very good passer, extremely unselfish, a fine scorer and in the prime of his career at age 29. His leadership qualities and versatility are an added plus.”

“I'm excited about it,” Rose said upon his arrival to Chicago. “I embrace the opportunity. Every kid dreams about standing in this position talking about having an opportunity to take a team to a championship level.”

The team went on to post their first three-game winning streak in two years from Feb. 20–23.Jamal Crawford, who tore his ACL over the summer and required surgery to repair it, returned to the active roster on March 3 after missing the first 58 games of the season. On March 11, the Bulls and Bill Cartwright mutually agreed to a three-year extension on the head coach's contract. Other notes from the season includedMarcus Fizer’s (sophomore team) participation in the Schick Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend and Trenton Hassell being named to the NBA’s ‘got milk?’ Rookie of the Month for February.

Player Statistics Citation:^[18]

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Player Transactions Citation:^[21]

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