2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season

The 2001–02 Dallas Mavericks season was the 22nd season for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association.^[1] It was also their first season playing at the American Airlines Center.^[2] During the off-season, the Mavericks acquired All-Star point guard Tim Hardaway from the Miami Heat,^[3][4][5] and signed free agents Adrian Griffin,^[6][7] Johnny Newman,^[8] and Danny Manning.^[9][10]

The Mavericks continued to play solid basketball posting a 10-game winning streak between December and January, then posting a seven-game winning streak also in January, and later on holding a 35–14 record at the All-Star break.^[11] At mid-season, the team traded Hardaway, Juwan Howard, and second-year forward Donnell Harvey to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Nick Van Exel, Raef LaFrentz, Tariq Abdul-Wahad and Avery Johnson.^[12][13][14] The Mavericks finished in second place in the Midwest Division with a 57–25 record,^[15] earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1987–88 season.^[1]

Dirk Nowitzki averaged 23.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, contributed 139 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Michael Finley averaged 20.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Steve Nash provided the team with 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game, led them with 156 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. In addition, and in 27 games after the trade, Van Exel contributed 13.2 points and 4.2 assists per game, while LaFrentz provided with 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Griffin averaged 7.2 points and 1.3 steals per game, second-year forward Eduardo Nájera provided with 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and Greg Buckner contributed 5.8 points per game.^[16]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nowitzki and Nash were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team, while head coach Don Nelson was selected to coach the Western Conference; it was the first ever All-Star appearance for both Nowitzki and Nash.^[17][18][19] In addition, Nash also participated in the NBA Three-Point Shootout for the second consecutive year.^[20][21] Nowitzki also finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Nash finished in 14th place;^[22] Nash also finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting.^[23][22]

In the Western Conference First Round of the 2002 NBA playoffs, the Mavericks faced off against the 5th–seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who were led by All-Star forward Kevin Garnett, All-Star forward Wally Szczerbiak, and Chauncey Billups. The Mavericks won the first two games over the Timberwolves at home at the American Airlines Center, before winning Game 3 on the road, 115–102 at the Target Center to win the series in a three-game sweep.^[24][25][26]

In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the top–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Sacramento Kings, who were led by the trio of All-Star forward Chris Webber, All-Star forward Peja Stojaković, and Mike Bibby. The Mavericks lost Game 1 to the Kings on the road, 108–91 at the ARCO Arena II, but managed to win Game 2 on the road, 110–102 to even the series.^[27][28] However, the Mavericks lost their next two home games at the American Airlines Center, before losing Game 5 to the Kings at the ARCO Arena II, 114–101, thus losing the series in five games.^[29][30][31]

The Mavericks finished sixth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 802,783 at the American Airlines Center during the regular season.^[16][32] Following the season, Buckner signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers,^[33][34] while Newman retired, and Manning was released to free agency, and signed with the Detroit Pistons midway through the next season.^[35]

For the season, the Mavericks changed their primary logo and uniforms, replacing their color scheme of blue and green with dark navy blue, light blue, gray and black colors; the team's primary logo featured a horse in front of a blue basketball above the team name "Mavericks";^[36] while their uniforms featured side panels to their jerseys and shorts.^[37][38] The home jerseys would remain in use until 2014, while the road jerseys would last until 2010; the team's new primary logo is still present as of 2026.