2001–02 Miami Heat season

The 2001–02 Miami Heat season was the 14th season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Heat re-acquired Chris Gatling from the Cleveland Cavaliers; Gatling previously played for the Heat during the second half of the 1995–96 season.^[2][3] The team also signed free agents Rod Strickland,^[4][5][6] LaPhonso Ellis,^[7][8] Kendall Gill,^[9][10] then later on signed Jim Jackson in December.^[11][12][13]

Despite the addition of Strickland and Ellis, and with the return of Alonzo Mourning after dealing with a kidney disorder the previous season, the Heat struggled and lost 23 of their first 28 games of the regular season, which included a 12-game losing streak between November and December. The team soon recovered from their awful start, and played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, winning nine of their next twelve games, and holding an 18–29 record at the All-Star break.^[14] However, the Heat finished in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record, and failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1994–95 season.^[15]

Eddie Jones averaged 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and led the Heat with 149 three-point field goals, while Mourning averaged 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Jackson played a sixth man role off the bench, providing the team with 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. In addition, Strickland contributed 10.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Brian Grant provided with 9.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and second-year guard Eddie House contributed 8.0 points per game. Meanwhile, Ellis averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Gatling provided with 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, Gill contributed 5.7 points per game, and Anthony Carter provided with 4.3 points and 4.6 assists per game.^[16]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mourning was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his final All-Star appearance.^[17][18][19] This season also proved to be Mourning's last season with the Heat, and although he was on the roster the following season, he was unable to play due to another kidney condition;^[20][21][22] he would return to the Heat midway through the 2004–05 season after a brief stint with the New Jersey Nets. This season also marked the first time in Pat Riley's coaching career that he failed to get his team into the NBA playoffs.^[23]

The Heat finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 655,549 at the American Airlines Arena during the regular season.^[16][24] Following the season, Gill signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,^[25] while Jackson signed with the Sacramento Kings during the next season,^[26] Strickland was released to free agency, and Gatling retired.

For the season, the Heat added new red alternate road uniforms with black side panels, which would remain in use until 2010, while the shorts were slightly redesigned in 2009.^[27]