2001–02 Phoenix Suns season

The 2001–02 Phoenix Suns season was the 34th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Suns acquired All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury from the New Jersey Nets,^[2][3][4] 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,^[5][6][7] acquired second-year center Jake Voskuhl from the Chicago Bulls, and acquired John Wallace and Jud Buechler from the Detroit Pistons.^[8][9] Early into the regular season, Buechler was traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Bo Outlaw in November.^[10][11][12]

With the addition of Marbury and Majerle, and with Penny Hardaway back after only appearing in just four games the previous season due to a knee injury, the Suns lost three of their first four games of the regular season, but soon recovered by posting a five-game winning streak between November and December, and holding an 18–13 record at the end of December. However, the team soon struggled and fell below .500 in winning percentage by posting a five-game losing streak soon afterwards, and later on holding a 24–24 record at the All-Star break.^[13]

Head coach Scott Skiles resigned after a 25–26 start to the season, and was replaced with assistant coach, and former Suns guard Frank Johnson.^[14][15][16] Meanwhile, at mid-season, Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk were both traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for rookie shooting guard, and first-round draft pick Joe Johnson, and Randy Brown in a mid-season trade.^[17][18][19] Under Frank Johnson, the Suns posted a six-game losing streak in March, and lost eight of their final eleven games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a disappointing 36–46 record;^[20] the team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 1987–88 season.^[1]

Marbury averaged 20.4 points and 8.1 assists per game, while Shawn Marion averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and Hardaway provided the team with 12.0 points, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, Joe Johnson contributed 9.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in 27 games after the trade, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while second-year center Jake Tsakalidis provided with 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and Tom Gugliotta averaged 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, but continued to struggle with knee injuries, as he only appeared in just 44 games due to left quadriceps tendonitis.^[21][22] Meanwhile, Voskuhl averaged 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Wallace contributed 5.0 points per game, Outlaw provided with 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and Majerle contributed 4.6 points per game, but shot just .343 in field-goal percentage.^[23]

The Suns finished 17th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 668,939 at the America West Arena during the regular season.^[23][24] This 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 NBA All-Star Game did not feature a Suns player. To complete the season on a low note, a franchise-record of thirteen consecutive NBA playoff appearances ended when the Suns failed to qualify for the postseason.^[1]

Following the season, Majerle retired after playing in his second stint with the Suns,^[25] and Wallace was released to free agency.