2001–02 Phoenix Suns season

{{Short description|NBA team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Phoenix Suns

| end_year = 2002

| wins = 36

| losses = 46

| division = Pacific

| division_place = 6

| conf_place = 10

| coach =

• Scott Skiles (resigned)
• Frank Johnson

| gm = Bryan Colangelo

| owner = Jerry Colangelo

| arena = America West Arena

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| bbr_team = PHO

| television =

• KUTP
• Fox Sports Net Arizona
• Cox 9

| radio = KTAR

}}

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 34th season for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2002.html|title = 2001-02 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats}} During the off-season, the Suns acquired All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury from the New Jersey Nets,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Both Kidd and Marbury to Get Fresh Starts | work = ESPN | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2001/0628/1220083.html | access-date = October 24, 2024}}{{cite news | last = Robbins | first = Liz | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Nets' Shake-Up Ships Marbury for Suns' Kidd | work = The New York Times | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/29/sports/pro-basketball-nets-shake-up-ships-marbury-for-suns-kidd.html | access-date = July 30, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = Kidd, Marbury Latest Big Deal | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-29-sp-16532-story.html | access-date = May 28, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Suns Trade Star Guard Kidd, Get Nets' Marbury in Return | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/06/29/suns-trade-star-guard-kidd-get-nets-marbury-in-return/aa3b13c4-3a07-49ef-b8b2-8d32e6f260d5/ | access-date = July 13, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Suns Agree to Trade Kidd to Nets for Marbury | work = Tampa Bay Times | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/06/29/suns-agree-to-trade-kidd-to-nets-for-marbury/ | access-date = November 30, 2022}} 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,{{cite news | title = Dan Majerle Signs with Suns | work = United Press International | date = July 19, 2001 | url = https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/2001/07/19/Dan-Majerle-signs-with-Suns/4869995515200/ | access-date = December 31, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Tutumello | first = Mike | title = Majerle Goes Home to the Arizona Heat | work = Sun Sentinel | date = October 4, 2001 | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2001-10-04-0110031055-story.html | access-date = October 20, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World | work = The New York Times | date = October 30, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/30/sports/pro-basketball-jordan-against-the-new-generation-lakers-against-the-world.html | accessdate = July 16, 2022}} and acquired John Wallace and Jud Buechler from the Detroit Pistons.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Pistons Add Robinson in Deal with Suns | work = ESPN | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2001/0629/1220418.html | access-date = October 25, 2024}}{{cite news | title = Suns Send Robinson to Pistons | work = United Press International | date = June 29, 2001 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/06/29/Suns-send-Robinson-to-Pistons/4529993787200/ | access-date = October 25, 2024}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PLUS: BASKETBALL; Suns' Robinson Is Dealt to Pistons | work = The New York Times | date = June 30, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/30/sports/plus-basketball-suns-robinson-is-dealt-to-pistons.html | access-date = October 25, 2024}} Early into the season, Buechler was traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Bo Outlaw in November.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Suns Get Outlaw from Magic as Part of Three-Team Deal | work = ESPN | date = November 16, 2001 | url = https://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2001/1116/1279208.html | access-date = October 23, 2024}}{{cite news | title = Suns Get Outlaw in 3-Team Trade | work = United Press International | date = November 16, 2001 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/11/16/Suns-get-Outlaw-in-3-team-trade/4491005886800/ | access-date = January 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Brewer | first = Jerry | title = Magic Send Outlaw to Suns | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = November 17, 2001 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-11-17-0111170334-story.html | access-date = October 20, 2022}}

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.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Skiles Agrees to Leave, Assistant Johnson Takes Over | work = ESPN | date = February 17, 2002 | url = https://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2002/0217/1335276.html | access-date = October 26, 2024}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Skiles Resigns as Suns' Coach | work = The New York Times | date = February 18, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/18/sports/pro-basketball-skiles-resigns-as-suns-coach.html | access-date = January 11, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Suns' Skiles Resigns, Johnson Takes Over | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 18, 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-18-sp-skilessep18-story.html | access-date = November 26, 2022}} 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.{{cite web|title=2001–02 Phoenix Suns Schedule and Results|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2002_games.html|access-date=July 2, 2021}} 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.{{cite news | title = Report: Celts Acquire F Rogers, G Delk from Suns | work = ESPN | date = February 20, 2002 | url = https://www.espn.com/nba/newswire/2002/20020220/01301611.html | access-date = October 24, 2024}}{{cite news | title = Report: Rogers, Delk to Celtics | work = United Press International | date = February 20, 2002 | url = https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/02/20/Report-Rogers-Delk-to-Celtics/96671014251353/ | access-date = May 5, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Boston Acquires Delk, Rogers from Phoenix | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 21, 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-21-sp-nbareport21-story.html | access-date = October 20, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Celts, Suns Make Trade; Jackson Set to Be Dealt | work = Deseret News | date = February 21, 2002 | url = https://www.deseret.com/2002/2/21/19639160/celts-suns-make-trade-jackson-set-to-be-dealt | access-date = July 24, 2021}} 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.{{cite web|title=2001–02 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/2002.html|access-date=July 2, 2021}} 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.{{cite news | title = Suns Place Gugliotta on Injured List | work = United Press International | date = January 8, 2002 | url = https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/2002/01/08/Suns-place-Gugliotta-on-injured-list/1111010466000/ | access-date = January 11, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Suns Activate Oft-Injured Gugliotta | work = Midland Daily News | date = February 12, 2002 | url = https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Suns-Activate-Oft-Injured-Gugliotta-7050253.php | access-date = October 25, 2022}}

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.{{cite web | title = Phoenix Suns | work = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/ | access-date = January 24, 2022}} Following the season, Majerle retired after playing in his second stint with the Suns,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Buford Clarifies Drug Suspension | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 15, 2002 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-15-sp-nbareport15-story.html | access-date = October 25, 2022}} and Wallace was released to free agency.