Overview
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Jersey Nets four games to none in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 2001-02 NBA season. It was the third consecutive title for the Lakers, the second time in franchise history they'd won three consecutive titles (also done in 1952-54, when they were the Minneapolis Lakers). The Nets were just the fifth team in NBA history to make their NBA Finals debut against the defending champions.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson pulled off a "three-peat" for the third time in his career. He won three consecutive titles with the Bulls from 1991 to 1993 and again from 1996-1998. With this, his 9th NBA Championship as a coach, he tied Red Auerbach for the most titles.
Shaquille O'Neal was named Finals MVP, winning the award for the third time in his career. He joined Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan as the only players to pull off that feat (later matched by Tim Duncan).
The Lakers had home-court advantage for the Finals, by virtue of their 58-24 regular-season record. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in 2001-02, with each team winning on its home court.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson pulled off a "three-peat" for the third time in his career. He won three consecutive titles with the Bulls from 1991 to 1993 and again from 1996-1998. With this, his 9th NBA Championship as a coach, he tied Red Auerbach for the most titles.
Shaquille O'Neal was named Finals MVP, winning the award for the third time in his career. He joined Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan as the only players to pull off that feat (later matched by Tim Duncan).
The Lakers had home-court advantage for the Finals, by virtue of their 58-24 regular-season record. The two teams split their regular-season meetings in 2001-02, with each team winning on its home court.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Nets | Lakers |
| Regular Season | 52-30, 1st in Atlantic Division | 58-24, 2nd in Pacific Division |
| First Round | Def. (8) Indiana Pacers, 3-2 | Def. (6) Portland Trail Blazers, 3-0 |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (4) Charlotte Hornets, 4-1 | Def. (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4-1 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (3) Boston Celtics, 4-2 | Def. (1) Sacramento Kings, 4-3 |
Game 1 - Lakers 99, Nets 94
The Lakers jumped out to a 29-14 lead after the first quarter and led by as many as 23 points in the first half before cruising to a 5-point victory. It was the fifth consecutive win in the Finals for the Lakers.
Shaquille O'Neal finished with 36 points and 16 rebounds, and even made four of six free-throw attempts in the final 3:25 of the game, when the Nets went to the Hack-a-Shaq strategy to try to overcome their deficit. At one point early in the game, O'Neal had 16 points to the Nets' 19. Kobe Bryant added 22 points for the Lakers, who won despite making just 1 of 10 3-point attempts.
The Lakers also overcame a triple-double by Jason Kidd, who finished with 23 points, 10 rebound and 10 assists. Kenyon Martin had 21 points for the Nets but made just 7 of his 22 shots from the field.
Shaquille O'Neal finished with 36 points and 16 rebounds, and even made four of six free-throw attempts in the final 3:25 of the game, when the Nets went to the Hack-a-Shaq strategy to try to overcome their deficit. At one point early in the game, O'Neal had 16 points to the Nets' 19. Kobe Bryant added 22 points for the Lakers, who won despite making just 1 of 10 3-point attempts.
The Lakers also overcame a triple-double by Jason Kidd, who finished with 23 points, 10 rebound and 10 assists. Kenyon Martin had 21 points for the Nets but made just 7 of his 22 shots from the field.
Game 2 - Lakers 106, Nets 83
The Nets once again had no answer for Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the Lakers to their sixth consecutive Finals game win. O'Neal scored 12 points in the first quarter on 5-of-7 shooting and had 23 points at the half.
In addition to O'Neal 40 points -- on 14-of-23 shooting from the field and 12-of-14 shooting from the line -- the Lakers got 24 points from Kobe Bryant and 12 from Derek Fisher. Rick Fox added 10 and Robert Horry, who had nine points, was the only starter who failed to reach double figures.
The Nets trailed just 27-21 after one quarter and 49-43 at halftime despite shooting 30.6 percent (15 for 49) and having Jason Kidd go scoreless. Still, the Nets failed to improve on their 39.4 percent shooting from Game 1, slipping to 34.9 percent (30 of 86). Kittles led New Jersey with 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting and Kidd rebounded to finish with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
In addition to O'Neal 40 points -- on 14-of-23 shooting from the field and 12-of-14 shooting from the line -- the Lakers got 24 points from Kobe Bryant and 12 from Derek Fisher. Rick Fox added 10 and Robert Horry, who had nine points, was the only starter who failed to reach double figures.
The Nets trailed just 27-21 after one quarter and 49-43 at halftime despite shooting 30.6 percent (15 for 49) and having Jason Kidd go scoreless. Still, the Nets failed to improve on their 39.4 percent shooting from Game 1, slipping to 34.9 percent (30 of 86). Kittles led New Jersey with 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting and Kidd rebounded to finish with 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Game 3 - Lakers 106, Nets 103
The Lakers won their NBA Finals-record seventh straight game, getting 36 points from Kobe Bryant and 35 from Shaquille O'Neal. After leading by as many as 10 points during the third quarter, the Lakers were tied heading to the fourth, and trailed by as many as seven points during the final quarter. However, down 94-87, Los Angeles went on a 13-2 run to take a 100-96 lead, capped by a 22-foot jumper by Bryant.
Bryant scored his 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting, while O'Neal was 12-of-19 from the field. O'Neal also had a game-high 11 rebounds, the only player in double-figures in rebounds for either team. Robert Horry had just six points but made a key 3-point basket to put the Lakers ahead by two points with 3:03 left.
Jason Kidd had 30 points and 10 assists to lead the Nets. Kenyon Martin added 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Both teams shot better than 51 percent from the field, while the Lakers also shot exactly 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range.
Bryant scored his 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting, while O'Neal was 12-of-19 from the field. O'Neal also had a game-high 11 rebounds, the only player in double-figures in rebounds for either team. Robert Horry had just six points but made a key 3-point basket to put the Lakers ahead by two points with 3:03 left.
Jason Kidd had 30 points and 10 assists to lead the Nets. Kenyon Martin added 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Both teams shot better than 51 percent from the field, while the Lakers also shot exactly 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range.
Game 4 - Lakers 113, Nets 107
The Lakers earned their third consecutive championship in historic fashion, winning their 8th consecutive NBA Finals Game. The win was Phil Jackson's 156th in the postseason as a head coach, putting him ahead of Pat Riley for the most in NBA history. This was the first Finals sweep since 1995, when the Rockets swept the Magic, and the first ever for the Lakers. It was just the seventh 4-game sweep in NBA Finals history.
The Lakers were down 34-27 after one quarter and withstood a late New Jersey comeback. Down 84-80 entering the fourth quarter, the Nets charged ahead at 87-84 in the final period on a 7-0 spurt fueled by Jason Kidd, but the Lakers went on a 22-10 run to take control.
Shaquille O'Neal joined Michael Jordan as the only players ever to win three Finals MVP awards in a row and set the scoring mark for most points in a four-game Finals series. His team-high 34 points gave him 145, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon's 131 in 1995. O'Neal averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds and set four-game Finals records with 45 free throws and 68 free-throw attempts.
Kenyon Martin had game highs of 35 points and 11 rebounds, making 15 of his 28 field-goal attempts. The only other Nets player with more than 13 points was Lucious Harris, who scored 22 off the bench.
Mitch Richmond played just one minute for the Lakers in Game 4 but earned his first NBA Championship in his 14th season. Before Richmond, only Jerome Kersey (15 seasons) had played longer before winning a title. Richmond, who dribbled out the clock in Game 4, retired after the season.
The Lakers were down 34-27 after one quarter and withstood a late New Jersey comeback. Down 84-80 entering the fourth quarter, the Nets charged ahead at 87-84 in the final period on a 7-0 spurt fueled by Jason Kidd, but the Lakers went on a 22-10 run to take control.
Shaquille O'Neal joined Michael Jordan as the only players ever to win three Finals MVP awards in a row and set the scoring mark for most points in a four-game Finals series. His team-high 34 points gave him 145, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon's 131 in 1995. O'Neal averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds and set four-game Finals records with 45 free throws and 68 free-throw attempts.
Kenyon Martin had game highs of 35 points and 11 rebounds, making 15 of his 28 field-goal attempts. The only other Nets player with more than 13 points was Lucious Harris, who scored 22 off the bench.
Mitch Richmond played just one minute for the Lakers in Game 4 but earned his first NBA Championship in his 14th season. Before Richmond, only Jerome Kersey (15 seasons) had played longer before winning a title. Richmond, who dribbled out the clock in Game 4, retired after the season.