2001-02 Season The Lakers won an NBA title this season

Record: 58-24, second place in Pacific Division

The Lakers looked as if they would cruise to a third consecutive NBA title after starting the season 16-1, but injuries to Derek Fisher and Shaquille O'Neal slowed them a bit, and they had to settle for a second place finish in the Pacific Division, three games behind the Sacramento Kings, whose fans were unhappy with the Lakers after Shaquille O'Neal referred to the team as the Queens.

Playoffs: The Lakers were seeded third in the Western Conference and played Portland in the first round. Leading two games to zero, Robert Horry connected on a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a three-game sweep. The Lakers defeated San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals to set up a much-awaited matchup with the Kings in the Western Conference finals, which the Lakers won in seven games, with the decisive Game 7 win taking place in Sacramento. The NBA Finals were anticlimactic after that, with the Lakers sweeping the New Jersey Nets to win their third consecutive title. O'Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the third consecutive season, joining Michael Jordan as the only players to do so.

Playoff Results


Western Conference first round


  • at Lakers 95, Portland 87

  • at Lakers 103, Portland 96

  • Lakers 92, at Portland 91



Western Conference semifinals


  • at Lakers 86, San Antonio 80

  • San Antonio 88, at Lakers 85

  • Lakers 99, at San Antonio 89

  • Lakers 87, at San Antonio 85

  • at Lakers 93, San Antonio 87




Western Conference finals


  • Lakers 106, at Sacramento 99

  • at Sacramento 96, Lakers 90

  • Sacramento 103, at Lakers 90

  • at Lakers 100, Sacramento 99

  • at Sacramento 92, Lakers 91

  • at Lakers 106, Sacramento 102

  • Lakers 112, at Sacramento 106 (OT)



NBA Finals


  • at Lakers 99, New Jersey 94

  • at Lakers 106, New Jersey 83

  • Lakers 106, at New Jersey 103

  • Lakers 113, at New Jersey 107