2002 NBA Finals Game 3: Lakers vs Nets

Lore & Background

With All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal sidelined early into the regular season after an off-season right foot and toe surgery, the Lakers struggled losing nine of their first twelve games. O'Neal eventually returned, but the team still struggled with an 11–19 record 30 games into the season, which was their worst start since the 1993–94 season. However, the Lakers soon recovered from their slow start, playing above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, and holding a 24–23 record at the All-Star break, which was ninth place in the Western Conference at the time, and out of playoff position. The Lakers won 11 of their final 13 games of the season, and finished in second place in the Pacific Division with a solid 50–32 record, earning the fifth seed in the Western Conference; the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the ninth consecutive year.

Reader's Guide

This season saw co-captain Kobe Bryant play all 82 games for the first time in his NBA career, as he averaged 30.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game, and also led the Lakers with 124 three-point field goals, while O'Neal averaged 27.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. In addition, Derek Fisher provided the team with 10.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, while Rick Fox contributed 9.0 points per game and 105 three-point field goals, and Robert Horry provided with 6.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Samaki Walker averaged 4.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Brian Shaw contributed 3.5 points per game, and Mark Madsen provided with 3.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Did You Know?

• During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, Bryant and O'Neal were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team.
• Bryant and O'Neal were both named to the All-NBA First Team, while Bryant was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and O'Neal was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
• This season was overshadowed by the death of long-time Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn, who died at the age of 85 after a fall during the summer of 2002.