2001–02 Philadelphia 76ers season
The 2001–02 Philadelphia 76ers season was the team’s 53rd in the NBA. Led by coach Larry Brown, they played at the First Union Center and finished 43–39, placing fourth in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference to earn a playoff berth.
The season started poorly due to injuries and changes. Reigning MVP Allen Iverson, sixth man Aaron McKie, and point guard Eric Snow were sidelined at times, and center Matt Geiger retired early. The team opened with five straight losses, then recovered with a seven-game winning streak, only to slump again with a seven-game December skid, starting an 8–14 stretch.
Iverson led the way with 31.4 points per game, helping him earn a place on the All-NBA Second Team. Dikembe Mutombo averaged a double‑double and was named to the All-Defensive Team, while Iverson wore number 6 to honor Julius Erving during the All-Star weekend in Philadelphia. Other key contributors included Derrick Coleman (15.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG), Aaron McKie (12.2 PPG, 3.7 APG), Eric Snow (12.1 PPG, 6.6 APG), and Matt Harpring (11.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG).
In the 2002 playoffs, the Sixers faced the Boston Celtics in the first round. After dropping the first two games, Philadelphia won two at home to force a decisive Game 5, but lost 120–87, ending their run.
Attendance was strong, ranking third in the NBA. After the season, Mutombo was traded to the Nets, Harpring signed with the Jazz, and several other players changed teams or retired. The Sixers also made several offseason trades, reshaping the roster for the next year.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:39 (CET).