2002 NBA Finals
The 2002 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s championship series for the 2001–02 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers (who were also two-time defending NBA champions), and the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets. The Lakers swept the Nets, four games to none, to win the franchise's 14th NBA championship and third consecutive NBA championship. The 56th edition of the championship series was played between June 5 and 12 and was broadcast on NBC — the last NBA games broadcast on the network to date. Lakers coach Phil Jackson won his ninth ring, tying him with Red Auerbach for most all-time. During the series, he surpassed Pat Riley for most career playoffs wins with 156. Shaquille O'Neal of the Lakers was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the third consecutive year, after averaging 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.
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| Dates | June 5–12 | |||||||||
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| MVP | Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers) | |||||||||
| Hall of Famers | Lakers: Kobe Bryant (2020) Shaquille O'Neal (2016) Mitch Richmond (2014) Nets: Jason Kidd (2018) Coaches: Phil Jackson (2007) Tex Winter (2011) Officials: Dick Bavetta (2015) | |||||||||
| Eastern Finals | Nets defeated Celtics, 4–2 | |||||||||
| Western Finals | Lakers defeated Kings, 4–3 | |||||||||