NBA Champions ·
2002 Los Angeles Lakers
The 2001-02 Lakers went 58-24 and swept the New Jersey Nets to finish a three-peat, the franchise's first since the early 1950s. Shaquille O'Neal took his third straight Finals MVP. The harder series came earlier, when Robert Horry's buzzer-beater in Game 4 saved them against Sacramento.
Los Angeles won 58 games and entered the playoffs as the two-time defending champion. O'Neal averaged 27.2 points and 10.7 rebounds, and Bryant added 25.2 as the partnership reached its peak.
The defining round was the Western Conference Finals against Sacramento, which had the league's best record. The Kings led the series and were seconds from going up 3-1 when Horry caught a loose ball at the top of the key and hit a three at the buzzer in Game 4. Los Angeles won the series in seven, the last game in overtime in Sacramento.
The Finals were a mismatch. The Nets, led by Jason Kidd, had no answer for O'Neal, who averaged 36 points and 12 rebounds. The Lakers won all four, closing 113-107 in New Jersey.
The sweep gave Los Angeles its second three-peat, the first since the Minneapolis Lakers of 1952 through 1954. O'Neal's third Finals MVP put him alongside Michael Jordan as the only players to win three in a row.
Championship roster
Featured in Ring Holders Club
| Player | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Fisher | PG | 72 |
| Kobe Bryant | SG | 93 |
| Rick Fox | SF | 75 |
| Robert Horry | PF | 76 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | C | 97 |
| Samaki Walker | 6th man | 72 |
| Phil Jackson | Coach | 92 |
Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.
Rest of the roster
| Player | Pos |
|---|---|
| Devean George | F |
| Lindsey Hunter | G |
| Brian Shaw | G |
| Mitch Richmond | G |
| Mark Madsen | F |
| Slava Medvedenko | F |