[1] During the off-season, the Pacers acquired first-round draft pick Jamaal Tinsley out of Iowa State University from the Atlanta Hawks, who had acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies,[2][3][4][5] and signed free agent Carlos Rogers.
[8][9][10][11] With a 37–40 record in mid April, the Pacers would win their final five games of the regular season, and sneak into the playoffs as the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference,[12][13] finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.
[14] Jermaine O'Neal was named Most Improved Player of the Year, averaging 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game;[15][16][17] he was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[23][24][25] Tinsley averaged 9.4 points, 8.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team,[26] and finished tied in third place in Rookie of the Year voting.
[31][32][33][34] The Nets would go on to reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games.