[1] During the off-season, the Sonics signed free agents Calvin Booth,[2][3] and Jerome James.
However, they won 14 of their next 20 games and played above .500 for the remainder of the season, holding a 25–23 record at the All-Star break,[6] but lost six of their final eight games, finishing fourth in the Pacific Division with a 45–37 record, which was only a one-game improvement over the previous season where they missed the playoffs.
[7] Gary Payton averaged 22.1 points, 9.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
[22][23][24][25] Also following the season, Baker and Shammond Williams were both traded to the Boston Celtics,[26][27][28][29] and second round draft pick Earl Watson signed as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies.
[30][31] For the season, the Sonics changed their primary logo,[32] and added new uniforms,[33][34] going back to their traditional color scheme of emerald green and yellow.