For the first time since 1997, all four late 80's expansion teams (Miami, Orlando, Charlotte, and Minnesota) made the playoffs.

The Toronto Raptors also won their first playoff series in franchise history with their 3–2 first round victory over the New York Knicks.

Coincidentally, this also marked the first time since 1996 that the Heat and the Knicks did not meet in the playoffs as both teams were eliminated in the first round by the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors, respectively.

2001 also marked the closest the Charlotte Hornets came to making the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a 3–2 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks before bowing out in seven games.

The Western Conference Semi–Finals series between the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also marked the start of the Mavericks–Spurs rivalry.

With their Western Conference Finals sweep of the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers went 11–0 through the first three rounds, extending their winning streak to 19 games (regular season and playoffs)).

The Lakers also equaled the previous records set by their 1989 team by winning their first 11 post–season games and sweeping three series in the post-season.

With their Game 5 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers won their 13th NBA championship.

The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the NBA, and they earned home-court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

San Antonio's 58 games remain tied for the lowest for a team with home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, being equal to the 2023 Milwaukee Bucks.