2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 2000–01 NBA season was the 53rd season for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, and their 41st season in Los Angeles, California.^[1] The Lakers entered the regular season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals in six games, winning their twelfth NBA championship. During the off-season, the Lakers acquired Horace Grant from the Seattle SuperSonics;^[2][3][4][5] Grant won three championships with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s. The team also signed free agent Isaiah Rider, who was released by the Atlanta Hawks during the previous season due to off-the-court troubles,^[6][7][8][9] and signed Greg Foster, who had two NBA Finals appearances with the Utah Jazz.^[10]

2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	Phil Jackson
General manager	Mitch Kupchak
Owner(s)	Jerry Buss
Arena	Staples Center
Results
Record	56–26 (.683)
Place	Division: 1st (Pacific) Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA champions (Defeated 76ers 4–1)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	Fox Sports Net West, KCAL
Radio	AM 570 KLAC
< 1999–00 2001–02 >

Derek Fisher only played just 20 games due to a stress fracture in his right foot, which forced him to miss the first 62 games of the regular season,^[11][12] as the Lakers held a 31–16 record at the All-Star break,^[13] and won their final eight games of the season,^[14] finishing with a 56–26 record, winning the Pacific Division title over their rival, the Sacramento Kings by one game, and earning the #2 seed in the Western Conference.^[15]

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were both selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.,^{[16][17][18][19][20]} but O'Neal did not play due to a foot injury.^[21][22][23] O’Neal averaged 28.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Bryant averaged 28.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. In addition, Fisher provided the team with 11.5 points, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while Rick Fox contributed 9.6 points per game, and Grant provided with 8.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Rider contributed 7.6 points per game off the bench, while Ron Harper averaged 6.5 points per game, but only played just 47 games due to knee injuries,^[24] Brian Shaw contributed 5.3 points per game, and Robert Horry provided with 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.^[25]

Both O'Neal and Bryant were also selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, as O'Neal finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting with 7 first-place votes, while Bryant finished in ninth place.^{[26][27][28][29][30]}

In the 2001 NBA playoffs, the Lakers swept the Portland Trail Blazers in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round,^{[31][32][33][34]} swept the 3rd-seeded Kings in four straight games in the Western Conference Semi-finals,^{[35][36][37][38]} then swept the top–seeded San Antonio Spurs also in four straight games in the Western Conference Finals.^{[39][40][41][42]}

The Lakers went on to win the 2001 NBA Finals, 4–1 against regular season MVP Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers, earning the franchise its 13th NBA championship, and second consecutive title; O'Neal was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for the second straight year.^{[43][44][45][46][47]} It was the second of the Lakers' three-peat championships to begin the millennium. The Lakers would finish with the then-best postseason record in NBA history, posting a 15–1 record, suffering their only loss in a Game 1 overtime home loss to the 76ers at the Staples Center in the NBA Finals, 107–101.^[48][49][50] That record would last for 16 years until the Golden State Warriors went 16–1 in the 2017 playoffs.^[51]

Following the season, Grant re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Orlando Magic,^[52][53][54] while Rider signed with the Denver Nuggets,^[55][56] Tyronn Lue signed with the Washington Wizards,^[57][58] Foster was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,^[59][60][61] and Harper retired.^[62]

Draft picks

Main article: 2000 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	29	Mark Madsen	PF	United States	Stanford

Roster

2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G/F 8 Kobe Bryant 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1978–08–23 Lower Merion HS G 2 Derek Fisher 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1974–08–09 Little Rock C 40 Greg Foster 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–10–03 UTEP F 17 Rick Fox 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina F 3 Devean George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1977–08–29 Augsburg F/C 54 Horace Grant 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson G 4 Ron Harper 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1964–01–20 Miami (OH) F 5 Robert Horry 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama G 10 Tyronn Lue 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1977–05–03 Nebraska F 35 Mark Madsen 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976–01–28 Stanford F 14 Slava Medvedenko 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 1979–04–04 Ukraine C 34 Shaquille O'Neal 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 325 lb (147 kg) 1972–03–06 LSU G 12 Mike Penberthy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1974–11–29 Master's G 7 Isaiah Rider 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1971–03–12 UNLV G 20 Brian Shaw 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–03–22 UC Santa Barbara

Head coach Phil Jackson Assistant(s) Bill Bertka Jim Cleamons Frank Hamblen Tex Winter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: October 2, 2000

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	–	31–10	25–16	14–10
x-Sacramento Kings	55	27	.671	1	33–8	22–19	16–8
x-Phoenix Suns	51	31	.622	5	31–10	20–21	12–12
x-Portland Trail Blazers	50	32	.610	6	28–13	22–19	12–12
e-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	12	26–15	18–23	17–7
e-Los Angeles Clippers	31	51	378	25	22–19	9–32	9–15
e-Golden State Warriors	17	65	.207	39	11–30	6–35	4–20

Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	–
2	y-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	2
3	x-Sacramento Kings	55	27	.671	3
4	x-Utah Jazz	53	29	.646	5
5	x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	5
6	x-Phoenix Suns	51	31	.622	7
7	x-Portland Trail Blazers	50	32	.610	8
8	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	47	35	.573	11
9	e-Houston Rockets	45	37	.549	13
10	e-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	14
11	e-Denver Nuggets	40	42	.488	18
12	e-Los Angeles Clippers	31	51	.378	27
13	e-Vancouver Grizzlies	23	59	.280	35
14	e-Golden State Warriors	17	65	.207	41

Record vs. opponents

2000–01 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2
Boston	3–1	–	0–4	2–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	4–0	4–0	–	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	1–2	2–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2
Chicago	2–2	1–2	1–3	–	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	2–1
Cleveland	2–2	1–2	2–2	3–1	–	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	3–0	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	–	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0
Denver	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–3	–	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–3	4–0	1–1
Detroit	4–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	4–0	1–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–2
Golden State	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	–	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	3–1	–	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Indiana	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	–	2–0	1–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–4	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	0–2	–	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	–	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0
Miami	3–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–0	1–1	–	1–2	1–1	3–1	2–3	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–0
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–1	–	0–2	4–0	1–2	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
New Jersey	3–1	0–4	0–4	2–2	0–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	–	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
New York	2–2	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–1	2–0	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	1–3	–	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Philadelphia	3–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	3–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	4–0
Phoenix	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1
Portland	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	–	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	–	2–2	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	–	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	–	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0
Toronto	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–1	3–1	1–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	2–0	4–0
Utah	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–3	0–2	–	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	3–1	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	–	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–1	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Pre-season

2000 preseason game log Total: 3–5
Preseason Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 11 Charlotte L 90-103 Kobe Bryant (19) Shaquille O'Neal (9) Tyronn Lue (5) Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, LA) 16,994 0–1 2 October 12 Washington L 87-90 Kobe Bryant (19) Shaquille O'Neal (6) Shawn Respert (4) Pyramid Arena (Memphis, TN) 16,529 0–2 3 October 17 Phoenix L 78-86 Shaquille O'Neal (28) Kobe Bryant (10) Isaiah Rider (4) Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA) 16,512 0–3 4 October 19 Cleveland L 84-91 Kobe Bryant (18) Shaquille O'Neal (8) Shaquille O'Neal (4) Staples Center 15,717 0–4 5 October 20 Seattle W 103-98 Kobe Bryant (22) Shaquille O'Neal (19) Fox & Rider (4) Staples Center 15,570 1–4 6 October 22 Golden State W 94-87 Kobe Bryant (25) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Kobe Bryant (5) San Diego Sports Arena (San Diego, CA) 13,252 2–4 7 October 23 Sacramento L 111-118 Kobe Bryant (29) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Ron Harper (4) Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV) 17,561 2–5 8 October 26 @ Phoenix W 98-84 Kobe Bryant (22) Horace Grant (11) Rick Fox (7) American West Arena 17,308 3–5
2000–01 season schedule

Regular season

2000–01 game log Total: 56–26 (Home: 31–10; Road: 25–16)
October: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 31 @ Portland W 96–86 Shaquille O'Neal (36) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Ron Harper (6) Rose Garden 20,270 1–0
November: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 1 Utah L 92–97 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Isaiah Rider (6) Staples Center 18,997 1–1 3 November 4 @ Vancouver W 98–89 Shaquille O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (15) 3 players tied (5) General Motors Place 18,183 2–1 4 November 5 L.A. Clippers W 108–103 Shaquille O'Neal (39) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (6) Staples Center 18,997 3–1 5 November 7 @ Houston L 74–84 Shaquille O'Neal (24) Shaquille O'Neal (7) Shaquille O'Neal (5) Compaq Center 14,473 3–2 6 November 8 @ San Antonio L 81–91 Kobe Bryant (32) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Kobe Bryant (8) Alamodome 26,065 3–3 7 November 12 Houston W 105–99 Kobe Bryant (37) Kobe Bryant (10) Brian Shaw (4) Staples Center 18,997 4–3 8 November 14 Denver W 119–103 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Shaquille O'Neal (19) Kobe Bryant (9) Staples Center 18,997 5–3 9 November 16 @ Sacramento W 112–110 (OT) Shaquille O'Neal (33) Shaquille O'Neal (16) Brian Shaw (9) ARCO Arena 17,317 6–3 10 November 18 @ Denver L 86–87 Kobe Bryant (32) Horace Grant (12) 4 players tied (4) Pepsi Center 19,513 6–4 11 November 19 Chicago W 104–96 Kobe Bryant (22) Kobe Bryant (12) Brian Shaw (7) Staples Center 18,997 7–4 12 November 22 Golden State W 111–91 Kobe Bryant (31) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (7) Staples Center 18,208 8–4 13 November 24 Minnesota W 115–108 Kobe Bryant (29) Shaquille O'Neal (16) Bryant & O'Neal (5) Staples Center 18,997 9–4 14 November 27 @ L.A. Clippers W 98–83 Kobe Bryant (29) 3 players tied (7) Rick Fox (5) Staples Center 20,039 10–4 15 November 28 Indiana Pacers W 124–107 Kobe Bryant (37) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Fox & O'Neal (6) Staples Center 18,997 11–4 16 November 30 @ Seattle L 88–121 Shaquille O'Neal (23) Horace Grant (9) Rick Fox (5) KeyArena 17,072 11–5
December: 11–5 (home: 5–3; road: 6–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 1 San Antonio W 109–100 Kobe Bryant (43) Shaquille O'Neal (16) Bryant & Shaw (6) Staples Center 18,997 12–5 18 December 3 Dallas W 99–97 Kobe Bryant (38) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (6) Staples Center 18,997 13–5 19 December 5 Philadelphia W 96–85 Kobe Bryant (36) Shaquille O'Neal (20) Shaquille O'Neal (6) Staples Center 18,997 14–5 20 December 6 @ Golden State L 122–125 (OT) Kobe Bryant (51) Harper & O'Neal (10) Ron Harper (10) The Arena in Oakland 19,273 14–6 21 December 8 Seattle L 95–103 Shaquille O'Neal (26) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Grant & O'Neal (5) Staples Center 18,997 14–7 22 December 10 Detroit W 112–88 Bryant & O'Neal (26) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Bryant & Fox (9) Staples Center 18,997 15–7 23 December 12 Milwaukee L 105–109 Shaquille O'Neal (26) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Bryant & O'Neal (6) Staples Center 18,997 15–8 24 December 13 @ Portland L 86–96 Kobe Bryant (35) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Kobe Bryant (6) Rose Garden 20,491 15–9 25 December 15 Vancouver W 98–76 Horace Grant (19) Horace Grant (13) Grant & Harper (5) Staples Center 18,211 16–9 26 December 17 @ Toronto W 104–101 (OT) Kobe Bryant (40) Shaquille O'Neal (8) Rick Fox (5) Air Canada Centre 19,800 17–9 27 December 19 @ Miami W 81–79 Kobe Bryant (23) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (6) American Airlines Arena 19,600 18–9 28 December 21 @ Houston W 99–94 Kobe Bryant (45) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Brian Shaw (7) Compaq Center 16,285 19–9 29 December 22 @ Dallas W 108–103 Kobe Bryant (35) Rick Fox (12) Isaiah Rider (5) Reunion Arena 18,201 20–9 30 December 25 Portland L 104–109 Shaquille O'Neal (32) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Kobe Bryant (6) Staples Center 18,997 20–10 31 December 28 @ Phoenix W 115–78 Kobe Bryant (38) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Shaquille O'Neal (4) America West Arena 19,023 21–10 32 December 30 @ L.A. Clippers W 116–114 (OT) Shaquille O'Neal (29) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Rick Fox (9) Staples Center 20,327 22–10
January: 6–6 (home: 5–2; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 January 3 Utah W 82–71 Kobe Bryant (31) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Bryant & Fox (4) Staples Center 18,997 23–10 34 January 7 L.A. Clippers L 95–118 Shaquille O'Neal (33) Horace Grant (10) Shaquille O'Neal (5) Staples Center 18,997 23–11 35 January 12 Cleveland W 101–98 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Shaquille O'Neal (23) Bryant & Shaw (5) Staples Center 18,997 24–11 36 January 13 @ Utah L 103–111 Shaquille O'Neal (30) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Harper & O'Neal (5) Delta Center 19,911 24–12 37 January 15 Vancouver W 113–112 (OT) Shaquille O'Neal (31) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Kobe Bryant (11) Staples Center 18,318 25–12 38 January 19 Houston W 114–101 Shaquille O'Neal (41) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Brian Shaw (5) Staples Center 18,997 26–12 39 January 21 Miami L 92–103 Kobe Bryant (34) Bryant & O'Neal (8) Shaquille O'Neal (3) Staples Center 18,997 26–13 40 January 23 @ Seattle L 80–91 Shaquille O'Neal (29) Shaquille O'Neal (9) Kobe Bryant (5) KeyArena 17,072 26–14 41 January 26 New Jersey W 113–101 Bryant & O'Neal (26) Bryant & O'Neal (9) Shaquille O'Neal (8) Staples Center 18,997 27–14 42 January 28 @ New York L 81–91 Kobe Bryant (33) Bryant & Horry (11) Tyronn Lue (4) Madison Square Garden 19,763 27–15 43 January 30 @ Cleveland W 102–96 Kobe Bryant (47) Horace Grant (14) Bryant & Harper (3) Gund Arena 20,253 28–15 44 January 31 @ Minnesota L 83–96 Kobe Bryant (24) Kobe Bryant (9) Bryant & Horry (5) Target Center 19,006 28–16
February: 9–3 (home: 5–0; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2 Charlotte W 93–87 Kobe Bryant (44) Kobe Bryant (9) Brian Shaw (4) Staples Center 18,710 29–16 46 February 4 Sacramento W 100–94 Kobe Bryant (26) Kobe Bryant (11) Fox & Grant (5) Staples Center 18,997 30–16 47 February 7 Phoenix W 85–83 Kobe Bryant (32) Kobe Bryant (8) Kobe Bryant (9) Staples Center 18,997 31–16 All-Star Break 48 February 13 @ New Jersey W 113–110 (OT) Kobe Bryant (38) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Fox & O'Neal (6) Continental Airlines Arena 20,049 32–16 49 February 14 @ Philadelphia L 97–112 Shaquille O'Neal (29) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Kobe Bryant (7) First Union Center 21,005 32–17 50 February 16 @ Charlotte W 99–94 Shaquille O'Neal (38) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Kobe Bryant (10) Charlotte Coliseum 19,925 33–17 51 February 18 @ Indiana L 109–110 Shaquille O'Neal (35) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Kobe Bryant (9) Conseco Fieldhouse 18,345 33–18 52 February 20 @ Dallas W 119–109 Shaquille O'Neal (29) Horace Grant (12) Kobe Bryant (7) Reunion Arena 18,287 34–18 53 February 21 @ San Antonio W 101–99 Shaquille O'Neal (22) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Shaquille O'Neal (7) Alamodome 29,849 35–18 54 February 23 Atlanta W 113–106 Shaquille O'Neal (30) Horry & O'Neal (8) Fox & O'Neal (8) Staples Center 18,997 36–18 55 February 25 Orlando W 106–100 Shaquille O'Neal (37) Shaquille O'Neal (19) Shaquille O'Neal (6) Staples Center 18,997 37–18 56 February 28 @ Denver L 101–107 Kobe Bryant (38) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Rick Fox (8) Pepsi Center 19,566 37–19
March: 11–6 (home: 5–3; road: 6–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 March 3 @ Vancouver W 98–88 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Horace Grant (15) Brian Shaw (9) General Motors Place 19,193 38–19 58 March 4 Golden State W 110–95 Shaquille O'Neal (26) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Kobe Bryant (5) Staples Center 18,997 39–19 59 March 6 @ Golden State W 97–85 Kobe Bryant (29) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Brian Shaw (9) The Arena in Oakland 20,181 40–19 60 March 7 Toronto W 97–85 Kobe Bryant (29) 3 players tied (10) Bryant & Shaw (5) Staples Center 18,997 41–19 61 March 9 San Antonio L 89–93 (OT) Kobe Bryant (38) Shaquille O'Neal (16) 4 players tied (2) Staples Center 18,997 41–20 62 March 11 Seattle L 97–109 (OT) Shaquille O'Neal (29) Brian Shaw (10) Brian Shaw (7) Staples Center 18,997 41–21 63 March 13 Boston W 112–107 Shaquille O'Neal (28) Brian Shaw (12) Derek Fisher (8) Staples Center 18,997 42–21 64 March 15 @ Detroit W 125–119 (OT) Kobe Bryant (39) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Kobe Bryant (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076 43–21 65 March 16 @ Washington W 101–89 Kobe Bryant (26) Robert Horry (9) Derek Fisher (6) MCI Center 20,674 44–21 66 March 18 @ Orlando W 95–90 Shaquille O'Neal (33) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Kobe Bryant (7) TD Waterhouse Centre 17,248 45–21 67 March 19 @ Atlanta L 106–108 Bryant & O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Derek Fisher (6) Philips Arena 17,248 45–22 68 March 21 @ Milwaukee L 100–107 Shaquille O'Neal (36) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Kobe Bryant (8) Bradley Center 18,717 45–23 69 March 23 Washington W 104–91 Shaquille O'Neal (40) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Shaquille O'Neal (8) Staples Center 18,997 46–23 70 March 25 @ Sacramento W 84–72 Shaquille O'Neal (23) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Fox & Shaw (4) ARCO Arena 17,317 47–23 71 March 26 @ Phoenix L 83–104 Shaquille O'Neal (27) Shaquille O'Neal (12) O'Neal & Shaw (3) America West Arena 19,023 47–24 72 March 28 Sacramento L 84–108 Shaquille O'Neal (33) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Rick Fox (8) Staples Center 18,997 47–25 73 March 30 Dallas W 98–89 Shaquille O'Neal (35) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Rick Fox (8) Staples Center 18,997 48–25
April: 8–1 (home: 4–1; road: 4–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 1 New York L 78–79 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Horace Grant (12) Rick Fox (4) Staples Center 18,997 48–26 75 April 3 @ Utah W 96–88 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Shaquille O'Neal (11) 3 players tied (5) Delta Center 19,911 49–26 76 April 5 @ Chicago W 100–88 Shaquille O'Neal (39) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Derek Fisher (7) United Center 23,217 50–26 77 April 6 @ Boston W 100–96 Shaquille O'Neal (39) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Brian Shaw (9) FleetCenter 18,624 51–26 78 April 8 @ Minnesota W 104–99 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Brian Shaw (7) Target Center 20,099 52–26 79 April 10 Phoenix W 106–80 Shaquille O'Neal (32) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Brian Shaw (10) Staples Center 18,997 53–26 80 April 12 Minnesota W 119–102 Shaquille O'Neal (31) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Kobe Bryant (9) Staples Center 18,997 54–26 81 April 15 Portland W 105–100 Shaquille O'Neal (33) Shaquille O'Neal (18) Kobe Bryant (7) Staples Center 18,997 55–26 82 April 17 Denver W 108–91 Shaquille O'Neal (33) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Kobe Bryant (5) Staples Center 18,997 56–26
2000–01 season schedule

Playoffs

2001 playoff game log Total: 15–1 (Home: 7–1; Road: 8–0)
First round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 22 Portland W 106–93 Kobe Bryant (28) Shaquille O'Neal (20) Kobe Bryant (7) Staples Center 18,997 1–0 2 April 26 Portland W 106–88 Shaquille O'Neal (32) Shaquille O'Neal (12) Kobe Bryant (7) Staples Center 18,997 2–0 3 April 29 @ Portland W 99–86 Shaquille O'Neal (25) Shaquille O'Neal (15) Kobe Bryant (9) Rose Garden 20,580 3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 6 Sacramento W 108–105 Shaquille O'Neal (44) Shaquille O'Neal (21) Kobe Bryant (5) Staples Center 18,997 1–0 2 May 8 Sacramento W 96–90 Shaquille O'Neal (43) Shaquille O'Neal (20) Rick Fox (7) Staples Center 18,997 2–0 3 May 11 @ Sacramento W 103–81 Kobe Bryant (36) Shaquille O'Neal (18) Brian Shaw (6) ARCO Arena 17,317 3–0 4 May 13 @ Sacramento W 119–113 Kobe Bryant (48) Kobe Bryant (16) Brian Shaw (5) ARCO Arena 17,317 4–0
Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 19 @ San Antonio W 104–90 Kobe Bryant (45) Shaquille O'Neal (11) Horace Grant (6) Alamodome 36,068 1–0 2 May 21 @ San Antonio W 88–81 Kobe Bryant (28) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (6) Alamodome 35,574 2–0 3 May 25 San Antonio W 111–72 Kobe Bryant (36) Shaquille O'Neal (17) Kobe Bryant (8) Staples Center 18,997 3–0 4 May 27 San Antonio W 111–82 Derek Fisher (28) Shaquille O'Neal (10) Kobe Bryant (11) Staples Center 18,997 4–0
NBA Finals: 4–1 (home: 1–1; road: 3–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 June 6 Philadelphia L 101–107 (OT) Shaquille O'Neal (44) Shaquille O'Neal (20) 3 players tied (5) Staples Center 18,997 0–1 2 June 8 Philadelphia W 98–89 Kobe Bryant (31) Shaquille O'Neal (20) Shaquille O'Neal (9) Staples Center 18,997 1–1 3 June 10 @ Philadelphia W 96–91 Kobe Bryant (32) Shaquille O'Neal (12) 4 players tied (3) First Union Center 20,900 2–1 4 June 13 @ Philadelphia W 100–86 Shaquille O'Neal (34) Shaquille O'Neal (14) Kobe Bryant (9) First Union Center 20,896 3–1 5 June 15 @ Philadelphia W 108–96 Shaquille O'Neal (29) Shaquille O'Neal (13) Bryant & Fox (6) First Union Center 20,890 4–1
2001 schedule

NBA Finals

• By winning the Finals MVP award, Shaquille O'Neal joined the list of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win the award at least twice. Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard have since joined the list. Jordan, Olajuwon, O'Neal, Bryant, James, and Durant are the only six to win the award in back-to-back years.
• The Lakers at the time had achieved the best ever NBA postseason record of 15–1, sweeping the Western Conference and then sweeping the 76ers after their Game 1 loss in the Finals. On June 12, 2017, the Golden State Warriors had surpassed this feat, as they would go 16–1, after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals. The Lakers' postseason record was made before the first round of playoffs was extended to be the best-of-7 format which was implemented in the 2003 NBA Playoffs.
• This Laker team still holds the title of best road record in a single postseason, at 8–0.

Summary

The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.

Team	Game 1*	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Wins
Los Angeles (West)	101	98	96	100	108	4
Philadelphia (East)	107	89	91	86	96	1

∗ denotes a game that required overtime.

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Kobe Bryant	68	68	40.9	.464	.305	.853	5.9	5.0	1.68	.63	28.5
Derek Fisher	20	20	35.5	.412	.397	.806	3.0	4.4	1.95	.10	11.5
Greg Foster	62	8	7.3	.421	.333	.714	1.8	.5	.15	.19	2.0
Rick Fox	82	77	27.9	.444	.393	.779	4.0	3.2	.85	.35	9.6
Devean George	59	1	10.1	.309	.221	.709	1.9	.3	.25	.25	3.1
Horace Grant	77	77	31.0	.462	.000	.775	7.1	1.6	.66	.79	8.5
Ron Harper	47	46	24.2	.469	.264	.708	3.5	2.4	.83	.53	6.5
Robert Horry	79	1	20.1	.387	.346	.711	3.7	1.6	.68	.68	5.2
Tyronn Lue	38	1	12.3	.427	.324	.792	.8	1.2	.50	.00	3.4
Mark Madsen	70	3	9.2	.487	1.000	.703	2.2	.3	.11	.11	2.0
Slava Medvedenko	7	0	5.6	.480	1.000	.583	1.3	.3	.14	.14	4.6
Shaquille O'Neal	74	74	39.5	.572	.000	.513	12.7	3.7	.64	2.76	28.7
Mike Penberthy	53	0	16.1	.414	.396	.903	1.2	1.3	.42	.04	5.0
Isaiah Rider	67	6	18.0	.426	.370	.855	2.3	1.7	.40	.10	7.6
Brian Shaw	80	28	22.9	.399	.311	.797	3.8	3.2	.61	.34	5.3

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Kobe Bryant	16	16	43.4	.469	.324	.821	7.3	6.1	1.56	.75	29.4
Derek Fisher	16	16	36.0	.484	.515	.765	3.8	3.0	1.31	.06	13.4
Greg Foster	1	0	3.0	.000	.000	.000	1.0	.0	.00	.00	.0
Rick Fox	16	16	35.8	.450	.316	.867	4.9	3.6	1.94	.44	10.0
Devean George	7	0	3.9	.500	.500	.500	.7	.1	.00	.00	2.0
Horace Grant	16	16	26.4	.385	.000	.733	6.0	1.2	.94	.81	6.0
Ron Harper	6	0	7.0	.500	.250	.667	1.3	.7	.67	.17	2.2
Robert Horry	16	0	23.9	.368	.362	.591	5.2	1.9	1.38	1.00	5.9
Tyronn Lue	15	0	8.7	.345	.385	.800	.7	.7	.80	.07	1.9
Mark Madsen	13	0	3.7	.077	.000	.600	.8	.3	.00	.15	.4
Shaquille O'Neal	16	16	42.3	.555	.000	.525	15.4	3.2	.44	2.38	30.4
Brian Shaw	16	0	18.1	.375	.345	.667	3.4	2.7	.63	.06	4.4

Player Statistics Citation:^[25]

Award winners

• Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Second Team
• Kobe Bryant, All-NBA Defensive Second Team
• Shaquille O'Neal, Center, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
• Shaquille O'Neal, League Leader, FG%, 57.2
• Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA First Team
• Shaquille O'Neal, All-NBA Defensive Second Team

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