2002 NBA

1. Shaquille O’Neal: He was the Finals MVP for the 3^rd straight year.

He averaged 36-12-2.8 blk 59% FG and 67% FT as the Lakers swept the Nets.

He was named First team All-NBA, and finished 3^rd in the MVP voting.

O’Neal was 2^nd scoring (27.2) lead the league in FG% (58%), and was 5^th in field goals.

He also averaged 10 boards and 2 blocks per game (67 games).

 Shaq had 40 double doubles in 67 games (51-16 record).

 He had 31-14 in Game Two of 1^st round vs. Portland while shooting 12-20 FGs and 7-9 FTs.

O’Neal averaged 38 PPG 14 RPG 3 BPG 51%FG 75% FT in Game Six and Seven vs. Sacramento to help advance to the Finals.

The Lakers escaped past the Kings in a dramatic seven game series.

LA won 58 games and their 3^rd straight title. They went 15-4 in the playoffs. The Lakers were 3^rd in the NBA with 101 PPG. 

2. Tim Duncan: Was the MVP of the regular season.

He made All-NBA and All-Defense (4^th straight season).

Duncan was Player of the Month in December and April. He was a starting forward for the West All-Stars.

He played in all 82 games, and led the NBA in total rebounds and free throws.

The power forward was 5^th in scoring (25.5), second in rebounding (12.7), and 4^th in blocks (2.5 ).

Duncan played 40 minutes per game, 51% FG 80% FT and almost 4 assists per game.

He had 67 dbl-dbls.

He averaged 24-11-4-6 blks in Games 3 and 4 to close out Seattle.

Duncan had 27 points 17 rebounds 5 assists and 5 blocks in only win in 2^nd round vs. LA.

The MVP averaged 27-14-4-4.3 blocks (playoff leading) in nine playoff games.

San Antonio won 58 games, the Midwest Division and had the #2 seed in the West. They were knocked out by LA in the 2^nd round. The Spurs had the league’s best defense (90 PPG).

3. Jason Kidd: Was 1^st team All-NBA, 1^st All-Defense and 2^nd in the MVP.

He was named Player of Month in November and was the starting PG for the East in the All-Star game.

Kidd played in 82 games, and averaged 14.7 ppg, 10 apg and 7.3 rpg and 2 steals per game.

He was 2^nd in APG and 3^rd in SPG.

Kidd had 44 double-doubles and eight triple doubles in regular season.

He averaged 19-8-9 in 20 playoff games. 

He carried New Jersey with 31-8-7-4 steals in a 2 OT elimination Game 5 vs. Indiana.

The Nets point guard averaged 23.5 PPG 10.5 APG 9 RPG 2.5 SPG in Game 4-5 to knock out Charlotte.

He had 15-13-13 Game 6 clincher vs. Boston.

Kidd followed that with another triple double (23-10-10) in a 5 point loss to LA in Game One.

He averaged 21 points,10 assists, seven rebounds and 2.3 steals in the Finals vs. Lakers.

The Nets doubled their wins after adding J-Kidd in 2002. They won an East best 52 games, and the conference title for the first ever.