The 2001–02 NBA season was the Pacers' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and 35th season as a franchise. During the off-season, the Pacers acquired first round draft pick Jamaal Tinsley from the Atlanta Hawks, who had acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies, and signed free agent Carlos Rogers. The Pacers won six of their first eight games, but then lost seven of their next nine games and played around .500 for most of the first half of the season, holding a 25–25 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded Jalen Rose and Travis Best to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Ron Artest, Brad Miller and Ron Mercer. 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 th