The 2001–02 NBA season was the Rockets' 35th season in the National Basketball Association, 31st season in the city of Houston, and their 27th and penultimate season at Compaq Center. In the 2001 NBA draft, the Rockets selected Richard Jefferson from the University of Arizona with the 13th pick, but soon traded him to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for top draft pick Eddie Griffin. During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Glen Rice from the New York Knicks, and re-acquired former Rockets forward Kevin Willis from the Milwaukee Bucks.