The 2001-02 NBA season was the 76ers 53rd season in the NBA and 39th season in Philadelphia. During the offseason, the Sixers re-acquired Derrick Coleman from the Charlotte Hornets in a three-team trade, acquired Matt Harpring from the Cleveland Cavaliers and signed free agent Derrick McKey. Having won the Eastern Conference Championship last season, reigning MVP Allen Iverson, Sixth Man Aaron McKie, and point guard Eric Snow were all sidelined due to injuries as the Sixers lost their first five games. Also just four games into the season, center Matt Geiger retired. However, when their players returned, they climbed back into playoff connection as they finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 43–39 record. Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, which Philadelphia hosted and Iverson wore number #6 in honor of Julius Erving.

The Sixers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics in five games. Following the season, Mutombo was traded to the New Jersey Nets, Harpring signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz and McKey retired.

During the offseason, the 76ers made multiple trades. On August 3, the organization traded Tyrone Hill to the Cleveland Cavaliers (where he had previously played four seasons) for Matt Harpring, Cedric Henderson, and Robert Traylor. On the same day, the 76ers would trade Roshown McLeod and a 2003 1st round draft pick to the Boston Celtics for Jérôme Moïso. Harpring would be Philadelphia's starting small forward for the season, while Henderson, Traylor, and Moïso would be traded before the season started.

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