The 2001–02 New York Knicks season was the 56th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the off-season, the Knicks acquired Shandon Anderson from the Houston Rockets and Howard Eisley from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade, and signed free agent Clarence Weatherspoon. Entering the season, the Knicks were without Larry Johnson, who retired during training camp due to lingering injuries, ending his 10-year career in the NBA. After a 10–9 start to the season, head coach Jeff Van Gundy unexpectedly resigned in December, explaining he had "diminished focus", though he would return to coach the Houston Rockets in the 2003–04 season. Don Chaney took over for Van Gundy. Under Chaney, the Knicks suffered an 8-game losing streak in January and went 20–43 f