 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Pakati pekukakavadzana pakati pevamwe vatungamiriri Shaquille ONeal naKobe Bryant, iyo franchise yaive neimwe mwaka unoyevedza, ichipedza 5824 .707, yakanaka yechipiri muPacific Division uye ichiwana mbeu yechitatu muWestern Conference. Bryant naONeal vakasarudzwa kutanga mu2002 NBA All-Star Game, uko Bryant akakunda mukombe wemutambi anokosha zvikuru mumusha wake wePhiladelphia. Ivo vaviri vakaonekwa muAll-NBA First Team uye Bryant akaremekedzwa neNBA All-Defensive Second Team sarudzo. 