2008β09 NBA season | |
---|---|
League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Duration | October 28, 2008 β April 16, 2009 April 18 β May 30, 2009 (Playoffs) June 4 β 14, 2009 (Finals) |
Number of games | 82 |
Number of teams | 30 |
TV partner(s) | ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV |
Draft | |
Top draft pick | Derrick Rose |
Picked by | Chicago Bulls |
Regular season | |
Top seed | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Season MVP | LeBron James (Cleveland) |
Top scorer | Dwyane Wade ( Miami) |
Playoffs | |
Eastern champions | Orlando Magic |
Eastern runners-up | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Western champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
Western runners-up | Denver Nuggets |
Finals | |
Champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
Runners-up | Orlando Magic |
Finals MVP | Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) |
The 2008β09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, four games to one.
The 2008 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2008, and Derrick Rose was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls and eventually was awarded the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was hosted at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 146β119. The All-Star Game co-MVPs were Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. [1]
This was the first NBA season since 1966β67 without a Seattle franchise, as the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in July 2008 and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Offseason | ||
---|---|---|
Team | 2007β08 coach | 2008β09 coach |
Charlotte Bobcats | Sam Vincent | Larry Brown |
Chicago Bulls | Jim Boylan | Vinny Del Negro |
Milwaukee Bucks | Larry Krystkowiak | Scott Skiles |
Miami Heat | Pat Riley | Erik Spoelstra |
New York Knicks | Isiah Thomas | Mike D'Antoni |
Dallas Mavericks | Avery Johnson | Rick Carlisle |
Detroit Pistons | Flip Saunders | Michael Curry |
Phoenix Suns | Mike D'Antoni | Terry Porter |
In-season | ||
Team | Outgoing coach | New coach |
Oklahoma City Thunder | P. J. Carlesimo | Scott Brooks (interim) |
Washington Wizards | Eddie Jordan | Ed Tapscott (interim) |
Toronto Raptors | Sam Mitchell | Jay Triano (interim) |
Minnesota Timberwolves | Randy Wittman | Kevin McHale (interim) |
Philadelphia 76ers | Maurice Cheeks | Tony DiLeo (interim) |
Sacramento Kings | Reggie Theus | Kenny Natt (interim) |
Memphis Grizzlies | Marc Iavaroni | Lionel Hollins |
Phoenix Suns | Terry Porter | Alvin Gentry (interim) |
July
October
December
January
February
NBA All-Star Break
The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was played at the US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, on February 15, 2009, with the West winning 146β119 and the Phoenix Suns'
Shaquille O'Neal and Los Angeles Lakers'
Kobe Bryant being named the Co-MVPs. During the NBA All-Star Weekend,
Nate Robinson of the
New York Knicks won the Sprite Slam Dunk competition;
Kevin Durant, who won the Rookie Challenge MVP, also won the inaugural
H.O.R.S.E Competition and Miami's
Daequan Cook beat
Rashard Lewis in a tiebreaker to win the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout.
March
April
May
June
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | β | 35β6 | 27β14 | 15β1 |
x- Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 24β17 | 17β24 | 6β10 |
New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 | 19β22 | 15β26 | 8β8 |
Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 29 | 18β23 | 15β26 | 6β10 |
New York Knicks | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | 20β21 | 12β29 | 5β11 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
z- Cleveland Cavaliers | 66 | 16 | .805 | β | 39β2 | 27β14 | 13β3 | 82 |
x- Chicago Bulls | 41 | 41 | .500 | 25 | 28β13 | 13β28 | 9β7 | 82 |
x- Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 27 | 21β20 | 18β23 | 7β9 | 82 |
Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 30 | 25β16 | 11β30 | 7β9 | 82 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 34 | 48 | .415 | 32 | 22β19 | 12β29 | 4β12 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Orlando Magic | 59 | 23 | .720 | β | 32β9 | 27β14 | 14β2 | 82 |
x- Atlanta Hawks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 12 | 31β10 | 16β25 | 11β5 | 82 |
x- Miami Heat | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16 | 28β13 | 15β26 | 9β7 | 82 |
Charlotte Bobcats | 35 | 47 | .427 | 24 | 23β18 | 12β29 | 5β11 | 82 |
Washington Wizards | 19 | 63 | .232 | 40 | 13β28 | 6β35 | 1β15 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
yβ Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | β | 33β8 | 21β20 | 12β4 | 82 |
xβ Portland Trail Blazers | 54 | 28 | .659 | β | 34β7 | 20β21 | 11β5 | 82 |
xβ Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 | 33β8 | 15β26 | 10β6 | 82 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | 11β30 | 13β28 | 3β13 | 82 |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 23 | 59 | .280 | 31 | 15β26 | 8β33 | 4β12 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
c- Los Angeles Lakers | 65 | 17 | .793 | β | 36β5 | 29β12 | 14β2 | 82 |
Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19 | 28β13 | 18β23 | 11β5 | 82 |
Golden State Warriors | 29 | 53 | .354 | 36 | 21β20 | 8β33 | 6β10 | 82 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 19 | 63 | .232 | 46 | 11β30 | 8β33 | 2β14 | 82 |
Sacramento Kings | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 | 11β30 | 6β39 | 7β9 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- San Antonio Spurs | 54 | 28 | .659 | β | 28β13 | 26β15 | 10β6 |
x- Houston Rockets | 53 | 29 | .646 | 1 | 33β8 | 20β21 | 9β7 |
x- Dallas Mavericks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 4 | 32β9 | 18β23 | 7β9 |
x- New Orleans Hornets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 5 | 28β13 | 21β20 | 9β7 |
Memphis Grizzlies | 24 | 58 | .284 | 30 | 16β25 | 8β33 | 5β11 |
|
|
x- clinched playoff berth
y- clinched division title
c- clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
z- clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.
First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E8 | Detroit | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E5 | Miami | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E6 | Philadelphia | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E2 | Boston* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E2 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E7 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W8 | Utah | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W5 | Houston | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
W4 | Portland | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
W5 | Houston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
W2 | Denver* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
W3 | San Antonio* | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W6 | Dallas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W6 | Dallas | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Denver* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Denver* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W7 | New Orleans | 1 |
Category | Player | Team | Stat
Bold- NBA record |
---|---|---|---|
Points per game | Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat | 30.2 |
Rebounds per game | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic | 13.8 |
Assists per game | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets | 11.0 |
Steals per game | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets | 2.77 |
Blocks per game | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic | 2.92 |
Field goal percentage | Shaquille O'Neal | Phoenix Suns | .609 |
Three-point field goal percentage | Anthony Morrow | Golden State Warriors | .467 |
Free throw percentage | JosΓ© CalderΓ³n | Toronto Raptors | .981 |
|
|
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
October β November | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/4) | Chris Paul ( New Orleans Hornets) (1/2) | |
December | Dwyane Wade ( Miami Heat) (1/2) | Kobe Bryant ( Los Angeles Lakers) (1/2) | |
January | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/4) | Kobe Bryant ( Los Angeles Lakers) (2/2) | |
February | Dwyane Wade ( Miami Heat) (2/2) | Pau Gasol ( Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) | |
March | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/4) | Chris Paul ( New Orleans Hornets) (2/2) | |
April | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (4/4) | Dirk Nowitzki ( Dallas Mavericks) (1/1) |
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
October β November | Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls) (1/3) | O. J. Mayo ( Memphis Grizzlies) (1/2) | [54] |
December | Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls) (2/3) | Russell Westbrook ( Oklahoma City Thunder) (1/2) | [55] |
January | Brook Lopez ( New Jersey Nets) (1/2) | Eric Gordon ( Los Angeles Clippers) (1/1) | [56] |
February | Brook Lopez ( New Jersey Nets) (2/2) | Russell Westbrook ( Oklahoma City Thunder) (2/2) | [57] |
March | Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls) (3/3) | Kevin Love ( Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) | [58] |
April | Michael Beasley ( Miami Heat) (1/1) | O. J. Mayo ( Memphis Grizzlies) (2/2) | [59] [60] |
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
October β November | Doc Rivers ( Boston Celtics) (1/2) | Phil Jackson ( Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) | |
December | Mike Brown ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/3) | Byron Scott ( New Orleans Hornets) (1/1) | |
January | Stan Van Gundy ( Orlando Magic) (1/1) | Kevin McHale ( Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) | |
February | Mike Brown ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/3) | Jerry Sloan ( Utah Jazz) (1/1) | |
March | Mike Brown ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/3) | Rick Adelman ( Houston Rockets) (1/1) | |
April | Doc Rivers ( Boston Celtics) (2/2) | Nate McMillan ( Portland Trail Blazers) (1/1) |
The NBA announced that the salary cap for the season would be $58.680 million, immediately going into effect on July 9 as the league's "moratorium period" had ended and teams could begin signing free agents and making trades. [61]
The tax level for the season was set at $71.150 million, with each team paying a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million. The mid-level exception was $5.585 million for the season and the minimum team salary, which was set at 75% of the salary cap, was $44.010 million. [61]
For the 2007β08 season, the salary cap was set at $55.630 million ($3.05 million), the tax level was $67.865 million ($3.285 million) and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million ($229,000). [61]
Media related to 2008β09 NBA season at Wikimedia Commons
2008β09 NBA season | |
---|---|
League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Duration | October 28, 2008 β April 16, 2009 April 18 β May 30, 2009 (Playoffs) June 4 β 14, 2009 (Finals) |
Number of games | 82 |
Number of teams | 30 |
TV partner(s) | ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV |
Draft | |
Top draft pick | Derrick Rose |
Picked by | Chicago Bulls |
Regular season | |
Top seed | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Season MVP | LeBron James (Cleveland) |
Top scorer | Dwyane Wade ( Miami) |
Playoffs | |
Eastern champions | Orlando Magic |
Eastern runners-up | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Western champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
Western runners-up | Denver Nuggets |
Finals | |
Champions | Los Angeles Lakers |
Runners-up | Orlando Magic |
Finals MVP | Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) |
The 2008β09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, four games to one.
The 2008 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2008, and Derrick Rose was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls and eventually was awarded the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was hosted at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Western Conference All-Stars defeated the Eastern Conference All-Stars 146β119. The All-Star Game co-MVPs were Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. [1]
This was the first NBA season since 1966β67 without a Seattle franchise, as the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in July 2008 and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Offseason | ||
---|---|---|
Team | 2007β08 coach | 2008β09 coach |
Charlotte Bobcats | Sam Vincent | Larry Brown |
Chicago Bulls | Jim Boylan | Vinny Del Negro |
Milwaukee Bucks | Larry Krystkowiak | Scott Skiles |
Miami Heat | Pat Riley | Erik Spoelstra |
New York Knicks | Isiah Thomas | Mike D'Antoni |
Dallas Mavericks | Avery Johnson | Rick Carlisle |
Detroit Pistons | Flip Saunders | Michael Curry |
Phoenix Suns | Mike D'Antoni | Terry Porter |
In-season | ||
Team | Outgoing coach | New coach |
Oklahoma City Thunder | P. J. Carlesimo | Scott Brooks (interim) |
Washington Wizards | Eddie Jordan | Ed Tapscott (interim) |
Toronto Raptors | Sam Mitchell | Jay Triano (interim) |
Minnesota Timberwolves | Randy Wittman | Kevin McHale (interim) |
Philadelphia 76ers | Maurice Cheeks | Tony DiLeo (interim) |
Sacramento Kings | Reggie Theus | Kenny Natt (interim) |
Memphis Grizzlies | Marc Iavaroni | Lionel Hollins |
Phoenix Suns | Terry Porter | Alvin Gentry (interim) |
July
October
December
January
February
NBA All-Star Break
The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was played at the US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, on February 15, 2009, with the West winning 146β119 and the Phoenix Suns'
Shaquille O'Neal and Los Angeles Lakers'
Kobe Bryant being named the Co-MVPs. During the NBA All-Star Weekend,
Nate Robinson of the
New York Knicks won the Sprite Slam Dunk competition;
Kevin Durant, who won the Rookie Challenge MVP, also won the inaugural
H.O.R.S.E Competition and Miami's
Daequan Cook beat
Rashard Lewis in a tiebreaker to win the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout.
March
April
May
June
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | β | 35β6 | 27β14 | 15β1 |
x- Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 24β17 | 17β24 | 6β10 |
New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 28 | 19β22 | 15β26 | 8β8 |
Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 29 | 18β23 | 15β26 | 6β10 |
New York Knicks | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | 20β21 | 12β29 | 5β11 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
z- Cleveland Cavaliers | 66 | 16 | .805 | β | 39β2 | 27β14 | 13β3 | 82 |
x- Chicago Bulls | 41 | 41 | .500 | 25 | 28β13 | 13β28 | 9β7 | 82 |
x- Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 27 | 21β20 | 18β23 | 7β9 | 82 |
Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 30 | 25β16 | 11β30 | 7β9 | 82 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 34 | 48 | .415 | 32 | 22β19 | 12β29 | 4β12 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- Orlando Magic | 59 | 23 | .720 | β | 32β9 | 27β14 | 14β2 | 82 |
x- Atlanta Hawks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 12 | 31β10 | 16β25 | 11β5 | 82 |
x- Miami Heat | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16 | 28β13 | 15β26 | 9β7 | 82 |
Charlotte Bobcats | 35 | 47 | .427 | 24 | 23β18 | 12β29 | 5β11 | 82 |
Washington Wizards | 19 | 63 | .232 | 40 | 13β28 | 6β35 | 1β15 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
yβ Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | β | 33β8 | 21β20 | 12β4 | 82 |
xβ Portland Trail Blazers | 54 | 28 | .659 | β | 34β7 | 20β21 | 11β5 | 82 |
xβ Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 | 33β8 | 15β26 | 10β6 | 82 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | 11β30 | 13β28 | 3β13 | 82 |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 23 | 59 | .280 | 31 | 15β26 | 8β33 | 4β12 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
c- Los Angeles Lakers | 65 | 17 | .793 | β | 36β5 | 29β12 | 14β2 | 82 |
Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19 | 28β13 | 18β23 | 11β5 | 82 |
Golden State Warriors | 29 | 53 | .354 | 36 | 21β20 | 8β33 | 6β10 | 82 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 19 | 63 | .232 | 46 | 11β30 | 8β33 | 2β14 | 82 |
Sacramento Kings | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 | 11β30 | 6β39 | 7β9 | 82 |
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y- San Antonio Spurs | 54 | 28 | .659 | β | 28β13 | 26β15 | 10β6 |
x- Houston Rockets | 53 | 29 | .646 | 1 | 33β8 | 20β21 | 9β7 |
x- Dallas Mavericks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 4 | 32β9 | 18β23 | 7β9 |
x- New Orleans Hornets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 5 | 28β13 | 21β20 | 9β7 |
Memphis Grizzlies | 24 | 58 | .284 | 30 | 16β25 | 8β33 | 5β11 |
|
|
x- clinched playoff berth
y- clinched division title
c- clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
z- clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.
First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E8 | Detroit | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
E4 | Atlanta | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E5 | Miami | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E1 | Cleveland* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E6 | Philadelphia | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E2 | Boston* | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E2 | Boston* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
E7 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
E3 | Orlando* | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W8 | Utah | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W5 | Houston | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
W4 | Portland | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
W5 | Houston | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W1 | LA Lakers* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
W2 | Denver* | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
W3 | San Antonio* | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W6 | Dallas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W6 | Dallas | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Denver* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Denver* | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
W7 | New Orleans | 1 |
Category | Player | Team | Stat
Bold- NBA record |
---|---|---|---|
Points per game | Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat | 30.2 |
Rebounds per game | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic | 13.8 |
Assists per game | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets | 11.0 |
Steals per game | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets | 2.77 |
Blocks per game | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic | 2.92 |
Field goal percentage | Shaquille O'Neal | Phoenix Suns | .609 |
Three-point field goal percentage | Anthony Morrow | Golden State Warriors | .467 |
Free throw percentage | JosΓ© CalderΓ³n | Toronto Raptors | .981 |
|
|
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
October β November | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/4) | Chris Paul ( New Orleans Hornets) (1/2) | |
December | Dwyane Wade ( Miami Heat) (1/2) | Kobe Bryant ( Los Angeles Lakers) (1/2) | |
January | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/4) | Kobe Bryant ( Los Angeles Lakers) (2/2) | |
February | Dwyane Wade ( Miami Heat) (2/2) | Pau Gasol ( Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) | |
March | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/4) | Chris Paul ( New Orleans Hornets) (2/2) | |
April | LeBron James ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (4/4) | Dirk Nowitzki ( Dallas Mavericks) (1/1) |
The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
October β November | Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls) (1/3) | O. J. Mayo ( Memphis Grizzlies) (1/2) | [54] |
December | Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls) (2/3) | Russell Westbrook ( Oklahoma City Thunder) (1/2) | [55] |
January | Brook Lopez ( New Jersey Nets) (1/2) | Eric Gordon ( Los Angeles Clippers) (1/1) | [56] |
February | Brook Lopez ( New Jersey Nets) (2/2) | Russell Westbrook ( Oklahoma City Thunder) (2/2) | [57] |
March | Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls) (3/3) | Kevin Love ( Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) | [58] |
April | Michael Beasley ( Miami Heat) (1/1) | O. J. Mayo ( Memphis Grizzlies) (2/2) | [59] [60] |
The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
October β November | Doc Rivers ( Boston Celtics) (1/2) | Phil Jackson ( Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1) | |
December | Mike Brown ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/3) | Byron Scott ( New Orleans Hornets) (1/1) | |
January | Stan Van Gundy ( Orlando Magic) (1/1) | Kevin McHale ( Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) | |
February | Mike Brown ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/3) | Jerry Sloan ( Utah Jazz) (1/1) | |
March | Mike Brown ( Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/3) | Rick Adelman ( Houston Rockets) (1/1) | |
April | Doc Rivers ( Boston Celtics) (2/2) | Nate McMillan ( Portland Trail Blazers) (1/1) |
The NBA announced that the salary cap for the season would be $58.680 million, immediately going into effect on July 9 as the league's "moratorium period" had ended and teams could begin signing free agents and making trades. [61]
The tax level for the season was set at $71.150 million, with each team paying a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million. The mid-level exception was $5.585 million for the season and the minimum team salary, which was set at 75% of the salary cap, was $44.010 million. [61]
For the 2007β08 season, the salary cap was set at $55.630 million ($3.05 million), the tax level was $67.865 million ($3.285 million) and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million ($229,000). [61]
Media related to 2008β09 NBA season at Wikimedia Commons