NBA professional basketball team season
The 2008–09 Chicago Bulls season is the 43rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Key dates
Offseason
The Bulls re-signed Luol Deng to a 6-year $71 million contract on July 30, 2008. Ben Gordon signed a 1-year contract on October 2, 2008.
NBA Draft
Roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
9
Deng, Luol
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Duke
G
7
Gordon, Ben
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Connecticut
C
34
Gray, Aaron
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
270 lb (122 kg)
Pittsburgh
G
12
Hinrich, Kirk
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Kansas
G
11
Hunter, Lindsey
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Jackson State
C
31
James, Jerome
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
285 lb (129 kg)
Florida A&M
F
54
Johnson, Linton
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Tulane
F/C
52
Miller, Brad
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
244 lb (111 kg)
Purdue
G
21
Nelson, DeMarcus
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Duke
C
13
Noah, Joakim
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
232 lb (105 kg)
Florida
G
5
Roberson, Anthony
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Florida
G
1
Rose, Derrick
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Memphis
G/F
15
Salmons, John
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Miami (FL)
F
2
Thomas, Tim
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
Villanova
F/C
24
Thomas, Tyrus
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
LSU
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Roster Notes
Luol Deng also holds Sudanese citizenship, but he plays for the British national team.
Ben Gordon also holds American citizenship, but he plays for the British national team.
Joakim Noah also holds American and Swedish citizenship, but he plays for the French national team.
Depth Chart
Regular season
The 2008-09 team visits President of the United States Barack Obama at the White House on February 26, 2009.
The Bulls were having a meager year floating under .500 and on February 18, 2009 they made their first of several trades sending Andres Nocioni , Drew Gooden , Cedric Simmons , Michael Ruffin to the Sacramento Kings for Brad Miller and John Salmons .[ 1] Then on February 19, 2009, the NBA trade deadline, the Bulls traded Larry Hughes to the New York Knicks for Tim Thomas , Jerome James , and Anthony Roberson .[ 2] Later that day the Bulls made the third trade in a span of less than 24 hours sending swingman Thabo Sefolosha to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2009 first round pick.[ 3]
The trades brought a late-season push for the Bulls, which finally clinched a playoff berth on April 10, 2009, their fourth in the last five years. Then on April 13, 2009 they clinched the 7th place in the east by beating the Detroit Pistons and remained .5 game ahead of Philadelphia 76ers for the 6th spot with one game remaining. The Bulls though lost their last game to Toronto and the 76ers beat Cleveland, who did not play most of its best players. The Bulls finished 7th even though they tied Philadelphia at 41-41. The Bulls got matched up with a Garnett -less Boston in the first round of the playoffs.
Season standings
Game log
2008–09 game log
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
November: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
3
November 1
Memphis
W 96–86
Derrick Rose (26)
Drew Gooden (20)
Kirk Hinrich , Ben Gordon (4)
United Center 21,785
2–1
4
November 3
@ Orlando
L 93–96
Drew Gooden (21)
Andrés Nocioni , Luol Deng (7)
Kirk Hinrich , Drew Gooden , Luol Deng (3)
Amway Arena 15,606
2–2
5
November 5
@ Cleveland
L 93–107
Ben Gordon (31)
Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
2–3
6
November 7
Phoenix
W 100–83
Ben Gordon (23)
Joakim Noah (14)
Ben Gordon , Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,967
3–3
7
November 8
Cleveland
L 97–106
Ben Gordon (29)
Tyrus Thomas (8)
Derrick Rose (9)
United Center 21,965
3–4
8
November 11
Atlanta
L 108–113
Derrick Rose (26)
Derrick Rose , Luol Deng , Aaron Gray (10)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,738
3–5
9
November 13
Dallas
W 98–91
Ben Gordon (35)
Luol Deng , Derrick Rose (9)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,751
4–5
10
November 15
Indiana
W 104–91
Derrick Rose (23)
Andrés Nocioni (11)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 21,759
5–5
11
November 18
@ L.A. Lakers
L 109–116
Derrick Rose (25)
Andrés Nocioni (8)
Derrick Rose (9)
Staples Center 18,997
5–6
12
November 19
@ Portland
L 74–116
Andrés Nocioni (13)
Tyrus Thomas (7)
Lindsey Hunter , Ben Gordon (3)
Rose Garden 20,599
5–7
13
November 21
@ Golden State
W 115–110
Larry Hughes (26)
Drew Gooden (16)
Derrick Rose (5)
Oracle Arena 19,596
6–7
14
November 23
@ Denver
L 101–114
Ben Gordon (28)
Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (6)
Pepsi Center 16,202
6–8
15
November 24
@ Utah
W 101–100
Derrick Rose (25)
Tyrus Thomas (8)
Derrick Rose (9)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
7–8
16
November 26
@ San Antonio
L 88–98
Ben Gordon (23)
Drew Gooden (12)
Derrick Rose (6)
AT&T Center 17,837
7–9
17
November 30
@ Philadelphia
W 103–92
Ben Gordon (21)
Drew Gooden (12)
Derrick Rose (10)
Wachovia Center 13,561
8–9
December: 6–9 (home: 5–2; road: 1–7)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
18
December 2
Philadelphia
L 95–103 (OT)
Derrick Rose (24)
Tyrus Thomas (13)
Ben Gordon (4)
United Center 20,485
8–10
19
December 3
@ Milwaukee
L 90–97
Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (9)
Bradley Center 13,684
8–11
20
December 6
Washington
W 117–110
Luol Deng (26)
Drew Gooden (10)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 21,741
9–11
21
December 9
New York
W 105–100
Drew Gooden (22)
Drew Gooden (16)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 19,519
10–11
22
December 12
@ Memphis
L 96–103
Ben Gordon (26)
Drew Gooden (13)
Derrick Rose (11)
FedExForum 17,132
10–12
23
December 13
New Jersey
W 113–104
Ben Gordon (29)
Joakim Noah (8)
Ben Gordon , Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,751
11–12
24
December 16
@ Charlotte
L 101–110 (OT)
Ben Gordon (25)
Tyrus Thomas , Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
Time Warner Cable Arena 11,225
11–13
25
December 17
L.A. Clippers
W 115–109 (OT)
Andrés Nocioni , Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (11)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 20,102
12–13
26
December 19
@ Boston
L 108–126
Luol Deng (19)
Aaron Gray (8)
Derrick Rose (5)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
12–14
27
December 20
Utah
W 106–98
Ben Gordon (26)
Joakim Noah (9)
Ben Gordon , Derrick Rose , Andrés Nocioni (3)
United Center 22,046
13–14
28
December 23
@ Detroit
L 98–104
Larry Hughes (19)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Ben Gordon (7)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
13–15
29
December 26
@ Miami
L 77–90
Ben Gordon (15)
Aaron Gray (11)
Derrick Rose (3)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
13–16
30
December 27
@ Atlanta
L 117–129
Ben Gordon (33)
Tyrus Thomas (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
Philips Arena 18,031
13–17
31
December 29
@ New Jersey
W 100–87
Ben Gordon (24)
Andrés Nocioni (8)
Derrick Rose (13)
Izod Center 18,786
14–17
32
December 31
Orlando
L 94–113
Joakim Noah (19)
Joakim Noah (11)
Thabo Sefolosha , Andrés Nocioni (4)
United Center 21,861
14–18
January: 7–9 (home: 3–6; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
33
January 2
@ Cleveland
L 92–117
Ben Gordon (22)
Joakim Noah (10)
Ben Gordon (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
14–19
34
January 3
Minnesota
L 92–102
Derrick Rose (22)
Aaron Gray (9)
Ben Gordon (6)
United Center 20,516
14–20
35
January 6
Sacramento
W 99–94
Ben Gordon (24)
Drew Gooden (10)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 18,060
15–20
36
January 9
Washington
W 98–86
Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (11)
Derrick Rose (9)
United Center 20,125
16–20
37
January 10
Oklahoma City
L 98–109 (OT)
Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (12)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 20,469
16–21
38
January 12
Portland
L 95–109
Drew Gooden (22)
Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (10)
United Center 18,996
16–22
39
January 14
@ Toronto
W 102–98
Derrick Rose (25)
Luol Deng (14)
Derrick Rose (10)
Air Canada Centre 18,494
17–22
40
January 15
Cleveland
W 102–93 (OT)
Luol Deng (22)
Luol Deng (8)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,297
18–22
41
January 17
San Antonio
L 87–92
Ben Gordon (20)
Andrés Nocioni (15)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 22,100
18–23
42
January 19
@ New York
L 98–102
Luol Deng , Derrick Rose (20)
Joakim Noah (18)
Derrick Rose (8)
Madison Square Garden 18,807
18–24
43
January 20
Atlanta
L 102–105
Ben Gordon (21)
Joakim Noah (11)
Kirk Hinrich (8)
United Center 20,389
18–25
44
January 23
Toronto
L 94–114
Ben Gordon (19)
Aaron Gray (7)
Kirk Hinrich (7)
United Center 20,886
18–26
45
January 25
@ Minnesota
L 108–109 (OT)
Ben Gordon (23)
Joakim Noah (10)
Derrick Rose (7)
Target Center 16,009
18–27
46
January 28
@ L.A. Clippers
W 95–75
Luol Deng (23)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Ben Gordon (8)
Staples Center 15,637
19–27
47
January 30
@ Sacramento
W 109–88
Ben Gordon , Luol Deng (20)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Derrick Rose (11)
ARCO Arena 13,356
20–27
48
January 31
@ Phoenix
W 122–111
Derrick Rose , Ben Gordon (26)
Luol Deng (10)
Kirk Hinrich , Ben Gordon (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
21–27
February: 6–6 (home: 4–1; road: 2–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
49
February 3
@ Houston
L 100–107
Luol Deng (28)
Tyrus Thomas (13)
Derrick Rose (7)
Toyota Center 16,653
21–28
50
February 4
@ New Orleans
W 107–93
Derrick Rose (21)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Ben Gordon (7)
New Orleans Arena 16,270
22–28
51
February 7
@ Dallas
L 114–115 (OT)
Ben Gordon (28)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Derrick Rose (9)
American Airlines Center 20,349
22–29
52
February 10
Detroit
W 107–102
Ben Gordon (24)
Joakim Noah (16)
Kirk Hinrich (5)
United Center 21,896
23–29
53
February 12
Miami
L 93–95
Ben Gordon (34)
Joakim Noah (11)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,801
23–30
54
February 18
@ Milwaukee
W 113–104
Kirk Hinrich (31)
Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (9)
Bradley Center 15,309
24–30
55
February 20
Denver
W 116–99
Ben Gordon (37)
Luol Deng , Tyrus Thomas (12)
Kirk Hinrich (8)
United Center 21,790
25–30
56
February 22
@ Indiana
L 91–98
Ben Gordon (28)
Joakim Noah (12)
Derrick Rose (8)
Conseco Fieldhouse 17,083
25–31
57
February 24
Orlando
W 120–102
Derrick Rose (22)
Joakim Noah (8)
Derrick Rose , Brad Miller (5)
United Center 21,902
26–31
58
February 25
@ New Jersey
L 99–111
Ben Gordon (17)
Tyrus Thomas (11)
Kirk Hinrich , Derrick Rose (5)
Izod Center 14,075
26–32
59
February 27
@ Washington
L 90–113
John Salmons (25)
Brad Miller (11)
Luol Deng , John Salmons , Derrick Rose (3)
Verizon Center 18,114
26–33
60
February 28
Houston
W 105–102
Derrick Rose (22)
Joakim Noah (15)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 22,394
27–33
March: 9–7 (home: 7–1; road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
61
March 3
@ Charlotte
L 80–96
Ben Gordon , Tyrus Thomas (14)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Derrick Rose (5)
Time Warner Cable Arena 14,216
27–34
62
March 4
Golden State
W 110–88
John Salmons (23)
Joakim Noah (17)
Derrick Rose , Kirk Hinrich (6)
United Center 20,108
28–34
63
March 6
Milwaukee
W 117–102
Ben Gordon (34)
Joakim Noah (13)
Ben Gordon (7)
United Center 21,186
29–34
64
March 9
@ Miami
L 127–130 (2OT)
Ben Gordon (43)
Joakim Noah (15)
Ben Gordon , Derrick Rose , Brad Miller , Kirk Hinrich (3)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
29–35
65
March 11
@ Orlando
L 79–107
John Salmons (18)
John Salmons (8)
Derrick Rose (3)
Amway Arena 17,461
29–36
66
March 13
@ Philadelphia
L 101–104
Derrick Rose (20)
Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (6)
Wachovia Center 17,563
29–37
67
March 14
New Orleans
W 97–79
Ben Gordon (27)
Brad Miller , Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 22,135
30–37
68
March 17
Boston
W 127–121
John Salmons (38)
Brad Miller (14)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 22,107
31–37
69
March 18
@ Oklahoma City
W 103–96
Derrick Rose (25)
Tyrus Thomas (11)
Brad Miller (5)
Ford Center 19,136
32–37
70
March 21
L.A. Lakers
L 109–117
John Salmons (30)
Tyrus Thomas (16)
Ben Gordon (6)
United Center 23,011
32–38
71
March 23
@ Washington
W 101–99
Ben Gordon (21)
Joakim Noah (12)
Derrick Rose (8)
Verizon Center 15,421
33–38
72
March 24
Detroit
W 99–91
Kirk Hinrich (24)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Kirk Hinrich (8)
United Center 20,502
34–38
73
March 26
Miami
W 106–87
John Salmons (27)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 21,908
35–38
74
March 28
Indiana
W 112–106
Ben Gordon (25)
Derrick Rose (9)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 20,756
36–38
75
March 29
@ Toronto
L 129–134 (OT)
Ben Gordon (37)
Brad Miller (10)
Derrick Rose (9)
Air Canada Centre 18,949
36–39
76
March 31
@ Indiana
L 105–107
Derrick Rose (24)
Derrick Rose (11)
Brad Miller (8)
Conseco Fieldhouse 15,687
36–40
April: 5–1 (home: 4–1; road: 1–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
77
April 4
New Jersey
W 103–94
Ben Gordon (18)
Joakim Noah (10)
Derrick Rose , Kirk Hinrich (5)
United Center 21,424
37–40
78
April 7
New York
W 110–103
Kirk Hinrich (25)
Brad Miller (12)
John Salmons , Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 20,764
38–40
79
April 9
Philadelphia
W 113–99
Ben Gordon , Tyrus Thomas (24)
Ben Gordon , Joakim Noah (7)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 20,791
39–40
80
April 11
Charlotte
W 113–106
Ben Gordon (39)
Joakim Noah (10)
Derrick Rose , Joakim Noah (7)
United Center 20,265
40–40
81
April 13
@ Detroit
W 91–88
Derrick Rose (24)
Joakim Noah (13)
Derrick Rose (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
41–40
82
April 15
Toronto
L 98–109
Ben Gordon (23)
Brad Miller (11)
Derrick Rose (11)
United Center 20,677
41–41
2015–16 season schedule
Playoffs
The Bulls-Celtics series became the first playoff series in NBA history to have 4 games go into overtime.[ 4]
2009 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round vs. Boston (2)
: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
2009 playoff schedule
Player statistics
Season
*Statistics with the Chicago Bulls
Playoffs
Player
GP
GS
MPG
FG%
3FG%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Ben Gordon
7
7
43.4
.388
.370
.875
2.9
3.0
.43
.14
24.3
John Salmons
7
7
44.7
.402
.316
.853
4.4
2.3
1.29
1.00
18.1
Derrick Rose
7
7
44.7
.492
.000
.800
6.3
6.4
.57
.71
19.7
Brad Miller
7
0
26.5
.471
.714
.792
7.9
1.3
.29
.86
10.1
Tyrus Thomas
7
7
27.9
.438
.000
.786
6.3
.86
1.00
2.6
9.6
Kirk Hinrich
7
0
30.0
.468
.394
.680
4.1
2.9
1.71
.43
12.6
Joakim Noah
7
7
38.7
.509
.000
.760
13.1
2.3
.86
2.14
10.1
Tim Thomas
2
0
7.5
.300
.250
.000
1.5
0.0
.00
.00
3.5
Aaron Gray
2
0
4.5
.000
.000
.000
0.5
0.0
.00
.00
0.0
Lindsey Hunter
6
0
4.0
.333
.333
.750
0.71
0.71
.29
.00
0.86
Anthony Roberson
1
0
4.0
.750
1.000
.000
1.0
0.0
2.0
.00
8.0
Linton Johnson
3
0
3.3
.500
.000
1.000
1.3
0.3
.00
.00
1.3
TOTAL
7
---
---
.442
.388
.793
45.6
22.0
9.14
6.71
111.1
Awards and records
Awards
Derrick Rose = Rookie of the Year
Records
4—Overtime games played in this series
7—Overtime periods played in this series, more than any other NBA team has played in an entire postseason.
Transactions
Draft picks
The Bulls beat the odds and won the NBA Draft Lottery on May 20, 2008. The Bulls vaulted from the ninth spot to win the NBA Draft Lottery in Secaucus, N.J. and obtain the first pick in the June 26 NBA Draft.[ 6] Chicago had a 1.7 percent chance of winning and were represented by Executive Vice President, Business Operations Steve Schanwald. The Heat had the best odds of securing the top selection and will pick second followed by the Timberwolves and Sonics.
Trades
Free Agents
Additions
Subtractions
See also
References
External links
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
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