2008–09 Boston Celtics season - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 2008–09 Boston Celtics season was the 63rd season of the Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

in the National Basketball Association

National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

(NBA).

Key dates

June 26: The 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...

took place in New York City, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

.
July 1: The free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

period started.
October 8: The pre-season started with a game against the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

.
October 28: The regular season started with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

, which Boston won 90-85.
December 11: Recorded the best season start in franchise history
History of the Boston Celtics
This is a history of the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics are an American basketball team currently playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

.
December 23: Recorded the longest winning streak in franchise history at 19, and the best season start in NBA history with 27-2.

NBA Draft 2008

On June 26, the Celtics

Boston Celtics

selected shooting guard

Shooting guard

The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...

J. R. Giddens

Justin Ray Giddens is an American professional basketball player for PAOK Thessaloniki B.C.. The shooting guard was selected out of the University of New Mexico by the Boston Celtics with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft...

with the 30th and center

Center (basketball)

The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...

Semih Erden with the 60th overall picks in the 2008 NBA Draft

2008 NBA Draft

The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...

, and traded cash considerations in exchange for small forward

Small forward

The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...

Bill Walker

Bill Walker (basketball)

William "Bill" Henry Walker is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association...

, who had been selected by the Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...

with the 47th overall pick. Giddens had worked out with the Celtics before the draft for three days, and received praises from head coach Doc Rivers

Doc Rivers

Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...

, who thought he could fight for minutes on the team right away. He was already familiar with future teammates Leon Powe

Leon Powe

Leon Powe, Jr. is an American professional basketball power forward who last played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association . Drafted in 2006 by the Denver Nuggets, Powe grew up in Oakland, California and played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley...

and Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA....

, who were his teammates at the 2003 McDonald's

McDonald's

McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...

High School All-America

All-America

An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...

n Game. Walker was considered a lottery pick, but suffered the third knee injury in his career during a workout at the Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

facility on June 15. However, he remained in the draft despite the injury, and was expected to have minor surgery in July that would keep him out for three to four weeks. Erden was not expected to join the roster this season, and was seen by general manager Danny Ainge

Danny Ainge

Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....

as their first-round pick in 2009

2009 NBA Draft

The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...

Free agency

The Celtics

Boston Celtics

headed into the off-season with several free agents and tried to gather a group to repeat as the NBA Champions, with a key decision on unrestricted free agent James Posey

James Posey

James Mikely Mantell Posey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a small forward for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.-Early life:...

, who, in a widely anticipated move, opted out of the second and final year of his contract with the Celtics on June 30, but stated that he wanted to return to the Celtics on a new contract. P.J. Brown, who made key contributions during the 2008 NBA Playoffs

2008 NBA Playoffs

The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....

, was leaning towards retirement, and the status of restricted free agent Tony Allen

Tony Allen (basketball)

Anthony Allen is an American professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.-Early career:...

remained uncertain after the first-round selection of J. R. Giddens

J. R. Giddens

, who was seen as a possible replacement. Later it was revealed that the Celtics did not extend a qualifying offer to Allen, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Celtics also hoped to keep unrestricted free agent Eddie House

Eddie House

Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...

, and decisions were to be made on unrestricted free agents Sam Cassell

Sam Cassell

Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft...

and Scot Pollard

Scot Pollard

Scot L. Pollard is a retired American professional basketball player. In an eleven-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers...

.

The Celtics were interested in small forward

Small forward

Corey Maggette

Corey Antoine Maggette is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, for the Charlotte Bobcats. He excelled at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was an All-American in basketball and also an Illinois high school state track finalist in long...

as a replacement for James Posey

James Posey

James Mikely Mantell Posey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a small forward for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.-Early life:...

, but Maggette signed with the Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors

on a much higher contract than the Celtics were able to offer, which added to the urgency to re-sign Posey. On July 11, the Celtics addressed their need for a backup center

Center (basketball)

by signing Patrick O'Bryant

Patrick O'Bryant

Patrick Fitzgerald O'Bryant is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Kavala B.C. in Greece. The , center was selected out of Bradley University by the Golden State Warriors with the 9th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft...

to a 2-year, $3 million contract, after he had an impressive workout with the team a week earlier, and consequently ruled out the return of Scot Pollard

Scot Pollard

and P.J. Brown. Eventually, James Posey signed with the New Orleans Hornets on July 16, since the Celtics were reluctant to offer him more than a three-year deal at the mid-level exception. Compensating for the loss of Posey, the Celtics re-signed Tony Allen

Tony Allen (basketball)

Anthony Allen is an American professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.-Early career:...

to a 2-year, $5 million contract, and were also able to re-sign Eddie House

Eddie House

Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...

to a 2-year, $5.6 million contract, using the mid-level exception only on House.

On August 22, the Celtics signed small forward

Small forward

Darius Miles

Darius LaVar Miles is an American professional basketball player.The , small forward was selected directly out of high school by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 3rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft...

, who was forced to sit out the previous two seasons due to microfracture surgery

Microfracture surgery

Microfracture surgery is one of the articular cartilage repair surgical techniques that works by creating tiny fractures in the underlying bone. This causes new cartilage to develop from a so-called super-clot...

on his right knee and thought to have a career-ending injury, to a non-guaranteed contract, and expected him to fight for a roster spot at training camp. He worked out twice with the team and impressed with his health and attitude, but would sit out the first ten games of the regular season

2008–09 NBA season

The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...

for violating the league's substance abuse policy if he made the roster. This signing ultimately put the roster up to the league maximum of 15 players, of which 14 players had fully guaranteed contracts. On September 29, the first day of training camp, Sam Cassell

Sam Cassell

re-signed with the team, which put the roster one player over the maximum. On October 20, Miles was waived, a move which finalized the roster for the start of the season.

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Team
1	30	J. R. Giddens J. R. Giddens Justin Ray Giddens is an American professional basketball player for PAOK Thessaloniki B.C.. The shooting guard was selected out of the University of New Mexico by the Boston Celtics with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft...	SG Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...		New Mexico
2	60	Semih Erden	C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...		Fenerbahçe Ülker Fenerbahçe Ülker Fenerbahçe Ülker is the professional men's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major multisport club based in Istanbul, Turkey. The department has been sponsored by the Ülker since 2006. In 2006 Fenerbahçe S.K...

Roster

Season

|-
|
| 79 || 79 || 36.4 || .480 || .409 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .952 || 3.5 || 2.8 || 0.87 || 0.16 || 18.2
|-
|
| 46 || 2 || 19.3 || .482 || .222 || .725 || 2.3 || 1.4 || 1.17 || 0.50 || 7.8
|-
|
| 76 || 16 || 21.5 || .442 || .400 || .730 || 4.0 || 0.9 || 0.70 || 0.25 || 7.0
|-
|
| 57 || 57 || 31.1 || .531 || .250 || .841 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 8.5 || 2.5 || 1.11 || 1.19 || 15.8
|-
|
| 6 || 0 || 1.3 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .667 || .000 || .000 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 0.17 || 0.00 || 0.7
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 81 || 0 || 18.3 || .445 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .444 || .792 || 1.9 || 1.1 || 0.75 || 0.09 || 8.5
|-
|
| 23 || 4 || 18.0 || .342 || .240 || .462 || 1.2 || 3.3 || 0.43 || 0.13 || 3.8
|-
|
| 24 || 0 || 19.0 || .600 || .000 || .737 || 4.4 || 1.0 || 0.17 || 0.21 || 4.8
|-
|
| 26 || 0 || 4.2 || .516 || .000 || .667 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 0.12 || 0.31 || 1.5
|-
|
| 76 || 76 || 29.6 || .577 || .000 || .600 || 8.1 || 1.3 || 0.29 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.97 || 8.5
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 81 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 81 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 37.5 || .457 || .391 || .830 || 5.6 || 3.6 || 0.99 || 0.33 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 20.5
|-
|
| 70 || 7 || 17.5 || .524 || .000 || .689 || 4.9 || 0.7 || 0.34 || 0.54 || 7.7
|-
|
| 47 || 0 || 7.8 || .307 || .292 || .810 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 0.32 || 0.06 || 2.0
|-
|
| 80 || 80 || 33.0 || .505 || .313 || .642 || 5.2 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 8.2 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.86 || 0.14 || 11.9
|-
|
| 39 || 8 || 12.9 || .421 || .393 || .889 || 1.3 || 0.5 || 0.18 || 0.26 || 3.5
|-
|
| 29 || 0 || 7.4 || .621 || .000 || .696 || 1.0 || 0.4 || 0.21 || 0.07 || 3.0
|}
*Statistics with the Boston Celtics

Playoffs

|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || 40.4 || .403 || .350 || .948 || 3.9 || 2.6 || 1.07 || 0.36 || 18.3
|-
|
| 10 || 0 || 6.0 || .500 || .000 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.000 || 0.9 || 0.3 || 0.20 || 0.00 || 0.9
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || 36.4 || .491 || .000 || .710 || 5.6 || 1.8 || 1.29 || 0.57 || 15.8
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || 0 || 16.6 || .519 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .486 || .909 || 1.4 || 0.9 || 0.79 || 0.00 || 7.7
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || 0 || 11.9 || .303 || .250 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.000 || 0.9 || 1.8 || 0.07 || 0.00 || 3.7
|-
|
| 10 || 0 || 6.6 || .500 || .000 || .833 || 1.5 || 0.4 || 0.20 || 0.50 || 1.5
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || 36.6 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | .575 || .000 || .667 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 11.6 || 1.4 || 0.43 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 2.64 || 11.9
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || 39.7 || .430 || .333 || .842 || 5.8 || 3.1 || 1.07 || 0.36 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 21.0
|-
|
| 2 || 0 || 12.0 || .429 || .000 || .667 || 4.5 || 0.0 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 5.0
|-
|
| 4 || 0 || 2.8 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 0.00 || 0.25 || 0.0
|-
|
| style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 14 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 41.2 || .417 || .250 || .657 || 9.7 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 9.8 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 2.50 || 0.21 || 16.9
|-
|
| 12 || 0 || 20.5 || .423 || .448 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.000 || 2.2 || 1.0 || 0.17 || 0.42 || 5.1
|-
|
| 4 || 0 || 2.5 || .000 || .000 || style="background:#efe196;color:#008040;" | 1.000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.50 || 0.00 || 0.5
|}

Week/Month

Head coach Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...

was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November.

Records

On February 22, Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...

broke the team record for consecutive free-throws made with 72, eclipsing the previous mark of 71 by Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...

.
With 7 blocks
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...

against the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....

on November 7, Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA....

had the most blocks in a game by a Celtics player since Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...

had 8 on January 9, 1987
1986-87 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:* Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers* Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers* Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers...

.
With 22 points in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

on November 10, Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...

had the most points in a quarter by a Celtics player since Todd Day
Todd Day
Todd Fitzgerald Day is a retired American professional basketball player. Day is the all-time leading scorer at the University of Arkansas, and played eight seasons in the NBA...

had 24 in 1995.
Head coach Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...

became the third coach in NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

history to win the Coach of the Month award for three straight months, joining Flip Saunders
Flip Saunders
Phillip "Flip" Saunders is an American basketball head coach of the Washington Wizards. He previously coached the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves.-High school and college player:Saunders was born in Cincinnati, Ohio....

(2005–06) and Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....

(2002–03).
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...

had the first triple-double by a Celtics player since Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...

accomplished it on February 2, 2005, in a win against the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

on December 3.
With 19 straight wins, the Celtics recorded the longest winning streak in franchise history
History of the Boston Celtics
This is a history of the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics are an American basketball team currently playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

with a win against the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

on December 23, breaking the previous record of 18 straight wins held by the Celtics, and matched the fourth longest winning streak in NBA history.
With a 27–2 season start, the Celtics were off to the best opening in franchise history and NBA history.
The Celtics matched their 6th biggest win in franchise history with a 108-63 blowout victory over the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

on December 28, 2008.
The Celtics lost four games in a row for the first time since acquiring Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...

and Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...

.
The Celtics recorded the most points in overtime (22) in franchise history, breaking the previous record of 21 set on January 2, 1963 against the San Francisco Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

.

Milestones

Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...

became the youngest player (32 years, 165 days) in NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

history
NBA records
This article lists all-time leading figures in the regular season achieved in the NBA in major statistical categories recognized by the league, including records set by teams and individuals in single games, seasons, and careers. NBA history also recognizes achievements from its original...

to reach 1,000 career games by passing Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp
Shawn T. Kemp is a former American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.-Early years:...

(33 years, 24 days) against the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

on October 31.
Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...

moved up to 2nd in made free throws
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...

in Celtics history
History of the Boston Celtics
This is a history of the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics are an American basketball team currently playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

by passing Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy
Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'1" , 175-pound Cousy played point guard with the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1951 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969–70 season...

with a free-throw in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

on November 10.
Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...

moved up to 4th on Boston's all-time scoring list by passing Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...

with a layup
Layup
A layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in...

in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...

on December 7.
Kevin Garnett moved up to 26th in point
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....

s in NBA history by passing Walt Bellamy with a jumper
Jump shot
In basketball , a jump shot is an attempt to score a basket by jumping, usually straight up, and in mid-jump, propelling the ball in an arc into the basket. It is accomplished by the player bringing his or her elbow up until it is aligned with the hoop, then sent towards the hoop in a high arc. It...

in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

on January 7.
Kevin Garnett passed 21,000 points for his career with a field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...

in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

on January 12.\
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo
Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a...

completed his first career triple-double December 3, 2008 with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists. He followed up with his second career triple-double February 12, 2009 with 19 points, 15 rebounds (career high), and 14 assists.

Injuries and surgeries

July 2: Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA....

underwent surgery on his left strained shoulder which he injured during the 2008 NBA Finals
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...

.
July 2: Bill Walker
Bill Walker (basketball)
William "Bill" Henry Walker is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association...

underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus
Tear of meniscus
In sports and orthopedics, a tear of a meniscus is a rupturing of one or more of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee called menisci. When doctors and patients refer to "torn cartilage" in the knee, they actually may be referring to an injury to a meniscus at the top of one of the tibiae. Menisci...

in his right knee which he suffered during a workout at the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

facility prior to the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...

on June 15, 2008.
July 11: Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...

had an MRI on his right knee which showed no significant problem. He suffered the injury during Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...

, which was later diagnosed as a sprained MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...

and a bone bruise
Bruise
A bruise, also called a contusion, is a type of relatively minor hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding interstitial tissues. Bruises can involve capillaries at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle,...

.

Trades

June 26, 2008

To Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

The 47th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft

2008 NBA Draft

(Bill Walker

Bill Walker (basketball)

William "Bill" Henry Walker is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association...

)

To Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...

Cash considerations

February 17, 2009

Conditional 2nd-round draft pick and cash considerations

To Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

Sam Cassell

February 19, 2009

Conditional 2nd-round draft pick from Sacramento

To Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

Patrick O'Bryant

Additions

{| cellspacing="0"
| valign="top" |
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Signed || style="width:210px"|Former team
|- style="height:40px"
| Patrick O'Bryant
Patrick O'Bryant
Patrick Fitzgerald O'Bryant is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Kavala B.C. in Greece. The , center was selected out of Bradley University by the Golden State Warriors with the 9th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 16
|| Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors

|- style="height:40px"
| Tony Allen
Tony Allen (basketball)
Anthony Allen is an American professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.-Early career:...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 23 || re-signed

Boston Celtics

|- style="height:40px"
| Eddie House
Eddie House
Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 23 || re-signed

Boston Celtics

|- style="height:40px"
| Darius Miles
Darius Miles
Darius LaVar Miles is an American professional basketball player.The , small forward was selected directly out of high school by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 3rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 22 || Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...

|- style="height:40px"
| Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell
Samuel James "Sam" Cassell , is a retired American professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. The , point guard was selected out of Florida State University by the Houston Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 29 || re-signed

Boston Celtics

|- style="height:40px"
| Mikki Moore
Mikki Moore
Clinton Renard "Mikki" Moore is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-Professional career:...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|February 24 || Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

|- style="height:40px"
| Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player.The , point guard was selected out of the Georgia Institute of Technology by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Minnesota Timberwolves.He was an NBA...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|February 27 || New York Knicks

New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

|-
|}

Subtractions

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Left || style="width:210px"|New team
|- style="height:40px"
| P.J. Brown
P. J. Brown
Collier Brown, Jr. , commonly referred to as P. J. Brown, is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 1 || free agent

Free agent

In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

|- style="height:40px"
| Scot Pollard
Scot Pollard
Scot L. Pollard is a retired American professional basketball player. In an eleven-year NBA career, he played for five teams, spending the bulk of his career with the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 1 || free agent

Free agent

In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....

|- style="height:40px"
| James Posey
James Posey
James Mikely Mantell Posey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a small forward for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.-Early life:...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 23 || New Orleans Hornets
|- style="height:40px"
| Darius Miles
Darius Miles
Darius LaVar Miles is an American professional basketball player.The , small forward was selected directly out of high school by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 3rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 20 || Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...

|- style="height:40px"
| Patrick O'Bryant
Patrick O'Bryant
Patrick Fitzgerald O'Bryant is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Kavala B.C. in Greece. The , center was selected out of Bradley University by the Golden State Warriors with the 9th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft...

|| style="font-size: 80%"|February 19 || Toronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

|- style="height:40px"
|}

External links

2008–09 Boston Celtics season at Basketball Reference

Key dates

NBA Draft 2008

Free agency

Draft picks

Roster

Season

Playoffs

Week/Month

Records

Milestones

Injuries and surgeries

Trades

Additions

Subtractions

External links

See also