2008–09 Denver Nuggets season
Encyclopedia
The 2008-09 Denver Nuggets
season was the 42nd season of the franchise, 33rd in the National Basketball Association
(NBA).
During the first week of the season, superstar guard Allen Iverson
was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Detroit Pistons
for Chauncey Billups
, Antonio McDyess
and Cheikh Samb. McDyess was released soon after the trade.
, but did acquire the draft rights of Sonny Weems
from the Chicago Bulls. Weems was the 39th pick of the draft.
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{|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"
| Chris Andersen
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 24 || New Orleans Hornets
|- style="height:40px"
| Dahntay Jones
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 31 || Sacramento Kings
|- style="height:40px"
| Mateen Cleaves
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Bakersfield Jam
|- style="height:40px"
| Smush Parker
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Los Angeles Clippers
|- style="height:40px"
| Nick Fazekas
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Los Angeles Clippers
|- style="height:40px"
| James Mays || style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Clemson Tigers
|- style="height:40px"
| Ruben Patterson
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Los Angeles Clippers
|- style="height:40px"
| Juwan Howard
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 3 || Dallas Mavericks
|- style="height:40px"
| Jason Hart || style="font-size: 80%"|March 3 || Los Angeles Clippers
|}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| style="width:140px"|Player || style="width:70px"|Left || style="width:210px"|New team
|- style="height:40px"
| Eduardo Nájera
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 11 || New Jersey Nets
|- style="height:40px"
| Yakhouba Diawara
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 7 || Miami Heat
|- style="height:40px"
|}
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
season was the 42nd season of the franchise, 33rd 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 Draft2008 NBA DraftThe 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 YorkNew YorkNew 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 agencyFree agentIn 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.
During the first week of the season, superstar guard Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
for Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the...
, Antonio McDyess
Antonio McDyess
Antonio Keithflen McDyess is an American professional basketball player. McDyess is listed at 6'9" , 245 lb. and is a power forward/center. In 2009 he signed a 3-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs....
and Cheikh Samb. McDyess was released soon after the trade.
Draft picks
The Denver Nuggets had no draft picks in the 2008 NBA Draft2008 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...
, but did acquire the draft rights of Sonny Weems
Sonny Weems
Clarence "Sonny" Weems is an American basketball player who plays for Zalgiris Kaunas. Weems was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft and shortly thereafter traded to the Denver Nuggets. Weems played collegiate basketball at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas...
from the Chicago Bulls. Weems was the 39th pick of the draft.
Season
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 1 | 20.6 | .548 | .200 | .718 | 6.20 | .4 | .58 | 2.46 | 6.4 | |
| 66 | 66 | 34.5 | .443 | .371 | .793 | 6.80 | 3.4 | 1.14 | .36 | 22.8 | |
| 53 | 10 | 14.7 | .558 | .286 | .646 | 3.80 | .6 | .89 | .43 | 5.0 | |
| 77 | 77 | 35.3 | .420 | .410 | .913 | 3.00 | 6.4 | 1.17 | .22 | 17.9 | |
| 78 | 5 | 22.9 | .433 | .239 | .731 | 2.60 | 4.7 | 1.23 | .17 | 5.3 | |
| 79 | 71 | 18.1 | .458 | .647 | .728 | 2.10 | 1.0 | .62 | .24 | 5.4 | |
| 11 | 0 | 3.3 | .500 | .000 | .750 | .40 | .5 | .00 | .00 | 1.2 | |
| 82 | 7 | 22.2 | .447 | .326 | .725 | 4.00 | .8 | .38 | .17 | 9.9 | |
| 66 | 66 | 32.0 | .491 | .368 | .604 | 6.00 | 2.0 | 1.45 | 1.12 | 11.7 | |
| 77 | 76 | 32.0 | .604 | .200 | .723 | 7.80 | 1.4 | 1.23 | 1.31 | 14.6 | |
| 27 | 10 | 8.0 | .429 | .000 | .429 | 2.30 | .4 | .11 | .37 | 2.2 | |
| 81 | 18 | 27.7 | .446 | .397 | .754 | 3.70 | 2.8 | .96 | .17 | 15.2 | |
| 12 | 0 | 4.6 | .320 | .000 | .375 | .30 | .3 | .08 | .00 | 1.6 |
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 0 | 21.9 | .630 | .000 | .659 | 6.30 | .6 | .33 | 2.13 | 6.5 | |
| 16 | 16 | 38.3 | .453 | .364 | .826 | 5.80 | 4.1 | 1.75 | .63 | 27.2 | |
| 8 | 0 | 2.5 | .333 | .000 | .000 | .50 | .1 | .50 | .00 | .5 | |
| 16 | 16 | 38.7 | .457 | .468 | .906 | 3.80 | 6.8 | 1.25 | .25 | 20.6 | |
| 16 | 0 | 14.3 | .408 | .167 | .500 | 2.00 | 2.1 | .94 | .06 | 2.8 | |
| 16 | 16 | 17.5 | .481 | .250 | .767 | 2.40 | .6 | .81 | .31 | 7.0 | |
| 9 | 0 | 2.1 | .500 | .000 | .000 | .30 | .6 | .22 | .11 | .2 | |
| 14 | 0 | 15.0 | .470 | .425 | .750 | 3.20 | .5 | .36 | .07 | 6.9 | |
| 16 | 16 | 33.6 | .497 | .200 | .657 | 5.90 | 2.1 | 1.13 | .88 | 10.9 | |
| 16 | 16 | 32.8 | .548 | .000 | .657 | 7.50 | 2.6 | 1.25 | .63 | 11.5 | |
| 10 | 0 | 2.6 | .222 | .000 | .625 | .60 | .1 | .00 | .10 | .9 | |
| 16 | 0 | 27.2 | .454 | .358 | .543 | 3.30 | 2.8 | 1.06 | .25 | 14.9 |
Trades
| June 26, 2008 |
To 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... Omer Asik |
To 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... Nuggets’ 2009 second round pick New York’s 2009 second round pick (via Chicago) Chicago’s 2010 second round pick |
To Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... Sonny Weems Sonny Weems Clarence "Sonny" Weems is an American basketball player who plays for Zalgiris Kaunas. Weems was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft and shortly thereafter traded to the Denver Nuggets. Weems played collegiate basketball at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas... |
| July 15, 2008 |
To Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... Marcus Camby Marcus Camby Marcus D. Camby is an American professional basketball player, who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year during the 2006–07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game... |
To Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... The rights to swap second-round picks in the 2010 NBA draft |
|
| July 22, 2008 |
To 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... Taurean Green Taurean Green Taurean Green is an American-born professional basketball player who is a point guard for CB Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands affiliate of the Spanish basketball league Liga ACB. Green played college basketball for the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Florida Gators teams that... Bobby Jones 2010 second round draft pick |
To Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... Renaldo Balkman Renaldo Balkman Renaldo Balkman is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the University of South Carolina. He currently plays for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has represented the Puerto Rico national team in international competition... |
|
| November 3, 2008 |
To Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where... Allen Iverson Allen Iverson Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season... |
To Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... Chauncey Billups Chauncey Billups Chauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the... Antonio McDyess Antonio McDyess Antonio Keithflen McDyess is an American professional basketball player. McDyess is listed at 6'9" , 245 lb. and is a power forward/center. In 2009 he signed a 3-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs.... Cheikh Samb |
|
| January 5, 2009 |
To Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... Cheikh Samb |
To Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... Future Conditional Second-Round Draft Pick |
|
| January 7, 2009 |
To Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City Thunder The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena.... Chucky Atkins Chucky Atkins Kenneth Lavon "Chucky" Atkins is an American professional basketball player. He is currently a free agent.-Basketball career:... Conditional 2009 First-Round Draft Pick |
To Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... Johan Petro Johan Petro Johan Petro is a French professional basketball player of Guadeloupean descent who is playing for the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association. A 7'0", 247 lbs. center, Petro was selected by the Sonics in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft... Second-Round Draft Pick |
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"
| Chris Andersen
Chris Andersen
Chris Andersen is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 24 || New Orleans Hornets
|- style="height:40px"
| Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Lavall Jones is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.Originally a student at Rutgers University, Jones transferred to Duke University...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 31 || 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"
| Mateen Cleaves
Mateen Cleaves
Mateen Ahmad Cleaves is an American former professional basketball player who played in six NBA seasons. He is currently a music talent manager....
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
|- style="height:40px"
| Smush Parker
Smush Parker
William Henry "Smush" Parker is an American professional basketball player. Parker played shooting guard in college but moved to point guard in the NBA...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|- style="height:40px"
| Nick Fazekas
Nick Fazekas
Nick Fazekas is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.-Early career:...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|- style="height:40px"
| James Mays || style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
|- style="height:40px"
| Ruben Patterson
Ruben Patterson
Ruben Nathaniel Patterson is a former American professional basketball player. During his career, he played as a small forward and shooting guard. During his college career at the University of Cincinnati, Patterson earned third-team All-American honors and helped lead the Bearcats to Conference...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|September 30 || Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|- style="height:40px"
| Juwan Howard
Juwan Howard
Juwan Antonio Howard is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . The Heat were his eighth different NBA team. He was drafted fifth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|October 3 || Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
|- style="height:40px"
| Jason Hart || style="font-size: 80%"|March 3 || Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of 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"
| Eduardo Nájera
Eduardo Nájera
Eduardo Alonso Nájera Pérez is a Mexican professional basketball player in the NBA, currently playing for the Charlotte Bobcats.-Personal information:...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|July 11 || New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|- style="height:40px"
| Yakhouba Diawara
Yakhouba Diawara
Yakhouba Diawara is a French professional basketball player.He is a 6 ft 7 in and 225 lb shooting guard/small forward. He started his career with French team JDA Dijon, and after his first season in the European League, Diawara decided to attend college in the United States...
|| style="font-size: 80%"|August 7 || Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
|- style="height:40px"
|}
See also
- 2008–09 NBA season2008–09 NBA seasonThe 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...