2008–09 Denver Nuggets season


The 2008–09 Denver Nuggets season was the 42nd season of the franchise, 33rd in the National Basketball Association. They finished the regular season with 54 wins and 28 losses, the franchise's best record since 1987–88. In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated New Orleans Hornets in five games in the first round; this series included a notable 58-point bludgeoning of the Hornets in Game 4. The Nuggets then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Semifinals to reach the Conference Finals for the first time since 1985, ending their streak of five straight first-round exits. However, the Nuggets lost to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, ending their playoff run. This was the second straight year the Nuggets had their season ended by the Lakers.
As of May 2019, the Nuggets' six-game loss to the Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference Finals was the closest the team has ever come to reaching the NBA Finals.

Key dates

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.

Draft picks

The Denver Nuggets had no draft picks in the 2008 NBA draft, but did acquire the draft rights of Sonny Weems from the Chicago Bulls. Weems was the 39th pick of the draft.

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

Playoffs

Game log

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team
Chris AndersenJuly 24New Orleans Hornets
Dahntay JonesJuly 31Sacramento Kings
Mateen CleavesSeptember 30Bakersfield Jam
Smush ParkerSeptember 30Los Angeles Clippers
Nick FazekasSeptember 30Los Angeles Clippers
James MaysSeptember 30Clemson Tigers
Ruben PattersonSeptember 30Los Angeles Clippers
Juwan HowardOctober 3Dallas Mavericks
Jason HartMarch 3Los Angeles Clippers

Subtractions