The 2008-09 Chicago Bulls season marked a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history, primarily due to the arrival of Derrick Rose, the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Rose, a Chicago native, immediately made an impact, showcasing his dynamic playmaking and athleticism, which earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Under the guidance of head coach Vinny Del Negro, the Bulls ended the regular season with a 41-41 record, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Throughout the season, the Bulls demonstrated resilience and competitive spirit. Key players such as Ben Gordon, who led the team in scoring with an average of 20.7 points per game, and Luol Deng, who contributed both offensively and defensively, played crucial roles. The mid-season acquisition of John Salmons and Brad Miller from the Sacramento Kings bolstered the team’s roster, adding depth and experience.
The Bulls’ postseason performance was highlighted by an unforgettable first-round series against the Boston Celtics. This series, often regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history, featured seven games filled with multiple overtime thrillers and intense competition. Despite ultimately losing the series 4-3, the Bulls pushed the defending champions to their limits, with Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon delivering standout performances. Rose averaged 19.7 points and 6.3 assists in the series, while Gordon provided crucial scoring bursts.
The 2008-09 season set the foundation for the Bulls’ future success, as Derrick Rose’s emergence signaled the rise of a new era for the team. While the Bulls were eliminated in the first round, the season was a testament to their potential and resilience, leaving fans optimistic about the future. This season laid the groundwork for the Bulls’ playoff aspirations in the years to come, as they sought to build around their young star and return to championship contention.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-4
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 2008-09 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ben Gordon | 82 | 20.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 41.0 | 7 | 24.3 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 37.0 |
| John Salmons | 26 | 18.3 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 41.5 | 7 | 18.1 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 31.6 |
| Derrick Rose | 81 | 16.8 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 22.2 | 7 | 19.7 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Luol Deng | 49 | 14.1 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Drew Gooden | 31 | 13.1 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Larry Hughes | 30 | 12.0 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 39.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brad Miller | 27 | 11.8 | 7.4 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 23.1 | 7 | 10.3 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 71.4 |
| Tyrus Thomas | 79 | 10.8 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 33.4 | 7 | 9.6 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.0 |
| Andrés Nocioni | 53 | 10.4 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 37.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kirk Hinrich | 51 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 40.8 | 7 | 12.6 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 43.3 |
| Joakim Noah | 80 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 7 | 10.1 | 13.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.0 |
| Tim Thomas | 18 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 44.2 | 2 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Thabo Sefolosha | 43 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 30.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Aaron Gray | 56 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lindsey Hunter | 28 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Cedric Simmons | 11 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Anthony Roberson | 6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 | 1 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Linton Johnson | 8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Demetris Nichols | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
The Chicago Bulls' performance in the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs was electrifying as they faced off against the Boston Celtics in a series that became an instant classic. Despite being the underdogs, the Bulls pushed the defending champions to seven games, with Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon delivering standout performances. The series featured multiple overtime thrillers and showcased Chicago's resilience and potential, even though they ultimately fell short of advancing.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2009 | @ Boston Celtics | W 105-103 | |
| Apr 20, 2009 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-115 | |
| Apr 23, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-86 | |
| Apr 26, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-118 | |
| Apr 28, 2009 | @ Boston Celtics | L 106-104 | |
| Apr 30, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-127 | |
| May 02, 2009 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-99 |
Chicago Bulls 2008-09 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2008-09 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2008 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-95 | |
| Oct 31, 2008 | @ Boston Celtics | L 96-80 | |
| Nov 01, 2008 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 96-86 | |
| Nov 03, 2008 | @ Orlando Magic | L 96-93 | |
| Nov 05, 2008 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-93 | |
| Nov 07, 2008 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 100-83 | |
| Nov 08, 2008 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 106-97 | |
| Nov 11, 2008 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-108 | |
| Nov 13, 2008 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 98-91 | |
| Nov 15, 2008 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 104-91 | |
| Nov 18, 2008 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-109 | |
| Nov 19, 2008 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-74 | |
| Nov 21, 2008 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 115-110 | |
| Nov 23, 2008 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-101 | |
| Nov 24, 2008 | @ Utah Jazz | W 101-100 | |
| Nov 26, 2008 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 98-88 | |
| Nov 30, 2008 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 02, 2008 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-95 | |
| Dec 03, 2008 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 97-90 | |
| Dec 06, 2008 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 117-110 | |
| Dec 09, 2008 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 12, 2008 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 103-96 | |
| Dec 13, 2008 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 113-104 | |
| Dec 16, 2008 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 110-101 | |
| Dec 17, 2008 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-109 | |
| Dec 19, 2008 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-108 | |
| Dec 20, 2008 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 106-98 | |
| Dec 23, 2008 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-98 | |
| Dec 26, 2008 | @ Miami Heat | L 90-77 | |
| Dec 27, 2008 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 129-117 | |
| Dec 29, 2008 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-87 | |
| Dec 31, 2008 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 113-94 | |
| Jan 02, 2009 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 117-92 | |
| Jan 03, 2009 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-92 | |
| Jan 06, 2009 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 99-94 | |
| Jan 09, 2009 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 98-86 | |
| Jan 10, 2009 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 109-98 | |
| Jan 12, 2009 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-95 | |
| Jan 14, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 102-98 | |
| Jan 15, 2009 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-93 | |
| Jan 17, 2009 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-87 | |
| Jan 19, 2009 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-98 | |
| Jan 20, 2009 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 105-102 | |
| Jan 23, 2009 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 114-94 | |
| Jan 25, 2009 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 109-108 | |
| Jan 28, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 95-75 | |
| Jan 30, 2009 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 109-88 | |
| Jan 31, 2009 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 122-111 | |
| Feb 03, 2009 | @ Houston Rockets | L 107-100 | |
| Feb 04, 2009 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 107-93 | |
| Feb 07, 2009 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 115-114 | |
| Feb 10, 2009 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 12, 2009 | vs. Miami Heat | L 95-93 | |
| Feb 18, 2009 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-104 | |
| Feb 20, 2009 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 116-99 | |
| Feb 22, 2009 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 98-91 | |
| Feb 24, 2009 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 120-102 | |
| Feb 25, 2009 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-99 | |
| Feb 27, 2009 | @ Washington Wizards | L 113-90 | |
| Feb 28, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 105-102 | |
| Mar 03, 2009 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 96-80 | |
| Mar 04, 2009 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-88 | |
| Mar 06, 2009 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-102 | |
| Mar 09, 2009 | @ Miami Heat | L 130-127 | |
| Mar 11, 2009 | @ Orlando Magic | L 107-79 | |
| Mar 13, 2009 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-101 | |
| Mar 14, 2009 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 97-79 | |
| Mar 17, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 127-121 | |
| Mar 18, 2009 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 103-96 | |
| Mar 21, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-109 | |
| Mar 23, 2009 | @ Washington Wizards | W 101-99 | |
| Mar 24, 2009 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 99-91 | |
| Mar 26, 2009 | vs. Miami Heat | W 106-87 | |
| Mar 28, 2009 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-106 | |
| Mar 29, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 134-129 | |
| Mar 31, 2009 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 107-105 | |
| Apr 04, 2009 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 103-94 | |
| Apr 07, 2009 | vs. New York Knicks | W 110-103 | |
| Apr 09, 2009 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-99 | |
| Apr 11, 2009 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 113-106 | |
| Apr 13, 2009 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 91-88 | |
| Apr 15, 2009 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 109-98 |
