The 2008-09 Utah Jazz season marked their 35th in the NBA. Led by head coach Jerry Sloan, the Jazz aimed to build on their playoff appearance from the previous year. The team showcased a strong core, featuring Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur. Williams, in particular, was instrumental, averaging 19.4 points and 10.7 assists per game, solidifying his role as one of the league’s premier point guards.
Utah finished the regular season with a 48-34 record, securing the eighth seed in a highly competitive Western Conference. Their performance at home was impressive, as they posted a 33-8 record at the EnergySolutions Arena. However, their road performances were less consistent, with a 15-26 record. Injuries also played a role during the season, with Boozer missing significant time due to a knee injury, while Andrei Kirilenko and Okur also faced periods of absence.
In the playoffs, the Jazz faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite their efforts, the Jazz struggled against the top-seeded Lakers, losing the series 4-1. The Lakers’ depth and star power proved too much for Utah to overcome. This season highlighted the Jazz’s need for greater depth and consistency, particularly in away games. While their early playoff exit was disappointing, the team’s core remained intact, providing a foundation for future success.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Utah Jazz 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% |
| Deron Williams | 68 | 19.4 | 2.9 | 10.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 31.0 | 5 | 20.2 | 3.8 | 10.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 36.0 |
| Mehmet Okur | 72 | 17.0 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 44.6 | 2 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 33.3 |
| Carlos Boozer | 37 | 16.2 | 10.4 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 20.6 | 13.2 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Ronnie Brewer | 81 | 13.7 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 25.9 | 5 | 10.2 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Paul Millsap | 76 | 13.5 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 11.8 | 8.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Andrei Kirilenko | 67 | 11.6 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 27.4 | 5 | 11.0 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| C.J. Miles | 72 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 35.2 | 5 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
| Kyle Korver | 78 | 9.0 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 38.6 | 5 | 10.6 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 46.2 |
| Kosta Koufos | 48 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Matt Harpring | 63 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Ronnie Price | 52 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 31.1 | 2 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Morris Almond | 25 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 29.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brevin Knight | 74 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kyrylo Fesenko | 21 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jarron Collins | 26 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Utah Jazz in the 2009 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Los Angeles Lakers, the top seed in the Western Conference. Despite a valiant effort, the Jazz struggled to contain Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, ultimately losing the series in five games. Utah's inability to secure consistent defensive stops and overcome the Lakers' offensive prowess highlighted their challenges against elite competition.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-100 | |
| Apr 21, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-109 | |
| Apr 23, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 88-86 | |
| Apr 25, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-94 | |
| Apr 27, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-96 |
Utah Jazz 2008-09 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2008-09 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2008 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 98-94 | |
| Nov 01, 2008 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 101-79 | |
| Nov 03, 2008 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 89-73 | |
| Nov 05, 2008 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 103-96 | |
| Nov 07, 2008 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 104-97 | |
| Nov 09, 2008 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-99 | |
| Nov 11, 2008 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 93-80 | |
| Nov 12, 2008 | @ Washington Wizards | L 95-87 | |
| Nov 14, 2008 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 104-96 | |
| Nov 15, 2008 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-93 | |
| Nov 17, 2008 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-97 | |
| Nov 19, 2008 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-94 | |
| Nov 21, 2008 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-94 | |
| Nov 22, 2008 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 103-94 | |
| Nov 24, 2008 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 101-100 | |
| Nov 26, 2008 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 117-100 | |
| Nov 28, 2008 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 120-94 | |
| Nov 29, 2008 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 105-88 | |
| Dec 02, 2008 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 99-94 | |
| Dec 03, 2008 | vs. Miami Heat | L 93-89 | |
| Dec 05, 2008 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 114-87 | |
| Dec 06, 2008 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 106-104 | |
| Dec 09, 2008 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 99-96 | |
| Dec 11, 2008 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 97-88 | |
| Dec 13, 2008 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 103-94 | |
| Dec 15, 2008 | @ Boston Celtics | L 100-91 | |
| Dec 17, 2008 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 19, 2008 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 120-114 | |
| Dec 20, 2008 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-98 | |
| Dec 23, 2008 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 94-86 | |
| Dec 26, 2008 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 97-88 | |
| Dec 27, 2008 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-115 | |
| Dec 29, 2008 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-95 | |
| Jan 02, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-100 | |
| Jan 05, 2009 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 119-114 | |
| Jan 07, 2009 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 116-90 | |
| Jan 10, 2009 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 99-82 | |
| Jan 12, 2009 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-113 | |
| Jan 14, 2009 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 114-93 | |
| Jan 16, 2009 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 101-91 | |
| Jan 17, 2009 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 115-108 | |
| Jan 20, 2009 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 112-107 | |
| Jan 21, 2009 | @ Houston Rockets | L 108-99 | |
| Jan 24, 2009 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-97 | |
| Jan 25, 2009 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 117-97 | |
| Jan 27, 2009 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 106-100 | |
| Jan 30, 2009 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 110-90 | |
| Jan 31, 2009 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-108 | |
| Feb 02, 2009 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 105-86 | |
| Feb 05, 2009 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 115-87 | |
| Feb 06, 2009 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 111-107 | |
| Feb 08, 2009 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 116-96 | |
| Feb 11, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-109 | |
| Feb 17, 2009 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 117-99 | |
| Feb 19, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 90-85 | |
| Feb 21, 2009 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 102-88 | |
| Feb 23, 2009 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 108-89 | |
| Feb 25, 2009 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 120-103 | |
| Feb 28, 2009 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-89 | |
| Mar 01, 2009 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 112-104 | |
| Mar 04, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 101-94 | |
| Mar 06, 2009 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 97-91 | |
| Mar 08, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 109-101 | |
| Mar 10, 2009 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-100 | |
| Mar 11, 2009 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 100-93 | |
| Mar 14, 2009 | @ Miami Heat | L 140-129 | |
| Mar 15, 2009 | @ Orlando Magic | L 105-87 | |
| Mar 17, 2009 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 103-88 | |
| Mar 20, 2009 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 101-94 | |
| Mar 24, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 99-86 | |
| Mar 25, 2009 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 118-114 | |
| Mar 28, 2009 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 30, 2009 | vs. New York Knicks | W 112-104 | |
| Mar 31, 2009 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 125-104 | |
| Apr 02, 2009 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-104 | |
| Apr 03, 2009 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 103-102 | |
| Apr 05, 2009 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 108-94 | |
| Apr 08, 2009 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 130-101 | |
| Apr 10, 2009 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 105-99 | |
| Apr 11, 2009 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 118-108 | |
| Apr 13, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-85 | |
| Apr 14, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-112 |