The 2008-09 season for the New York Knicks was a period of transition and rebuilding under new head coach Mike D’Antoni. The team finished the season with a 32-50 record, which marked a slight improvement over the previous season’s performance but still left them out of playoff contention.
D’Antoni, known for his fast-paced offensive strategy, sought to revamp the Knicks’ playing style. The team saw an offensive boost, averaging 105.2 points per game, up from 96.9 the previous season. Key players like David Lee and Nate Robinson flourished under this system. Lee had a standout year, averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, earning him recognition as one of the league’s most reliable forwards.
The Knicks also made significant roster changes, most notably acquiring Al Harrington, Tim Thomas, and Cuttino Mobley in a trade with the Golden State Warriors. However, Mobley retired soon after due to a heart condition. These moves were part of a larger strategy to clear salary cap space, aiming to attract marquee free agents in the 2010 offseason.
Despite these efforts, the Knicks struggled defensively, allowing opponents to score an average of 107.8 points per game, one of the highest in the league. This defensive weakness, coupled with inconsistent performances, prevented the team from making a serious playoff push. The season was a stepping stone as the Knicks aimed to build a competitive roster for the future. Overall, the 2008-09 season highlighted the challenges of rebuilding while laying the groundwork for upcoming improvements.
- Regular Season Record: 32-50
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks 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% |
| Al Harrington | 68 | 20.7 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 36.2 | |||||||
| Zach Randolph | 11 | 20.5 | 12.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 29.2 | |||||||
| Jamal Crawford | 11 | 19.6 | 1.5 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 45.5 | |||||||
| Nate Robinson | 74 | 17.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 32.5 | |||||||
| David Lee | 81 | 16.0 | 11.7 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Wilson Chandler | 82 | 14.4 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 32.8 | |||||||
| Larry Hughes | 25 | 11.2 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 38.5 | |||||||
| Chris Duhon | 79 | 11.1 | 3.1 | 7.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 39.1 | |||||||
| Quentin Richardson | 72 | 10.2 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 36.5 | |||||||
| Tim Thomas | 36 | 9.6 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 42.1 | |||||||
| Danilo Gallinari | 28 | 6.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 44.4 | |||||||
| Courtney Sims | 1 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Chris Wilcox | 25 | 5.4 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jared Jeffries | 56 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.4 | |||||||
| Anthony Roberson | 23 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.8 | |||||||
| Joe Crawford | 2 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Jerome James | 2 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mouhamed Sene | 1 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Demetris Nichols | 2 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mardy Collins | 9 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Malik Rose | 18 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Eddy Curry | 3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Cheikh Samb | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks 2008-09 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2008-09 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2008 | vs. Miami Heat | W 120-115 | |
| Oct 31, 2008 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-87 | |
| Nov 02, 2008 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 94-86 | |
| Nov 05, 2008 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 101-98 | |
| Nov 07, 2008 | @ Washington Wizards | W 114-108 | |
| Nov 09, 2008 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-99 | |
| Nov 11, 2008 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 92-80 | |
| Nov 12, 2008 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 132-103 | |
| Nov 14, 2008 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 116-106 | |
| Nov 16, 2008 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 124-114 | |
| Nov 18, 2008 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-101 | |
| Nov 21, 2008 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-87 | |
| Nov 22, 2008 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 122-117 | |
| Nov 25, 2008 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-101 | |
| Nov 26, 2008 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 110-96 | |
| Nov 29, 2008 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 138-125 | |
| Dec 02, 2008 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-97 | |
| Dec 03, 2008 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 118-82 | |
| Dec 05, 2008 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 98-95 | |
| Dec 07, 2008 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-92 | |
| Dec 09, 2008 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-100 | |
| Dec 10, 2008 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 121-109 | |
| Dec 13, 2008 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 114-90 | |
| Dec 15, 2008 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-103 | |
| Dec 16, 2008 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-114 | |
| Dec 19, 2008 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-81 | |
| Dec 21, 2008 | @ Boston Celtics | L 124-105 | |
| Dec 26, 2008 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 120-107 | |
| Dec 28, 2008 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 117-110 | |
| Dec 30, 2008 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 93-89 | |
| Jan 02, 2009 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 105-103 | |
| Jan 04, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 100-88 | |
| Jan 06, 2009 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 107-99 | |
| Jan 08, 2009 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 99-94 | |
| Jan 10, 2009 | @ Houston Rockets | L 96-76 | |
| Jan 12, 2009 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 101-95 | |
| Jan 14, 2009 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 128-122 | |
| Jan 16, 2009 | @ Washington Wizards | L 96-89 | |
| Jan 17, 2009 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-97 | |
| Jan 19, 2009 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-98 | |
| Jan 21, 2009 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 114-109 | |
| Jan 23, 2009 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 108-88 | |
| Jan 24, 2009 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-110 | |
| Jan 26, 2009 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-98 | |
| Jan 28, 2009 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 112-104 | |
| Jan 31, 2009 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 122-113 | |
| Feb 02, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-117 | |
| Feb 04, 2009 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-102 | |
| Feb 06, 2009 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-100 | |
| Feb 08, 2009 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-108 | |
| Feb 10, 2009 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 144-127 | |
| Feb 11, 2009 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 128-124 | |
| Feb 17, 2009 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-107 | |
| Feb 20, 2009 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 127-97 | |
| Feb 22, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 111-100 | |
| Feb 23, 2009 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 123-119 | |
| Feb 25, 2009 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 114-109 | |
| Feb 27, 2009 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-103 | |
| Feb 28, 2009 | @ Miami Heat | L 120-115 | |
| Mar 04, 2009 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 07, 2009 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 08, 2009 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 106-101 | |
| Mar 10, 2009 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 120-112 | |
| Mar 11, 2009 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 116-111 | |
| Mar 13, 2009 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 102-94 | |
| Mar 15, 2009 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 98-93 | |
| Mar 18, 2009 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 115-89 | |
| Mar 20, 2009 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 121-94 | |
| Mar 21, 2009 | @ Orlando Magic | L 110-103 | |
| Mar 23, 2009 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 106-102 | |
| Mar 25, 2009 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 140-135 | |
| Mar 27, 2009 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 103-93 | |
| Mar 28, 2009 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 96-85 | |
| Mar 30, 2009 | @ Utah Jazz | L 112-104 | |
| Mar 31, 2009 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 111-104 | |
| Apr 04, 2009 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 102-95 | |
| Apr 05, 2009 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 112-103 | |
| Apr 07, 2009 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-103 | |
| Apr 08, 2009 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 113-86 | |
| Apr 10, 2009 | @ Orlando Magic | W 105-95 | |
| Apr 12, 2009 | @ Miami Heat | L 122-105 | |
| Apr 15, 2009 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 102-73 |