# 2008–09 Chicago Bulls season

The 2008–09 Chicago Bulls season is the 43rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In the playoffs, the Bulls lost to the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in seven games in the First Round. The defending champion Celtics were also taken to a seven game series the prior season in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. They finished with a 41–41 record for the second time in their past four seasons.

## Key dates

* June 26: The 2008 NBA draft took place in New York City.
* July 1: The free agency period started.

## Offseason

The Bulls re-signed Luol Deng to a 6-year $71 million contract on July 30, 2008. Ben Gordon signed a 1-year contract on October 2, 2008.

## NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club team |
| 1 | 1 | Derrick Rose | G | United States | Memphis |
| 2 | 39 | Sonny Weems | G | United States | Arkansas |

## Regular season

The Bulls were having a meager year floating under .500 and on February 18, 2009 they made their first of several trades sending Andrés Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, Michael Ruffin to the Sacramento Kings for Brad Miller and John Salmons. Then on February 19, 2009, the NBA trade deadline, the Bulls traded Larry Hughes to the New York Knicks for Tim Thomas, Jerome James, and Anthony Roberson. Later that day the Bulls made the third trade in a span of less than 24 hours sending swingman Thabo Sefolosha to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2009 first round pick.
The trades brought a late-season push for the Bulls, which finally clinched a playoff berth on April 10, 2009, their fourth in the last five years. Then on April 13, 2009 they clinched the 7th place in the east by beating the Detroit Pistons and remained .5 game ahead of Philadelphia 76ers for the 6th spot with one game remaining. The Bulls though lost their last game to Toronto and the 76ers beat Cleveland, who did not play most of its best players. The Bulls finished 7th even though they tied Philadelphia at 41-41. The Bulls got matched up with a Garnett-less Boston in the first round of the playoffs.

### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| z-Cleveland Cavaliers | 66 | 16 | .805 | — | 39–2 | 27–14 | 13–3 | 82 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 41 | 41 | .500 | 25 | 28–13 | 13–28 | 9–7 | 82 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 27 | 21–20 | 18–23 | 7–9 | 82 |
| Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 30 | 25–16 | 11–30 | 7–9 | 82 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 34 | 48 | .415 | 32 | 22–19 | 12–29 | 4–12 | 82 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Cleveland Cavaliers | 66 | 16 | .805 | — |
| 2 | y-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | 4 |
| 3 | y-Orlando Magic | 59 | 23 | .720 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 19 |
| 5 | x-Miami Heat | 43 | 39 | .524 | 23 |
| 6 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 25 |
| 7 | x-Chicago Bulls | 41 | 41 | .500 | 25 |
| 8 | x-Detroit Pistons | 39 | 43 | .476 | 27 |
| 9 | Indiana Pacers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 30 |
| 10 | Charlotte Bobcats | 35 | 47 | .427 | 31 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 32 |
| 12 | Milwaukee Bucks | 34 | 48 | .415 | 32 |
| 13 | Toronto Raptors | 33 | 49 | .402 | 33 |
| 14 | New York Knicks | 32 | 50 | .390 | 34 |
| 15 | Washington Wizards | 19 | 63 | .232 | 47 |

### Record vs. opponents

2008-09 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Boston | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Charlotte | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Chicago | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Cleveland | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Dallas | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Denver | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Detroit | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Golden State | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Houston | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Indiana | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| L.A. Lakers | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Memphis | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Miami | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Milwaukee | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Minnesota | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | 0—0 | 0—0 | 0—0 | 0—0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| New Jersey | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | 0—0 | 0—0 |
| New Orleans | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| New York | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Oklahoma City | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Orlando | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Philadelphia | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 |
| Phoenix | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 |
| Portland | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Sacramento | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| San Antonio | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0—0 | – | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Toronto | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Utah | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 |
| Washington | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | — |

### Game log

2008–09 game log :
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 28
Milwaukee
W 108–95
Luol Deng (21)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Derrick Rose (9)
United Center 21,762
1–0
2
October 31
@ Boston
L 80–96
Derrick Rose (18)
Joakim Noah (13)
Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich (3)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
1–1 :
November: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 1
Memphis
W 96–86
Derrick Rose (26)
Drew Gooden (20)
Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon (4)
United Center 21,785
2–1
4
November 3
@ Orlando
L 93–96
Drew Gooden (21)
Andrés Nocioni, Luol Deng (7)
Kirk Hinrich, Drew Gooden, Luol Deng (3)
Amway Arena 15,606
2–2
5
November 5
@ Cleveland
L 93–107
Ben Gordon (31)
Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
2–3
6
November 7
Phoenix
W 100–83
Ben Gordon (23)
Joakim Noah (14)
Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,967
3–3
7
November 8
Cleveland
L 97–106
Ben Gordon (29)
Tyrus Thomas (8)
Derrick Rose (9)
United Center 21,965
3–4
8
November 11
Atlanta
L 108–113
Derrick Rose (26)
Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Aaron Gray (10)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,738
3–5
9
November 13
Dallas
W 98–91
Ben Gordon (35)
Luol Deng, Derrick Rose (9)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,751
4–5
10
November 15
Indiana
W 104–91
Derrick Rose (23)
Andrés Nocioni (11)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 21,759
5–5
11
November 18
@ L.A. Lakers
L 109–116
Derrick Rose (25)
Andrés Nocioni (8)
Derrick Rose (9)
Staples Center 18,997
5–6
12
November 19
@ Portland
L 74–116
Andrés Nocioni (13)
Tyrus Thomas (7)
Lindsey Hunter, Ben Gordon (3)
Rose Garden 20,599
5–7
13
November 21
@ Golden State
W 115–110
Larry Hughes (26)
Drew Gooden (16)
Derrick Rose (5)
Oracle Arena 19,596
6–7
14
November 23
@ Denver
L 101–114
Ben Gordon (28)
Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (6)
Pepsi Center 16,202
6–8
15
November 24
@ Utah
W 101–100
Derrick Rose (25)
Tyrus Thomas (8)
Derrick Rose (9)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
7–8
16
November 26
@ San Antonio
L 88–98
Ben Gordon (23)
Drew Gooden (12)
Derrick Rose (6)
AT&T Center 17,837
7–9
17
November 30
@ Philadelphia
W 103–92
Ben Gordon (21)
Drew Gooden (12)
Derrick Rose (10)
Wachovia Center 13,561
8–9 :
December: 6–9 (home: 5–2; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 2
Philadelphia
L 95–103 (OT)
Derrick Rose (24)
Tyrus Thomas (13)
Ben Gordon (4)
United Center 20,485
8–10
19
December 3
@ Milwaukee
L 90–97
Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (9)
Bradley Center 13,684
8–11
20
December 6
Washington
W 117–110
Luol Deng (26)
Drew Gooden (10)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 21,741
9–11
21
December 9
New York
W 105–100
Drew Gooden (22)
Drew Gooden (16)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 19,519
10–11
22
December 12
@ Memphis
L 96–103
Ben Gordon (26)
Drew Gooden (13)
Derrick Rose (11)
FedExForum 17,132
10–12
23
December 13
New Jersey
W 113–104
Ben Gordon (29)
Joakim Noah (8)
Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,751
11–12
24
December 16
@ Charlotte
L 101–110 (OT)
Ben Gordon (25)
Tyrus Thomas, Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
Time Warner Cable Arena 11,225
11–13
25
December 17
L.A. Clippers
W 115–109 (OT)
Andrés Nocioni, Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (11)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 20,102
12–13
26
December 19
@ Boston
L 108–126
Luol Deng (19)
Aaron Gray (8)
Derrick Rose (5)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
12–14
27
December 20
Utah
W 106–98
Ben Gordon (26)
Joakim Noah (9)
Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose, Andrés Nocioni (3)
United Center 22,046
13–14
28
December 23
@ Detroit
L 98–104
Larry Hughes (19)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Ben Gordon (7)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
13–15
29
December 26
@ Miami
L 77–90
Ben Gordon (15)
Aaron Gray (11)
Derrick Rose (3)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
13–16
30
December 27
@ Atlanta
L 117–129
Ben Gordon (33)
Tyrus Thomas (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
Philips Arena 18,031
13–17
31
December 29
@ New Jersey
W 100–87
Ben Gordon (24)
Andrés Nocioni (8)
Derrick Rose (13)
Izod Center 18,786
14–17
32
December 31
Orlando
L 94–113
Joakim Noah (19)
Joakim Noah (11)
Thabo Sefolosha, Andrés Nocioni (4)
United Center 21,861
14–18 :
January: 7–9 (home: 3–6; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
33
January 2
@ Cleveland
L 92–117
Ben Gordon (22)
Joakim Noah (10)
Ben Gordon (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
14–19
34
January 3
Minnesota
L 92–102
Derrick Rose (22)
Aaron Gray (9)
Ben Gordon (6)
United Center 20,516
14–20
35
January 6
Sacramento
W 99–94
Ben Gordon (24)
Drew Gooden (10)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 18,060
15–20
36
January 9
Washington
W 98–86
Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (11)
Derrick Rose (9)
United Center 20,125
16–20
37
January 10
Oklahoma City
L 98–109 (OT)
Ben Gordon (22)
Drew Gooden (12)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 20,469
16–21
38
January 12
Portland
L 95–109
Drew Gooden (22)
Drew Gooden (9)
Derrick Rose (10)
United Center 18,996
16–22
39
January 14
@ Toronto
W 102–98
Derrick Rose (25)
Luol Deng (14)
Derrick Rose (10)
Air Canada Centre 18,494
17–22
40
January 15
Cleveland
W 102–93 (OT)
Luol Deng (22)
Luol Deng (8)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,297
18–22
41
January 17
San Antonio
L 87–92
Ben Gordon (20)
Andrés Nocioni (15)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 22,100
18–23
42
January 19
@ New York
L 98–102
Luol Deng, Derrick Rose (20)
Joakim Noah (18)
Derrick Rose (8)
Madison Square Garden 18,807
18–24
43
January 20
Atlanta
L 102–105
Ben Gordon (21)
Joakim Noah (11)
Kirk Hinrich (8)
United Center 20,389
18–25
44
January 23
Toronto
L 94–114
Ben Gordon (19)
Aaron Gray (7)
Kirk Hinrich (7)
United Center 20,886
18–26
45
January 25
@ Minnesota
L 108–109 (OT)
Ben Gordon (23)
Joakim Noah (10)
Derrick Rose (7)
Target Center 16,009
18–27
46
January 28
@ L.A. Clippers
W 95–75
Luol Deng (23)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Ben Gordon (8)
Staples Center 15,637
19–27
47
January 30
@ Sacramento
W 109–88
Ben Gordon, Luol Deng (20)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Derrick Rose (11)
ARCO Arena 13,356
20–27
48
January 31
@ Phoenix
W 122–111
Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon (26)
Luol Deng (10)
Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
21–27 :
February: 6–6 (home: 4–1; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
49
February 3
@ Houston
L 100–107
Luol Deng (28)
Tyrus Thomas (13)
Derrick Rose (7)
Toyota Center 16,653
21–28
50
February 4
@ New Orleans
W 107–93
Derrick Rose (21)
Tyrus Thomas (10)
Ben Gordon (7)
New Orleans Arena 16,270
22–28
51
February 7
@ Dallas
L 114–115 (OT)
Ben Gordon (28)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Derrick Rose (9)
American Airlines Center 20,349
22–29
52
February 10
Detroit
W 107–102
Ben Gordon (24)
Joakim Noah (16)
Kirk Hinrich (5)
United Center 21,896
23–29
53
February 12
Miami
L 93–95
Ben Gordon (34)
Joakim Noah (11)
Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 21,801
23–30
54
February 18
@ Milwaukee
W 113–104
Kirk Hinrich (31)
Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (9)
Bradley Center 15,309
24–30
55
February 20
Denver
W 116–99
Ben Gordon (37)
Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas (12)
Kirk Hinrich (8)
United Center 21,790
25–30
56
February 22
@ Indiana
L 91–98
Ben Gordon (28)
Joakim Noah (12)
Derrick Rose (8)
Conseco Fieldhouse 17,083
25–31
57
February 24
Orlando
W 120–102
Derrick Rose (22)
Joakim Noah (8)
Derrick Rose, Brad Miller (5)
United Center 21,902
26–31
58
February 25
@ New Jersey
L 99–111
Ben Gordon (17)
Tyrus Thomas (11)
Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose (5)
Izod Center 14,075
26–32
59
February 27
@ Washington
L 90–113
John Salmons (25)
Brad Miller (11)
Luol Deng, John Salmons, Derrick Rose (3)
Verizon Center 18,114
26–33
60
February 28
Houston
W 105–102
Derrick Rose (22)
Joakim Noah (15)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 22,394
27–33 :
March: 9–7 (home: 7–1; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
61
March 3
@ Charlotte
L 80–96
Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas (14)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Derrick Rose (5)
Time Warner Cable Arena 14,216
27–34
62
March 4
Golden State
W 110–88
John Salmons (23)
Joakim Noah (17)
Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich (6)
United Center 20,108
28–34
63
March 6
Milwaukee
W 117–102
Ben Gordon (34)
Joakim Noah (13)
Ben Gordon (7)
United Center 21,186
29–34
64
March 9
@ Miami
L 127–130 (2OT)
Ben Gordon (43)
Joakim Noah (15)
Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose, Brad Miller, Kirk Hinrich (3)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
29–35
65
March 11
@ Orlando
L 79–107
John Salmons (18)
John Salmons (8)
Derrick Rose (3)
Amway Arena 17,461
29–36
66
March 13
@ Philadelphia
L 101–104
Derrick Rose (20)
Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (6)
Wachovia Center 17,563
29–37
67
March 14
New Orleans
W 97–79
Ben Gordon (27)
Brad Miller, Joakim Noah (9)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 22,135
30–37
68
March 17
Boston
W 127–121
John Salmons (38)
Brad Miller (14)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 22,107
31–37
69
March 18
@ Oklahoma City
W 103–96
Derrick Rose (25)
Tyrus Thomas (11)
Brad Miller (5)
Ford Center 19,136
32–37
70
March 21
L.A. Lakers
L 109–117
John Salmons (30)
Tyrus Thomas (16)
Ben Gordon (6)
United Center 23,011
32–38
71
March 23
@ Washington
W 101–99
Ben Gordon (21)
Joakim Noah (12)
Derrick Rose (8)
Verizon Center 15,421
33–38
72
March 24
Detroit
W 99–91
Kirk Hinrich (24)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Kirk Hinrich (8)
United Center 20,502
34–38
73
March 26
Miami
W 106–87
John Salmons (27)
Tyrus Thomas (12)
Derrick Rose (7)
United Center 21,908
35–38
74
March 28
Indiana
W 112–106
Ben Gordon (25)
Derrick Rose (9)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 20,756
36–38
75
March 29
@ Toronto
L 129–134 (OT)
Ben Gordon (37)
Brad Miller (10)
Derrick Rose (9)
Air Canada Centre 18,949
36–39
76
March 31
@ Indiana
L 105–107
Derrick Rose (24)
Derrick Rose (11)
Brad Miller (8)
Conseco Fieldhouse 15,687
36–40 :
April: 5–1 (home: 4–1; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
77
April 4
New Jersey
W 103–94
Ben Gordon (18)
Joakim Noah (10)
Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich (5)
United Center 21,424
37–40
78
April 7
New York
W 110–103
Kirk Hinrich (25)
Brad Miller (12)
John Salmons, Derrick Rose (6)
United Center 20,764
38–40
79
April 9
Philadelphia
W 113–99
Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas (24)
Ben Gordon, Joakim Noah (7)
Derrick Rose (8)
United Center 20,791
39–40
80
April 11
Charlotte
W 113–106
Ben Gordon (39)
Joakim Noah (10)
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah (7)
United Center 20,265
40–40
81
April 13
@ Detroit
W 91–88
Derrick Rose (24)
Joakim Noah (13)
Derrick Rose (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
41–40
82
April 15
Toronto
L 98–109
Ben Gordon (23)
Brad Miller (11)
Derrick Rose (11)
United Center 20,677
41–41 :
2008–09 season schedule :

## Playoffs

The Bulls-Celtics series became the first playoff series in NBA history to have 4 games go into overtime.
2009 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18
@ Boston
W 105–103 (OT)
Derrick Rose (36)
Joakim Noah (17)
Derrick Rose (11)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
1–0
2
April 20
@ Boston
L 115–118
Ben Gordon (42)
Brad Miller (9)
Kirk Hinrich (7)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
1–1
3
April 23
Boston
L 86–107
Ben Gordon (15)
Joakim Noah (10)
3 players tied (3)
United Center 23,072
1–2
4
April 26
Boston
W 121–118 (2OT)
Derrick Rose (23)
Derrick Rose (11)
Derrick Rose (9)
United Center 23,067
2–2
5
April 28
@ Boston
L 104–106 (OT)
Ben Gordon (26)
Joakim Noah (17)
Gordon, Rose (6)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
2–3
6
April 30
Boston
W 128–127 (3OT)
John Salmons (35)
Joakim Noah (15)
Rose, Hinrich (7)
United Center 23,430
3–3
7
May 2
@ Boston
L 99–109
Ben Gordon (33)
Joakim Noah (15)
Ben Gordon (4)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
3–4
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :
2009 playoff schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Luol Deng | 49 | 46 | 34.0 | .448 | .400 | .796 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.22 | 0.51 | 14.1 |
| Drew Gooden* | 31 | 27 | 29.6 | .457 | .000 | .866 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 0.84 | 0.45 | 13.1 |
| Ben Gordon | 82 | 76 | 36.6 | .455 | .410 | .864 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 0.87 | 0.27 | 20.7 |
| Aaron Gray | 56 | 18 | 12.8 | .485 | .000 | .576 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.25 | 0.32 | 3.5 |
| Kirk Hinrich | 51 | 4 | 26.3 | .437 | .408 | .791 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 1.29 | 0.37 | 9.9 |
| Larry Hughes* | 30 | 6 | 26.4 | .412 | .392 | .817 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 1.20 | 0.30 | 12.0 |
| Lindsey Hunter | 28 | 0 | 9.5 | .329 | .333 | .600 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.71 | 0.04 | 2.6 |
| Linton Johnson* | 8 | 0 | 5.3 | .364 | .500 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 1.1 |
| Brad Miller* | 27 | 0 | 27.6 | .478 | .231 | .853 | 7.4 | 3.2 | 0.81 | 0.44 | 11.8 |
| Demetris Nichols* | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | .250 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.0 |
| Joakim Noah | 80 | 55 | 24.2 | .556 | .000 | .676 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 0.61 | 1.38 | 6.7 |
| Andrés Nocioni* | 53 | 2 | 24.1 | .414 | .378 | .806 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.49 | 0.30 | 10.4 |
| Anthony Roberson* | 6 | 0 | 3.8 | .294 | .200 | .000 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.0 |
| Derrick Rose | 81 | 80 | 37.0 | .475 | .222 | .788 | 3.9 | 6.3 | 0.81 | 0.22 | 16.8 |
| John Salmons* | 26 | 21 | 37.7 | .473 | .415 | .843 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.96 | 0.58 | 18.3 |
| Thabo Sefolosha* | 43 | 14 | 17.1 | .434 | .300 | .840 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.81 | 0.44 | 4.5 |
| Cedric Simmons* | 11 | 0 | 5.5 | .524 | .000 | .429 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.09 | 0.36 | 2.5 |
| Tim Thomas* | 18 | 0 | 14.1 | .400 | .442 | .700 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 5.8 |
| Tyrus Thomas | 79 | 61 | 27.5 | .451 | .333 | .783 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 1.15 | 1.91 | 10.8 |
*Statistics with the Chicago Bulls

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ben Gordon | 7 | 7 | 43.4 | .388 | .370 | .875 | 2.9 | 3.0 | .43 | .14 | 24.3 |
| John Salmons | 7 | 7 | 44.7 | .402 | .316 | .853 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.29 | 1.00 | 18.1 |
| Derrick Rose | 7 | 7 | 44.7 | .492 | .000 | .800 | 6.3 | 6.4 | .57 | .71 | 19.7 |
| Brad Miller | 7 | 0 | 26.5 | .471 | .714 | .792 | 7.9 | 1.3 | .29 | .86 | 10.1 |
| Tyrus Thomas | 7 | 7 | 27.9 | .438 | .000 | .786 | 6.3 | .86 | 1.00 | 2.6 | 9.6 |
| Kirk Hinrich | 7 | 0 | 30.0 | .468 | .394 | .680 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.71 | .43 | 12.6 |
| Joakim Noah | 7 | 7 | 38.7 | .509 | .000 | .760 | 13.1 | 2.3 | .86 | 2.14 | 10.1 |
| Tim Thomas | 2 | 0 | 7.5 | .300 | .250 | .000 | 1.5 | 0.0 | .00 | .00 | 3.5 |
| Aaron Gray | 2 | 0 | 4.5 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .00 | .00 | 0.0 |
| Lindsey Hunter | 6 | 0 | 4.0 | .333 | .333 | .750 | 0.71 | 0.71 | .29 | .00 | 0.86 |
| Anthony Roberson | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | .750 | 1.000 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | .00 | 8.0 |
| Linton Johnson | 3 | 0 | 3.3 | .500 | .000 | 1.000 | 1.3 | 0.3 | .00 | .00 | 1.3 |
| TOTAL | 7 | --- | --- | .442 | .388 | .793 | 45.6 | 22.0 | 9.14 | 6.71 | 111.1 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

* Derrick Rose = Rookie of the Year
* Derrick Rose won the All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge
* Derrick Rose was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team

### Records

* 4—Overtime games played in this series
* 7—Overtime periods played in this series, more than any other NBA team has played in an entire postseason.

## Transactions
### Draft picks

The Bulls beat the odds and won the NBA Draft Lottery on May 20, 2008. The Bulls vaulted from the ninth spot to win the NBA Draft Lottery in Secaucus, NJ, and obtain the first pick in the June 26 NBA Draft. Chicago had a 1.7 percent chance of winning and were represented by Executive Vice President, Business Operations Steve Schanwald. The Heat had the best odds of securing the top selection and will pick second followed by the Timberwolves and Sonics.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 1 | Derrick Rose | Point guard | American | University of Memphis |
| 2 | 39 | Sonny Weems | Shooting guard | American | University of Arkansas |

### Trades

| Date | Acquired | From | For |
| June 26, 2009 | Ömer Aşık | Portland Trail Blazers | Sonny Weems |
| February 18, 2009 | Brad Miller and John Salmons | Sacramento Kings | Drew Gooden, Andrés Nocioni, Michael Ruffin and Cedric Simmons |
| February 19, 2009 | Jerome James, Anthony Roberson and Tim Thomas | New York Knicks | Larry Hughes |
| February 19, 2009 | 2009 First Round Draft Pick | Oklahoma City Thunder | Thabo Sefolosha |