# 2008 in basketball

The following are the basketball events of the year 2008 throughout the world.
Tournaments include international (FIBA), professional (club) and amateur and collegiate levels.

## Tournaments
### Men's tournaments
#### Olympics

* FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2008 at Athens
** Greece
** Croatia
** Germany
* 2008 Olympics at Beijing
    United States
    Spain
    Argentina

#### Other tournaments

* EuroBasket 2009 qualification

### Women's tournaments
#### Olympics

* FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women 2008 at Madrid
** Spain
** Czech Republic
** Latvia
** Belarus
** Brazil
* 2008 Olympics at Beijing
    United States
    Australia
    Russia

#### Other tournaments

* EuroBasket Women 2009 qualification

### Youth tournaments
## Club championships
### Continental seasons
#### Men

| Organizer | League / Tournament | Champion | Runner-up | Result | Playoff format |
| Euroleague Basketball | 2007–08 EuroLeague | CSKA Moscow | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 91–77 | Single-game final |
| Euroleague Basketball | 2007–08 ULEB Cup | DKV Joventut | Akasvayu Girona | 79–54 | Single-game final |
| FIBA Americas | 2007–08 FIBA Americas League | Peñarol | Soles de Mexicali | — | Single round-robin |
| FIBA Asia | 2008 FIBA Asia Champions Cup | Saba Battery Tehran | Al-Rayyan Sports Club | 82–75 | Single-game final |

### National championships

Men:
* NBA
** Season:
*** Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers (57–25)
*** Eastern Conference and League: Boston Celtics (66–16)
*** Other Division champions: Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic
** Finals: The Boston Celtics defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Finals MVP: Paul Pierce
* Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2007–08 season:
** Regular season: Libertad
** Playoffs: Libertad defeat Quimsa 4–0 in the best-of-seven final.
* National Basketball League, 2007–08 season: The Melbourne Tigers defeat the Sydney Kings 3–2 in the best-of-five grand finals.
* Chinese Basketball Association, 2007–08 season: The Guangdong Southern Tigers defeat the Liaoning Hunters 4–1 in the best-of-seven finals.
* Croatian League:
* Estonian League, 2007–08: TÜ/Rock defeat Kalev/Cramo 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
* French League: Nancy crush defending champions Chorale Roanne 84–53 in the one-off final.
* German Bundesliga:
* Greek League: Panathinaikos defeat Olympiacos 3–2 in the best-of-five final.
* Iranian Super League, 2007–08 season: Mahram defeat Saba Battery 2–0 in the best-of-three final.
* Israel Super League: Hapoel Holon defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv, the 14-time defending champions, 73–72 in the one-off final.
* Italian Serie A: Montepaschi Siena defeat Lottomatica Roma 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
* Lithuanian LKL: Žalgiris defeat Lietuvos Rytas 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
* Montenegro League:
* Philippine Basketball Association, 2007–08 season:
** Philippine Cup: The Sta. Lucia Realtors defeat the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 4–3 in the best-of-seven finals. Finals MVP: Dennis Espino
** Fiesta Conference: The Barangay Ginebra Kings defeat the Air21 Express 4–3 in the best-of-seven Finals. Finals MVPs: Ronald Tubid and Eric Menk
* Polish League:
* Russian Super League, 2007–08 season: CSKA Moscow sweep Dynamo Moscow 3–0 in the best-of-five final.
* Serbia Super League:
* Slovenian League: Union Olimpija defeat Helios Domžale 3–1 in the best-of-five finals.
* Spanish ACB:
** Season: Real Madrid
** Playoffs: TAU Cerámica sweep AXA FC Barcelona 3–0 in the best-of-five final.
* Turkish Basketball League:
* British Basketball League, 2007–08:
** Season:
** Playoffs:
* Adriatic League:
Women:
* 2008 WNBA Finals: Detroit Shock
* EuroLeague Women 2007–08: Spartak Moscow Region

## College
### Men

| Nation | League / Tournament | Champion | Runner-up | Result | Playoff format |
| Canada | 2008 CIS Men's Basketball Championship | Brock Badgers | Acadia Axemen | 64–61 | Single-game final |
| Philippines | 2008 Philippine Collegiate Champions Cup | De La Salle Green Archers | Ateneo Blue Eagles | 71–62 | Single-game final |
| Philippines | UAAP Season 71 | Ateneo Blue Eagles | De La Salle Green Archers | 2–0 | Best-of-three series |
| Philippines | NCAA Season 84 | San Beda Red Lions | JRU Heavy Bombers | 2–1 | Best-of-three series |
* NCAA
** Division I: Kansas 75, Memphis 68 OT
*** Most Outstanding Player: Mario Chalmers, Kansas
** National Invitation Tournament:
** Division II: Winona State (MN) 87, Augusta State (GA) 76
** Division III: Washington University in St. Louis (MO) 90, Amherst 68
* NAIA
** NAIA Division I: Oklahoma City 75, Mountain State (WV) 72
** NAIA Division II: Oregon Tech 63, Bellevue (NE) 56
* NJCAA
** Division I: South Plains College 67, Salt Lake CC 56
** Division II: Mott Community College 83, Columb State Community College 73
** Division III: North Lake College TX 73, Joliet Junior College IL 70
* Philippines
** Philippine Collegiate Championship 2008: De La Salle University 71, Ateneo de Manila University 62
** UAAP Men's: Ateneo de Manila University def. De La Salle University, 2–0 in the finals series
** NCAA (Philippines) Seniors': San Beda College def. José Rizal University, 2–1 in the finals series

### Women

* NCAA
** Division I: Tennessee 64, Stanford 48
*** Most Outstanding Player: Candace Parker, Tennessee
** WNIT: Marquette 81, Michigan State 66
** Division II: Northern Kentucky 63, South Dakota 58
** Division III: Howard Payne (TX) 68, Messiah (PA) 54
* NAIA
** NAIA Division I: Vanguard (CA) 72, Trevecca Nazarene (TN) 59
** NAIA Division II: Northwestern College 82, College of the Ozarks MO 75
* NJCAA
** Division I: Gulf Coast 62, Central Arizona 61
** Division II: Kirkwood 78 vs Kankakee 53 (Final)
** Division III: Monroe CC NY 79, Mohawk Valley CC 48
* UAAP Women's: Far Eastern University def. University of the Philippines, 2–0 in the finals series

### Prep

* USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1: St. Anthony High School (New Jersey), Jersey City, New Jersey
* USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, California
* NCAA (Philippines) Juniors: San Sebastian College-Recoletos def. Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 2–0 in the finals series
* UAAP Juniors: Ateneo High School def. De La Salle Zobel, 2–0 in the finals series

## Awards and honors
### Basketball Hall of Fame

* Class of 2008:
** Players: Adrian Dantley, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon
** Coaches: Pat Riley, Cathy Rush
** Contributors: William Davidson, Dick Vitale

### Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

* Class of 2008
** Debbie Ryan
** Patty Broderick
** Lin L. Laursen
** Jill Rankin Schneider
** Suzie McConnell-Serio
** Michelle Timms

### Professional

* Men
** NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
** NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics
** NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
** NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: Manu Ginóbili, San Antonio Spurs
** NBA Most Improved Player Award: Hedo Türkoğlu, Orlando Magic
** NBA Coach of the Year Award: Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets
** FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers and Spain (also Memphis Grizzlies)
** Euroscar Award: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers and Spain (also Memphis Grizzlies)
** Mr. Europa: Ricky Rubio, Joventut Badalona and Spain
* Women
** WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
** WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
** WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
** WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Candice Wiggins, Minnesota Lynx
** WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Ebony Hoffman, Indiana Fever
** Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Vickie Johnson, San Antonio Silver Stars
** WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Mike Thibault, Connecticut Sun
** WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Katie Smith, Detroit Shock
** FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Maria Stepanova, CSKA Samara and Russia

### Collegiate

* Combined
** Legends of Coaching Award: Pat Summitt, Tennessee
* Men
** John R. Wooden Award: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
** Naismith College Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Memphis
** Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Mike Green, Butler
** Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
** NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
** USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Michael Beasley, Kansas State
** Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Keno Davis, Drake
** Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Dick Vitale
* Women
** John R. Wooden Award: Candace Parker, Tennessee
** Naismith College Player of the Year: Candace Parker, Tennessee
** Naismith College Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
** Wade Trophy: Candice Wiggins, Stanford
** Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jolene Anderson, Wisconsin
** Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Candace Parker, Tennessee
** NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Candace Parker, Tennessee
** Basketball Academic All-America Team: Candace Parker, Tennessee
** Carol Eckman Award: Doug Bruno, DePaul University
** Maggie Dixon Award: Jeff Walz, Louisville
** USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Maya Moore, Connecticut
** Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
** List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Candice Wiggins, Stanford
** Nancy Lieberman Award: Kristi Toliver, Maryland
** Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Jody Conradt

## Events

* The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

## Movies

* More than a Game
* Semi-Pro – a screwball comedy film starring Will Ferrell, loosely based on the American Basketball Association in the 1970s.

## Deaths

* March 22 — Red Stroud, American ABA player (New Orleans Buccaneers) (born 1941)
* March 25 — Ben Carnevale, American Hall of Fame coach of the Navy Midshipmen and North Carolina Tar Heels (born 1915)
* April 1 — Marvin Stone, former Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals player (born 1981)
* April 4 — Julius McCoy, 76, All-American college player at Michigan State (1956).
* April 9 — Art Spoelstra, American NBA player (Rochester Royals, Minneapolis Lakers, New York Knicks) (born 1932)
* May 5 — Sam Aubrey, American college player and coach (Oklahoma State) (born 1922)
* May 23 — Bob Knight, American professional basketball player (New York Knicks) (born 1929)
* June 25 — A. L. Bennett, American college player (Oklahoma State) (born 1924)
* July 15 — Gennadi Volnov, Russian (Soviet) Olympic gold medalist (1972) (born 1939)
* August 20 — Larry Hennessy, American Villanova All-American (born 1929)
* August 20 — Kevin Duckworth, American NBA All-Star with the Portland Trail Blazers (born 1964)
* September 5 —Bob Cluggish, American BAA player (New York Knicks) (born 1917)
* September 5 — Doyle Parrack, American college coach (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) (born 1921)
* September 6 — LeRoy Gardner Jr., University of Minnesota guard from 1966 to 1969. (born 1947)
* September 8 — Don Haskins, American Hall of Fame coach of the UTEP Miners, 1966 National Champions (born 1930)
* September 19 — Ernie Andres, All-American college player (Indiana), NBL player (Indianapolis Kautskys) (born 1918)
* November 17 — Pete Newell, American Hall of Fame coach of the California Golden Bears, 1959 National Champions (born 1915)