# 2008–09 Phoenix Suns season

The 2008–09 Phoenix Suns season was the 41st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The season was to be a promising one, filled with All-Star talent at several positions. It was believed over the offseason, the Suns would be able to better incorporate Shaquille O'Neal, who necessitated changes to both the offense and defense after being obtained in a trade one season ago. It was also the first season head coach Terry Porter had been able to use the summer to implement his defensive approach for a team which had in seasons past scored a large number of their points off fast breaks and early in the shot clock. Sensing a need for change, team management traded for scorer Jason Richardson in December, but this did not appear to immediately reinvigorate an offense that had recently led the league in points per game. However, after Phoenix went 28–23 to start the season, Suns assistant Alvin Gentry was named to replace Porter as head coach. Less than one week after the All-Star Game, Amar'e Stoudemire sustained a season-ending eye injury while the improvement of the team never fully came. The Suns finished 46–36, second in the Pacific division but out the playoffs for the first time since Steve Nash rejoined the Suns in the 2004–05 season. The Suns had the best team offensive rating in the NBA.

## Key dates

* June 26: The 2008 NBA draft took place in New York City.
* July 1: The free agency period started.
* October 1: Starting power forward Amar'e Stoudemire sustained a partially torn iris.
* October 8: The pre-season started with a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
* October 29: The regular season started with a game against the San Antonio Spurs.
* February 14–15: Phoenix hosted the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend.
* February 16: The Suns fired coach Terry Porter and named Alvin Gentry interim coach.
* February 20: Stoudemire underwent surgery for a detached retina and was out for eight weeks after an injury sustained on February 18.

## Offseason

* June 7: Terry Porter was named as the Suns' new head coach.
* June 20: Alvin Gentry, Bill Cartwright, Dan Majerle and Igor Kokoskov were named as the Suns' new assistant coaches.
* June 26: Forward Grant Hill has exercised his player option for the 2008–09 season.
* June 26: Suns have acquired the draft rights to the rookie point guard Goran Dragić from San Antonio Spurs.
* July 10: Suns have signed center Robin Lopez, selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.
* July 22: Free agent forward Matt Barnes has signed with the Suns.
* August 14: Free agent forward Louis Amundson has signed with the Suns.
* August 25: Suns have acquired rookie guard Sean Singletary from the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard D. J. Strawberry.
* September 22: Suns have signed Goran Dragić.
* October 23: The Phoenix Suns have exercised the team's option on swingman Alando Tucker for the 2009–10 season.

### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 15 | Robin Lopez | Center | United States | Stanford |
| 2 | 48 | Malik Hairston | Guard | United States | Oregon |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| c-Los Angeles Lakers | 65 | 17 | .793 | — | 36–5 | 29–12 | 14–2 | 82 |
| Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19 | 28–13 | 18–23 | 11–5 | 82 |
| Golden State Warriors | 29 | 53 | .354 | 36 | 21–20 | 8–33 | 6–10 | 82 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 19 | 63 | .232 | 46 | 11–30 | 8–33 | 2–14 | 82 |
| Sacramento Kings | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 | 11–30 | 6–39 | 7–9 | 82 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 65 | 17 | .793 | — |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 11 |
| 3 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 54 | 28 | .659 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 53 | 29 | .646 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 15 |
| 7 | x-New Orleans Hornets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16 |
| 8 | x-Utah Jazz | 48 | 34 | .585 | 17 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 19 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 29 | 53 | .354 | 36 |
| 11 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41 |
| 12 | Memphis Grizzlies | 24 | 58 | .293 | 41 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 23 | 59 | .280 | 42 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 19 | 63 | .232 | 46 |
| 15 | Sacramento Kings | 17 | 65 | .207 | 48 |

### Game log

2008–09 game log :
October: 1–1 (home: 0–1; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 29
@ San Antonio
W 103–98
Amar'e Stoudemire (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Steve Nash (13)
AT&T Center 18,797
1–0
2
October 30
New Orleans
L 95–108
Steve Nash (24)
Amar'e Stoudemire (12)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
1–1 :
November: 10–6 (home: 4–4; road: 6–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 1
Portland
W 107–96
Amar'e Stoudemire (23)
Amar'e Stoudemire (13)
Steve Nash (7)
US Airways Center 18,422
2–1
4
November 4
@ New Jersey
W 114–86
Raja Bell (22)
Matt Barnes (7)
Steve Nash (11)
Izod Center 15,230
3–1
5
November 5
@ Indiana
W 113–103
Amar'e Stoudemire (49)
Amar'e Stoudemire (11)
Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash (6)
Conseco Fieldhouse 11,660
4–1
6
November 7
@ Chicago
L 83–100
Amar'e Stoudemire (26)
Robin Lopez, Amar'e Stoudemire (7)
Steve Nash (5)
United Center 21,967
4–2
7
November 8
@ Milwaukee
W 104–96
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill (11)
Steve Nash (7)
Bradley Center 17,935
5–2
8
November 10
Memphis
W 107–102
Leandro Barbosa (27)
Matt Barnes (8)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
6–2
9
November 12
Houston
L 82–94
Leandro Barbosa, Shaquille O'Neal (18)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Nash (3)
US Airways Center 18,422
6–3
10
November 14
@ Sacramento
W 97–95 (OT)
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Shaquille O'Neal (6)
ARCO Arena 12,810
7–3
11
November 16
Detroit
W 104–86
Amar'e Stoudemire (29)
Amar'e Stoudemire (11)
Steve Nash (7)
US Airways Center 18,422
8–3
12
November 17
@ Utah
L 97–109
Amar'e Stoudemire (30)
Amar'e Stoudemire (8)
Steve Nash (8)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
8–4
13
November 20
L.A. Lakers
L 92–105
Amar'e Stoudemire (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 18,422
8–5
14
November 22
Portland
W 102–92
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (17)
Steve Nash (7)
US Airways Center 18,422
9–5
15
November 25
@ Oklahoma City
W 99–98
Amar'e Stoudemire (22)
Steve Nash (8)
Steve Nash (15)
Ford Center 19,136
10–5
16
November 26
@ Minnesota
W 110–102
Steve Nash (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (6)
Target Center 11,708
11–5
17
November 28
Miami
L 92–107
Leandro Barbosa (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Leandro Barbosa (5)
US Airways Center 18,422
11–6
18
November 30
New Jersey
L 109–117
Steve Nash (26)
Amar'e Stoudemire (12)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
11–7 :
December: 7–5 (home: 5–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
December 3
@ New Orleans
L 91–104
Amar'e Stoudemire (26)
Matt Barnes (7)
Grant Hill (6)
New Orleans Arena 15,804
11–8
20
December 4
@ Dallas
L 97–112
Amar'e Stoudemire (28)
Matt Barnes (6)
Steve Nash (10)
American Airlines Center 19,813
11–9
21
December 6
Utah
W 106–104
Leandro Barbosa (25)
Amar'e Stoudemire (20)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
12–9
22
December 9
Milwaukee
W 125–110
Shaquille O'Neal (35)
Shaquille O'Neal, Amar'e Stoudemire (8)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 18,422
13–9
23
December 10
@ L.A. Lakers
L 110–115
Matt Barnes (25)
Amar'e Stoudemire (11)
Steve Nash (9)
Staples Center 18,997
13–10
24
December 12
Orlando
W 113–112
Jason Richardson, Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash (21)
Amar'e Stoudemire (14)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 18,422
14–10
25
December 15
New York
W 111–103
Shaquille O'Neal (23)
Amar'e Stoudemire (14)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
15–10
26
December 18
@ Portland
L 119–124
Amar'e Stoudemire (23)
Amar'e Stoudemire (8)
Steve Nash (11)
Rose Garden 20,650
15–11
27
December 20
Denver
W 108–101
Amar'e Stoudemire (27)
Amar'e Stoudemire (10)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 18,422
16–11
28
December 25
San Antonio
L 90–91
Amar'e Stoudemire (25)
Amar'e Stoudemire (13)
Steve Nash (8)
US Airways Center 18,422
16–12
29
December 29
@ Oklahoma City
W 110–102
Shaquille O'Neal (28)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Leandro Barbosa, Amar'e Stoudemire (5)
Ford Center 19,136
17–12
30
December 30
@ Memphis
W 101–89
Leandro Barbosa (28)
Shaquille O'Neal (13)
Matt Barnes (5)
FedExForum 14,471
18–12 :
January: 7–8 (home: 3–4; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
31
January 2
L.A. Clippers
W 106–98
Amar'e Stoudemire (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 18,422
19–12
32
January 7
Indiana
L 110–113
Amar'e Stoudemire (23)
Louis Amundson (14)
Steve Nash (12)
US Airways Center 18,422
19–13
33
January 9
Dallas
W 128–100
Shaquille O'Neal (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (12)
US Airways Center 18,422
20–13
34
January 11
@ L.A. Clippers
W 109–103
Amar'e Stoudemire (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (12)
Staples Center 17,307
21–13
35
January 13
Atlanta
W 107–102
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Matt Barnes, Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
22–13
36
January 15
@ Denver
L 113–119 (OT)
Grant Hill (25)
Grant Hill, Amar'e Stoudemire (8)
Steve Nash (14)
Pepsi Center 18,073
22–14
37
January 16
Minnesota
L 103–105
Shaquille O'Neal, Leandro Barbosa (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
22–15
38
January 18
@ Toronto
W 117–113
Amar'e Stoudemire (31)
Grant Hill (9)
Steve Nash (18)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
23–15
39
January 19
@ Boston
L 87–104
Shaquille O'Neal (16)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (8)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
23–16
40
January 21
@ New York
L 109–114
Jason Richardson (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Steve Nash (19)
Madison Square Garden 19,256
23–17
41
January 23
@ Charlotte
L 76–98
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Amar'e Stoudemire (9)
Steve Nash (5)
Time Warner Cable Arena 19,104
23–18
42
January 25
@ Atlanta
W 104–99
Amar'e Stoudemire (23)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (13)
Philips Arena 19,153
24–18
43
January 26
@ Washington
W 103–87
Shaquille O'Neal (29)
Amar'e Stoudemire (15)
Steve Nash (15)
Verizon Center 17,344
25–18
44
January 29
San Antonio
L 104–114
Amar'e Stoudemire (28)
Amar'e Stoudemire, Grant Hill (10)
Steve Nash (18)
US Airways Center 18,422
25–19
45
January 31
Chicago
L 111–122
Leandro Barbosa (32)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 18,422
25–20 :
February: 8–5 (home: 6–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
46
February 2
Sacramento
W 129–81
Amar'e Stoudemire (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
26–20
47
February 4
@ Golden State
L 112–124
Jason Richardson (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Steve Nash (9)
Oracle Arena 19,596
26–21
48
February 6
Golden State
W 115–105
Grant Hill (27)
Amar'e Stoudemire (15)
Steve Nash (8)
US Airways Center 18,422
27–21
49
February 8
@ Detroit
W 107–97
Jason Richardson (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (21)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
28–21
50
February 9
@ Philadelphia
L 91–108
Amar'e Stoudemire (19)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (8)
Wachovia Center 16,797
28–22
51
February 11
@ Cleveland
L 92–109
Amar'e Stoudemire (27)
Amar'e Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes (6)
Leandro Barbosa (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
28–23
52
February 17
L.A. Clippers
W 140–100
Leandro Barbosa (24)
Matt Barnes (9)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 18,422
29–23
53
February 18
@ L.A. Clippers
W 142–119
Amar'e Stoudemire (42)
Amar'e Stoudemire (11)
Steve Nash (12)
Staples Center 18,169
30–23
54
February 20
Oklahoma City
W 140–118
Leandro Barbosa (41)
Shaquille O'Neal (9)
Matt Barnes (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
31–23
55
February 22
Boston
L 108–128
Jason Richardson (21)
Shaquille O'Neal (6)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 18,422
31–24
56
February 24
Charlotte
W 112–102
Steve Nash (22)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (5)
US Airways Center 18,422
32–24
57
February 26
@ L.A. Lakers
L 106–132
Leandro Barbosa (18)
Jared Dudley (8)
Leandro Barbosa (7)
Staples Center 18,997
32–25
58
February 27
Toronto
W 133–113
Shaquille O'Neal (45)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Grant Hill (12)
US Airways Center 18,422
33–25 :
March: 7–9 (home: 6–2; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
59
March 1
L.A. Lakers
W 118–111
Shaquille O'Neal (33)
Matt Barnes (10)
Matt Barnes, Leandro Barbosa (7)
US Airways Center 18,422
34–25
60
March 3
@ Orlando
L 99–111
Jason Richardson (27)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (8)
Amway Arena 17,461
34–26
61
March 4
@ Miami
L 129–135
Steve Nash (29)
Shaquille O'Neal (8)
Steve Nash (10)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
34–27
62
March 6
@ Houston
L 112–116
Steve Nash (32)
Matt Barnes (9)
Steve Nash (13)
Toyota Center 18,045
34–28
63
March 8
@ San Antonio
L 98–103
Steve Nash (23)
Grant Hill (8)
Steve Nash (11)
AT&T Center 18,797
34–29
64
March 10
Dallas
L 117–122
Steve Nash (23)
Louis Amundson (9)
Steve Nash (13)
US Airways Center 18,422
34–30
65
March 12
Cleveland
L 111–119
Matt Barnes (21)
Jason Richardson, Shaquille O'Neal (7)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
34–31
66
March 14
Oklahoma City
W 106–95
Leandro Barbosa (22)
Jared Dudley (9)
Steve Nash (8)
US Airways Center 18,422
35–31
67
March 15
@ Golden State
W 154–130
Jason Richardson (31)
Grant Hill (8)
Matt Barnes (11)
Oracle Arena 19,596
36–31
68
March 18
Philadelphia
W 126–116
Shaquille O'Neal (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 18,422
37–31
69
March 21
Washington
W 128–96
Jason Richardson (35)
Stromile Swift (12)
Jared Dudley (6)
US Airways Center 18,422
38–31
70
March 23
Denver
W 118–115
Grant Hill (23)
Grant Hill (10)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
39–31
71
March 25
Utah
W 118–114
Grant Hill (26)
Shaquille O'Neal (12)
Steve Nash (14)
US Airways Center 18,422
40–31
72
March 26
@ Portland
L 109–129
Shaquille O'Neal (20)
Shaquille O'Neal (7)
Steve Nash (5)
Rose Garden 20,650
40–32
73
March 28
@ Utah
L 99–104 (OT)
Steve Nash (20)
Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes (10)
Steve Nash (6)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
40–33
74
March 29
@ Sacramento
L 118–126
Steve Nash (31)
Jared Dudley (11)
Steve Nash (14)
ARCO Arena 13,623
40–34 :
April: 5–2 (home: 3–0; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
75
April 1
Houston
W 114–109
Steve Nash (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (10)
Steve Nash (17)
US Airways Center 18,422
41–34
76
April 3
Sacramento
W 139–111
Steve Nash (29)
Matt Barnes (11)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 18,422
42–34
77
April 5
@ Dallas
L 116–140
Leandro Barbosa (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (7)
Steve Nash (8)
American Airlines Center 20,301
42–35
78
April 8
@ New Orleans
W 105–100
Steve Nash (24)
Shaquille O'Neal (11)
Steve Nash (13)
New Orleans Arena 17,781
43–35
79
April 10
@ Memphis
L 89–106
Louis Amundson, Jason Richardson (13)
Louis Amundson (9)
Goran Dragić (7)
FedExForum 15,908
43–36
80
April 11
@ Minnesota
W 110–97
Grant Hill (19)
Robin Lopez (11)
Goran Dragić (8)
Target Center 18,478
44–36
81
April 13
Memphis
W 119–110
Shaquille O'Neal (19)
Jason Richardson, Grant Hill (8)
Steve Nash (12)
US Airways Center 18,422
45–36
82
April 15
Golden State
W 117–113
Grant Hill (27)
Grant Hill (10)
Steve Nash (12)
US Airways Center 18,422
46–36 :
2015–16 season schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Louis Amundson | 76 | 0 | 13.7 | .536 | .000 | .442 | 3.6 | 0.4 | .4 | .9 | 4.2 |
| Leandro Barbosa | 70 | 11 | 24.4 | .482 | .375 | .881 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 1.2 | .1 | 14.2 |
| Matt Barnes | 77 | 40 | 27.0 | .423 | .343 | .743 | 5.5 | 2.8 | .7 | .3 | 10.2 |
| Raja Bell* | 22 | 22 | 32.4 | .429 | .468^ | .762 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .6 | .1 | 9.6 |
| Dee Brown* | 2 | 0 | 14.0 | .200 | .250 | 1.000# | 0.5 | 1.5 | .0 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Boris Diaw* | 22 | 0 | 24.5 | .567 | .357 | .692 | 3.8 | 2.1 | .5 | .4 | 8.3 |
| Goran Dragic | 55 | 1 | 13.2 | .393 | .370 | .769 | 1.9 | 2.0 | .5 | .1 | 4.5 |
| Jared Dudley* | 48 | 0 | 15.2 | .481 | .394 | .691 | 3.0 | 0.8 | .8 | .1 | 5.5 |
| Grant Hill | 82 | 68 | 29.8 | .523 | .316 | .808 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 1.1 | .7 | 12.0 |
| Robin Lopez | 60 | 7 | 10.2 | .518 | .000 | .691 | 2.0 | 0.1 | .2 | .7 | 3.2 |
| Steve Nash | 74 | 74 | 33.6+ | .503 | .439^ | .933# | 3.0 | 9.7 | .7 | .1 | 15.7 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | 75 | 75 | 30.0 | .609 | .000 | .595 | 8.4 | 1.7 | .7 | 1.4 | 17.8+ |
| Jason Richardson* | 58 | 57 | 33.1 | .488 | .383 | .778 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 1.1 | .4 | 16.4 |
| Courtney Sims* | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | . | . | . | 0.0 | 0.0 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Sean Singletary* | 13 | 1 | 9.4 | .324 | .400 | 1.000# | 1.2 | 0.9 | .5 | .0 | 2.6 |
| Amar'e Stoudemire | 53 | 53 | 36.8+ | .539 | .429 | .835 | 8.1 | 2.0 | .9 | 1.1 | 21.4+ |
| Stromile Swift* | 13 | 0 | 9.3 | .366 | 1.000^ | .533 | 2.5 | 0.2 | .3 | .5 | 3.0 |
| Alando Tucker | 30 | 1 | 9.4 | .430 | .348 | .788 | 1.0 | 0.4 | .2 | .0 | 4.6 |
* – Stats with the Suns. + – Minimum 70 games played or 2000 minutes, 1400 points. ^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made. # – Minimum 125 free throws made.

## Awards and records
### Awards

* O'Neal was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

#### Week/Month

* Stoudemire was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 3–9.
* Stoudemire has been named the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for October.

#### All-Star

* Stoudemire was voted to his 4th NBA All-Star Game as a starter.
* O'Neal was named to his 15th career NBA All-Star Game in 17 seasons.
* O'Neal was named the 2009 NBA All-Star MVP with former teammate Kobe Bryant.

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 26, 2008 | To Phoenix Suns Draft rights to Goran Dragić | To San Antonio Spurs Draft rights to Malik Hairston 2009 second-round pick cash considerations |
| August 25, 2008 | To Phoenix Suns Sean Singletary | To Houston Rockets D. J. Strawberry |
| December 10, 2008 | To Phoenix Suns Jason Richardson Jared Dudley 2010 second-round pick | To Charlotte Bobcats Raja Bell Boris Diaw Sean Singletary |