# 2008–09 Washington Wizards season

The 2008–09 Washington Wizards season was the 48th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Wizards began the season hoping to improve on their 43–39 record from the previous season, but failed and fell 24 games short. The team finished 2008–09 with a dismal 19–63 record that equalled their worst 82-game performance from the 2000–01 season, and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2003–04 season.

## Key dates

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

## Transactions

* June 30 - Re-signed forward Antawn Jamison to a 4-year, $50 million contract
* July 11 - Guard Roger Mason signed with the San Antonio Spurs
* July 13 - Re-signed guard Gilbert Arenas to a 6-year, $111 million contract
* September 23 - Signed guard Juan Dixon to a contract.
* December 10 - Traded guard Antonio Daniels to the New Orleans Hornets and a conditional first-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal in exchange for guards Mike James and Javaris Crittenton. Also waived guard Dee Brown

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 18 | JaVale McGee | C | United States | Nevada |
| 2 | 47 | Bill Walker (traded to Boston) | SF | United States | Kansas State |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Southeast Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y-Orlando Magic | 59 | 23 | .720 | — | 32–9 | 27–14 | 14–2 | 82 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 12 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 11–5 | 82 |
| x-Miami Heat | 43 | 39 | .524 | 16 | 28–13 | 15–26 | 9–7 | 82 |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 35 | 47 | .427 | 24 | 23–18 | 12–29 | 5–11 | 82 |
| Washington Wizards | 19 | 63 | .232 | 40 | 13–28 | 6–35 | 1–15 | 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 |

### Game log

2008–09 game log :
October: 0–1 (home: 0–1; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 29
New Jersey
L 85–95
Antawn Jamison, DeShawn Stevenson (14)
Caron Butler (11)
Caron Butler (5)
Verizon Center 20,173
0–1 :
November: 2–11 (home: 2–5; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
November 1
@ Detroit
L 109–117
Antawn Jamison (24)
Antawn Jamison (8)
Caron Butler (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
0–2
3
November 5
@ Milwaukee
L 104–112 (OT)
Caron Butler (27)
Antawn Jamison (10)
Juan Dixon, Antonio Daniels (4)
Bradley Center 13,895
0–3
4
November 7
New York
L 108–114
Caron Butler (30)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Juan Dixon (11)
Verizon Center 20,173
0–4
5
November 8
@ Orlando
L 81–106
Nick Young (20)
JaVale McGee, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas (6)
Dee Brown (5)
Amway Arena 16,911
0–5
6
November 12
Utah
W 95–87
Caron Butler (27)
JaVale McGee (11)
Caron Butler (3)
Verizon Center 14,885
1–5
7
November 14
@ Miami
L 77–97
Antawn Jamison (15)
Antawn Jamison (10)
Juan Dixon (3)
American Airlines Arena 15,284
1–6
8
November 18
Miami
L 87–94
Antawn Jamison (25)
Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler (12)
Juan Dixon (5)
Verizon Center 15,102
1–7
9
November 19
@ Atlanta
L 87–91
Caron Butler (32)
Antawn Jamison (11)
DeShawn Stevenson (5)
Philips Arena 14,416
1–8
10
November 21
Houston
L 91–103
Antawn Jamison (27)
Antawn Jamison (10)
DeShawn Stevenson (7)
Verizon Center 20,173
1–9
11
November 22
@ New York
L 117–122
Antawn Jamison (29)
Antawn Jamison (13)
DeShawn Stevenson (8)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
1–10
12
November 25
Golden State
W 124–100
Caron Butler (35)
Andray Blatche (12)
DeShawn Stevenson (7)
Verizon Center 13,852
2–10
13
November 27
Orlando
L 90–105
Caron Butler (25)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson (6)
Verizon Center 13,295
2–11
14
November 29
Atlanta
L 98–102
Antawn Jamison (26)
Antawn Jamison (13)
Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler (5)
Verizon Center 18,110
2–12 :
December: 4–12 (home: 2–6; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
15
December 2
@ New Jersey
W 108–88
Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison (22)
Antawn Jamison (8)
Caron Butler (10)
Izod Center 15,062
3–12
16
December 3
Portland
L 92–98
Antawn Jamison (22)
JaVale McGee (7)
Antawn Jamison (5)
Verizon Center 12,802
3–13
17
December 5
L.A. Lakers
L 104–106
Caron Butler (26)
Andray Blatche, Antawn Jamison (12)
DeShawn Stevenson (6)
Verizon Center 20,173
3–14
18
December 6
@ Chicago
L 110–117
Caron Butler (27)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Caron Butler (6)
United Center 21,741
3–15
19
December 9
Detroit
W 107–94
Caron Butler (33)
Antawn Jamison (11)
Juan Dixon (7)
Verizon Center 14,707
4–15
20
December 11
Boston
L 88–122
Caron Butler (19)
JaVale McGee (6)
Juan Dixon (7)
Verizon Center 20,173
4–16
21
December 13
@ Philadelphia
L 89–104
Antawn Jamison (17)
Antawn Jamison (9)
Juan Dixon (5)
Wachovia Center 15,865
4–17
22
December 15
Indiana
L 98–118
Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler (26)
Antawn Jamison (15)
Mike James (6)
Verizon Center 14,502
4–18
23
December 17
@ Detroit
L 74–88
Mike James (16)
Antawn Jamison, Andray Blatche (11)
Andray Blatche, Caron Butler (4)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
4–19
24
December 19
Philadelphia
L 103–109
Antawn Jamison (23)
Antawn Jamison (10)
Antawn Jamison (5)
Verizon Center 18,323
4–20
25
December 21
Dallas
L 86–97
Antawn Jamison (22)
Mike James, Antawn Jamison (8)
Mike James (5)
Verizon Center 15,582
4–21
26
December 23
@ Charlotte
L 72–80
Caron Butler (31)
Dominic McGuire (10)
Caron Butler (4)
Time Warner Cable Arena 13,776
4–22
27
December 25
@ Cleveland
L 89–93
Antawn Jamison (28)
Dominic McGuire (11)
Caron Butler (10)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
4–23
28
December 27
Oklahoma City
W 104–95
Antawn Jamison (29)
Andray Blatche (15)
Mike James (11)
Verizon Center 16,181
5–23
29
December 29
@ Houston
W 89–87
Antawn Jamison (30)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Dominic McGuire (6)
Toyota Center 18,278
6–23
30
December 30
@ New Orleans
L 85–97
Antawn Jamison (22)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Mike James (7)
New Orleans Arena 18,021
6–24 :
January: 4–13 (home: 3–4; road: 1–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
31
January 2
@ Boston
L 83–108
Nick Young (15)
Antawn Jamison (9)
Caron Butler (5)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
6–25
32
January 4
Cleveland
W 80–77
Antawn Jamison (26)
Antawn Jamison (13)
Andray Blatche (4)
Verizon Center 20,173
7–25
33
January 6
@ Orlando
L 80–89
Caron Butler (29)
Antawn Jamison (9)
Caron Butler, Mike James (5)
Amway Arena 16,011
7–26
34
January 7
Toronto
L 93–99
Antawn Jamison (32)
Antawn Jamison (7)
Caron Butler, Javaris Crittenton (6)
Verizon Center 13,864
7–27
35
January 9
@ Chicago
L 86–98
Nick Young (28)
Antawn Jamison (11)
Caron Butler (6)
United Center 20,125
7–28
36
January 10
Charlotte
L 89–92
Caron Butler (19)
Andray Blatche (10)
Andray Blatche (4)
Verizon Center 20,173
7–29
37
January 12
Milwaukee
L 91–97
Nick Young (30)
Dominic McGuire (10)
Dominic McGuire (5)
Verizon Center 13,510
7–30
38
January 14
@ New York
L 122–128
Nick Young (33)
Antawn Jamison (7)
Mike James (5)
Madison Square Garden 18,020
7–31
39
January 16
New York
W 96–89
Antawn Jamison (28)
Andray Blatche (11)
Caron Butler (7)
Verizon Center 17,526
8–31
40
January 19
@ Golden State
L 98–119
Andray Blatche, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler (22)
Dominic McGuire (11)
Dominic McGuire (6)
Oracle Arena 19,244
8–32
41
January 21
@ Sacramento
W 110–107
Antawn Jamison (33)
Dominic McGuire (12)
Caron Butler (5)
ARCO Arena 10,821
9–32
42
January 22
@ L.A. Lakers
L 97–117
Antawn Jamison (19)
JaVale McGee (9)
Caron Butler, Mike James (6)
Staples Center 18,997
9–33
43
January 24
@ Portland
L 87–100
Caron Butler (31)
Caron Butler (10)
Mike James (7)
Rose Garden 20,566
9–34
44
January 26
Phoenix
L 87–103
Caron Butler (28)
Antawn Jamison (13)
Dominic McGuire (7)
Verizon Center 17,344
9–35
45
January 28
@ Miami
L 71–93
Antawn Jamison (21)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Caron Butler (6)
American Airlines Arena 16,424
9–36
46
January 30
@ Philadelphia
L 94–104
Antawn Jamison (25)
Antawn Jamison (15)
Javaris Crittenton (7)
Wachovia Center 15,528
9–37
47
January 31
L.A. Clippers
W 106–94
Antawn Jamison (25)
Caron Butler (13)
Caron Butler (7)
Verizon Center 18,227
10–37 :
February: 4–8 (home: 3–5; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
48
February 2
Memphis
L 97–113
Antawn Jamison (29)
Antawn Jamison (13)
Caron Butler (5)
Verizon Center 11,442
10–38
49
February 4
New Jersey
L 88–115
Nick Young (21)
Antawn Jamison (6)
Nick Young (4)
Verizon Center 12,602
10–39
50
February 6
Denver
L 103–124
Antawn Jamison (26)
Dominic McGuire, Antawn Jamison (8)
Javaris Crittenton (7)
Verizon Center 20,173
10–40
51
February 8
Indiana
W 119–117
Caron Butler (35)
Caron Butler (13)
Mike James (7)
Verizon Center 13,708
11–40
52
February 10
@ Atlanta
L 90–111
Caron Butler (22)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Javaris Crittenton (7)
Philips Arena 17,027
11–41
53
February 11
@ Charlotte
L 89–101
Caron Butler (26)
Antawn Jamison (9)
Caron Butler (6)
Time Warner Cable Arena 10,237
11–42
54
February 17
Minnesota
W 111–103
Antawn Jamison (29)
Antawn Jamison (11)
Caron Butler (6)
Verizon Center 11,623
12–42
55
February 20
@ New Jersey
W 107–96
Antawn Jamison (28)
Dominic McGuire (14)
Dominic McGuire, Javaris Crittenton, Andray Blatche (3)
Izod Center 15,113
13–42
56
February 21
San Antonio
L 67–98
Caron Butler (24)
Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison (7)
Dominic McGuire, Caron Butler (4)
Verizon Center 20,173
13–43
57
February 25
Philadelphia
L 98–106
Caron Butler (17)
Dominic McGuire (14)
Caron Butler (5)
Verizon Center 16,505
13–44
58
February 27
Chicago
W 113–90
Antawn Jamison (27)
Dominic McGuire, Antawn Jamison (11)
Caron Butler (6)
Verizon Center 18,114
14–44
59
February 28
@ Milwaukee
L 93–109
Antawn Jamison (21)
Antawn Jamison (14)
Caron Butler (6)
Bradley Center 15,970
14–45 :
March: 3–13 (home: 2–5; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
60
March 2
Atlanta
L 89–98
Antawn Jamison (23)
Antawn Jamison, JaVale McGee (9)
Dominic McGuire (9)
Verizon Center 10,189
14–46
61
March 4
@ Oklahoma City
L 83–88
Antawn Jamison (29)
Antawn Jamison (10)
Dominic McGuire (6)
Ford Center 18,576
14–47
62
March 6
@ San Antonio
L 78–100
Antawn Jamison (14)
Nick Young (6)
Dominic McGuire (4)
AT&T Center 18,440
14–48
63
March 7
@ Dallas
L 103–119
Antawn Jamison (24)
Antawn Jamison (11)
Mike James (7)
American Airlines Center 20,150
14–49
64
March 9
@ Minnesota
W 110–99
Caron Butler (27)
Caron Butler (10)
Caron Butler (6)
Target Center 13,119
15–49
65
March 11
New Orleans
L 98–109
Antawn Jamison (25)
Antawn Jamison (10)
Caron Butler (9)
Verizon Center 15,255
15–50
66
March 13
Orlando
L 103–112
Antawn Jamison (36)
Dominic McGuire (7)
Javaris Crittenton (7)
Verizon Center 18,152
15–51
67
March 15
Sacramento
W 106–104
Antawn Jamison (30)
Antawn Jamison (9)
Dominic McGuire (8)
Verizon Center 15,108
16–51
68
March 17
@ Utah
L 88–103
Nick Young, Juan Dixon (14)
Andray Blatche (13)
Darius Songaila (3)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
16–52
69
March 18
@ L.A. Clippers
L 108–123
Antawn Jamison (24)
Antawn Jamison (11)
Antawn Jamison (7)
Staples Center 15,123
16–53
70
March 20
@ Denver
L 105–116
Antawn Jamison (27)
JaVale McGee (11)
Mike James (9)
Pepsi Center 18,231
16–54
71
March 21
@ Phoenix
L 96–128
Antawn Jamison (25)
Andray Blatche (9)
Darius Songaila (3)
US Airways Center 18,422
16–55
72
March 23
Chicago
L 99–101
Antawn Jamison (34)
Andray Blatche (13)
Dominic McGuire (7)
Verizon Center 15,421
16–56
73
March 25
Charlotte
W 95–93
Antawn Jamison (27)
Antawn Jamison (8)
Mike James (5)
Verizon Center 14,657
17–56
74
March 28
Detroit
L 96–98
Antawn Jamison (21)
Caron Butler (10)
Gilbert Arenas (10)
Verizon Center 20,173
17–57
75
March 29
@ Indiana
L 115–124
Caron Butler (31)
Caron Butler (13)
Javaris Crittenton, Caron Butler (3)
Conseco Fieldhouse 13,729
17–58 :
April: 2–5 (home: 1–2; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 1
@ Memphis
L 107–112
Caron Butler (31)
Javaris Crittenton (11)
Caron Butler (4)
FedExForum 10,013
17–59
77
April 2
Cleveland
W 109–101
Caron Butler (25)
Brendan Haywood, Dominic McGuire (10)
Gilbert Arenas (10)
Verizon Center 20,173
18–59
78
April 4
Miami
L 104–118
Caron Butler (27)
Brendan Haywood (12)
Javaris Crittenton (8)
Verizon Center 20,173
18–60
79
April 8
@ Cleveland
L 86–98
Nick Young (16)
Brendan Haywood (7)
Dominic McGuire (4)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
18–61
80
April 10
@ Toronto
W 100–98
Antawn Jamison (24)
Antawn Jamison (12)
Caron Butler (7)
Air Canada Centre 18,107
19–61
81
April 13
Toronto
L 96–97
Caron Butler (28)
Caron Butler, Dominic McGuire (9)
Juan Dixon (7)
Verizon Center 18,455
19–62
82
April 15
@ Boston
L 107–115
Caron Butler (39)
Oleksiy Pecherov (10)
Caron Butler, Javaris Crittenton (4)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
19–63 :
2015–16 season schedule :

## Playoffs

Did not qualify

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Antawn Jamison | 81 | 81 | 38:12 | 46.8 | 35.1 | 75.4 | 8.9 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 22.2 |
| Caron Butler | 67 | 67 | 38:36 | 45.3 | 31.0 | 85.8 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| Gilbert Arenas | 2 | 2 | 31:18 | 26.1 | 28.6 | 75.0 | 4.5 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 13.0 |
| Nick Young (basketball) | 82 | 5 | 22:23 | 44.4 | 34.1 | 85.0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 10.9 |
| Andray Blatche | 71 | 36 | 24:00 | 47.1 | 23.8 | 70.4 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 10.0 |
| Brendan Haywood | 6 | 5 | 29:11 | 48.0 | 0.0 | 47.6 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 9.7 |
| Mike James | 53 | 50 | 29:41 | 38.7 | 36.7 | 83.8 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 9.6 |
| Darius Songaila | 77 | 29 | 19:48 | 53.2 | 0.0 | 88.9 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 7.4 |
| DeShawn Stevenson | 32 | 25 | 27:41 | 31.2 | 27.1 | 53.3 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.6 |
| JaVale McGee | 75 | 14 | 15:11 | 49.4 | 0.0 | 66.5 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 6.5 |
| Javaris Crittenton | 56 | 10 | 20:11 | 45.9 | 14.3 | 59.3 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.3 |
| Juan Dixon | 50 | 6 | 16:18 | 39.5 | 33.3 | 87.2 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.2 |
| Antonio Daniels | 13 | 5 | 22:11 | 40.0 | 45.5 | 75.8 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 5.1 |
| Dominic McGuire | 79 | 57 | 26:11 | 43.2 | 50.0 | 72.5 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 4.5 |
| Oleksiy Pecherov | 32 | 0 | 08:41 | 38.6 | 32.6 | 82.8 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 3.6 |
| Etan Thomas | 26 | 7 | 11:48 | 48.5 | 0.0 | 69.6 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 3.1 |
| Dee Brown (basketball, born 1984) | 17 | 11 | 13:41 | 38.6 | 30.0 | 33.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.4 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| June 26, 2008 | To Washington WizardsCash considerations | To Boston CelticsThe 47th pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Bill Walker) |
| December 10, 2008 | To Washington WizardsMike James & Javaris Crittenton | To New Orleans HornetsAntonio DanielsTo Memphis GrizzliesConditional 1st round pick |