2008–09 Philadelphia 76ers season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2008–09 Philadelphia 76ers season was the 70th season of the franchise, 60th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team finished with a .500 record. Following a 9–14 start, the team fired Maurice Cheeks and replaced him with Director of Player Personnel Tony Dileo on an interim basis. The team went 32–27 after the change and made the postseason.
Two things memorable about the season is that the team returned to the classic uniform style the team wore in the 1980s, and the Sixers defeated the Chicago Bulls in a game played at The Spectrum, the team's home from 1967 to 1996.
The team signed Elton Brand to a five-year $79 million contract.
Key dates
Summary
2008 NBA draft
On June 26, the Sixers selected power forward/center Marreese Speights from Florida with the 16th overall pick. Their second round pick was previously traded to the Utah Jazz on June 7, 2009, for a second round pick in the 2009 NBA draft .
Free agency
The Sixers headed into the off-season with free agents Louis Amundson , Calvin Booth , Herbert Hill , Andre Iguodala , Kevin Ollie , Shavlik Randolph and Louis Williams .
On June 24, the Sixers extended qualifying offers to key restricted free agents Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams . The Sixers brought in Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith on July 3 for a tour of Philadelphia but left the city without signing an offer sheet.[ 1]
On July 9 after denouncing their rights to their unrestricted free agents,[ 2] and trading Rodney Carney and Calvin Booth ,[ 3] the Sixers signed 2-time NBA All-Star Power Forward Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers to a 5-year contract reportedly worth 78–82 Million dollars.[ 4]
After the Brand signing, the first weeks of July were quiet in terms of free agency. Rumors spread that key restricted free agents Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams were being pursued by the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors respectively.
On July 24 it was announced by Philly.com that the Sixers had come to terms with Point Guard Royal Ivey of the Milwaukee Bucks for a 2-year league minimum contract. The deal was finalized and signed on Monday July 28.
Also on July 28, Philly.com released that the Sixers had come to terms with Shooting Guard Kareem Rush of the Indiana Pacers . The deal was finalized and signed on Tuesday July 29.[ 5]
After news reports stated that Louis Williams rejected a $3.9M deal from the Sixers and he was talking to the Cleveland Cavaliers ,[ 6] he signed a 5-year deal on July 31.[ 7]
On August 12, ESPN announced that the 76ers had come to terms with restricted free agent Andre Iguodala on a reported 6-year 80 million dollar deal.[ 8] After several days, it was officially announced on August 18 that Iguodala had signed the deal.
On August 19 Philly.com announced that veteran backup big man Theo Ratliff had agreed to terms on veterans league minimum 1 year 1.4 million dollar deal with the 76ers. Ratliff had previously played with Philadelphia from 1997 to 2001. Ratliff was named an All-Star in 2001, but was unable to play because of an injury.[ 9]
On September 1, 2008, following his placement on waivers Donyell Marshall agreed to terms with the Philadelphia 76ers for a one-year contract for the league minimum $1,262,275 (for veterans with at least 10 years of experience). The story was first reported by The Philadelphia Daily News[ 10]
Draft picks
Roster
2008–09 Philadelphia 76ers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F/C
42
Brand, Elton
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
254 lb (115 kg)
Duke
C
1
Dalembert, Samuel
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
Seton Hall
F/C
30
Evans, Reggie
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Iowa
SG
33
Green, Willie
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
201 lb (91 kg)
Detroit Mercy
G/F
9
Iguodala, Andre
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
207 lb (94 kg)
Arizona
G/F
12
Ivey, Royal
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Texas
F
8
Marshall, Donyell
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Connecticut
G
7
Miller, Andre
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Utah
C
50
Ratliff, Theo
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
Wyoming
G
4
Rush, Kareem
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Missouri
F/C
14
Smith, Jason
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
Colorado State
F/C
16
Speights, Marreese
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Florida
G
23
Williams, Louis
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
South Gwinnett HS (GA)
F
21
Young, Thaddeus
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Georgia Tech
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Regular season
Standings
Game log
2008–09 game log
October: 1–1 (home: 1–1; road: 0–0)
November
: 6–9 (home: 4–3; road: 2–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
3
November 1
@ Atlanta
L 88–95
Thaddeus Young (22)
Elton Brand (16)
Andre Miller (8)
Philips Arena 19,651
1–2
4
November 3
Sacramento
W 125–91
Thaddeus Young (18)
Samuel Dalembert (6)
Andre Miller (5)
Wachovia Center 10,100
2–2
5
November 5
@ Miami
L 83–106
Thaddeus Young (19)
Elton Brand (12)
Andre Miller (6)
American Airlines Arena 15,103
2–3
6
November 6
@ Orlando
L 88–98
Thaddeus Young (19)
Samuel Dalembert (14)
Andre Iguodala (8)
Amway Arena 16,407
2–4
7
November 11
Utah
L 80–93
Andre Miller (25)
Thaddeus Young , Samuel Dalembert (11)
Andre Miller (6)
Wachovia Center 12,839
2–5
8
November 12
@ Toronto
W 106–96
Elton Brand (25)
Andre Iguodala (9)
Andre Iguodala (10)
Air Canada Centre 18,093
3–5
9
November 14
@ Indiana
W 94–92
Thaddeus Young (25)
Elton Brand (15)
Andre Miller , Elton Brand , Willie Green , Andre Iguodala (2)
Conseco Fieldhouse 12,742
4–5
10
November 15
Oklahoma City
W 110–85
Thaddeus Young (23)
Samuel Dalembert (16)
Andre Miller (9)
Wachovia Center 13,385
5–5
11
November 19
@ Minnesota
L 96–102
Andre Miller (20)
Elton Brand (13)
Andre Miller , Andre Iguodala (6)
Target Center 10,111
5–6
12
November 21
L.A. Clippers
W 89–88
Elton Brand , Thaddeus Young (17)
Elton Brand , Samuel Dalembert (8)
Andre Iguodala (12)
Wachovia Center 13,474
6–6
13
November 23
Golden State
W 89–81
Elton Brand (23)
Samuel Dalembert (16)
Andre Miller (8)
Wachovia Center 13,556
7–6
14
November 24
@ Charlotte
L 84–93
Elton Brand (18)
Elton Brand (9)
Andre Miller (6)
Time Warner Cable Arena 10,848
7–7
15
November 26
Orlando
L 94–96
Elton Brand (21)
Samuel Dalembert (7)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Wachovia Center 14,985
7–8
16
November 28
@ Boston
L 78–102
Elton Brand (18)
Elton Brand (8)
Louis Williams (6)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
7–9
17
November 30
Chicago
L 92–103
Elton Brand (21)
Elton Brand (12)
Andre Miller (10)
Wachovia Center 13,561
7–10
December
: 6–8 (home: 2–4; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
18
December 2
@ Chicago
W 103–95 (OT)
Andre Miller (28)
Elton Brand (14)
Andre Iguodala (5)
United Center 20,485
8–10
19
December 3
L.A. Lakers
L 102–114
Andre Miller (26)
Andre Miller , Thaddeus Young , Samuel Dalembert (8)
Andre Miller , Andre Iguodala (5)
Wachovia Center 19,119
8–11
20
December 5
@ Detroit
W 96–91
Andre Miller (19)
Andre Iguodala (8)
Andre Iguodala (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
9–11
21
December 6
New Jersey
L 84–95
Andre Iguodala (20)
Andre Iguodala (11)
Andre Miller (5)
Wachovia Center 13,096
9–12
22
December 10
Cleveland
L 93–101
Andre Iguodala (27)
Elton Brand (10)
Andre Miller (8)
Wachovia Center 15,550
9–13
23
December 12
@ Cleveland
L 72–88
Willie Green (19)
Elton Brand (11)
Andre Miller (7)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
9–14
24
December 13
Washington
W 104–89
Elton Brand (27)
Samuel Dalembert (17)
Andre Miller (12)
Wachovia Center 15,865
10–14
25
December 17
Milwaukee
W 93–88
Louis Williams (25)
Reggie Evans (9)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Wachovia Center 11,538
11–14
26
December 19
@ Washington
W 109–103
Louis Williams (26)
Andre Iguodala (9)
Andre Miller (6)
Verizon Center 18,323
12–14
27
December 20
Indiana
L 94–95
Andre Iguodala (26)
Samuel Dalembert (14)
Andre Miller (12)
Wachovia Center 14,599
12–15
28
December 23
@ Boston
L 91–110
Louis Williams , Marreese Speights (16)
Samuel Dalembert (13)
Louis Williams , Andre Miller (8)
TD Banknorth Garden 18,624
12–16
29
December 26
@ Denver
L 101–105
Andre Iguodala (24)
Samuel Dalembert (13)
Andre Miller (8)
Pepsi Center 19,155
12–17
30
December 29
@ Utah
L 95–112
Andre Iguodala , Thaddeus Young (17)
Reggie Evans (12)
Andre Miller (8)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
12–18
31
December 31
@ L.A. Clippers
W 100–92
Andre Iguodala (28)
Theo Ratliff (8)
Andre Miller (9)
Staples Center 14,021
13–18
January
: 10–5 (home: 6–2; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
32
January 2
@ Dallas
L 86–96
Andre Iguodala (22)
Andre Miller (11)
Andre Iguodala (5)
American Airlines Center 20,327
13–19
33
January 3
@ San Antonio
L 106–108
Andre Miller (28)
Andre Iguodala (8)
Andre Iguodala (8)
AT&T Center 18,797
13–20
34
January 6
Houston
W 104–96
Andre Iguodala (28)
Marreese Speights (8)
Andre Miller , Louis Williams (8)
Wachovia Center 14,858
14–20
35
January 7
@ Milwaukee
W 110–105
Andre Miller (28)
Andre Miller (9)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Bradley Center 13,381
15–20
36
January 9
Charlotte
W 93–87
Andre Miller (22)
Samuel Dalembert (9)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Wachovia Center 14,235
16–20
37
January 11
@ Atlanta
W 109–94
Andre Iguodala (27)
Thaddeus Young (9)
Andre Iguodala (9)
Philips Arena 15,079
17–20
38
January 14
Portland
W 100–79
Andre Iguodala (29)
Samuel Dalembert (9)
Louis Williams , Andre Iguodala , Andre Miller (6)
Wachovia Center 14,561
18–20
39
January 16
San Antonio
W 109–87
Thaddeus Young (27)
Samuel Dalembert (12)
Andre Iguodala (8)
Wachovia Center 18,739
19–20
40
January 17
@ New York
W 107–97
Andre Iguodala (28)
Andre Iguodala , Thaddeus Young (10)
Andre Miller (8)
Madison Square Garden 19,408
20–20
41
January 19
Dallas
L 93–95
Louis Williams (25)
Andre Iguodala (12)
Andre Miller (7)
Wachovia Center 14,503
20–21
42
January 24
New York
W 116–110
Andre Iguodala (24)
Samuel Dalembert (17)
Andre Iguodala (6)
Wachovia Center 19,239
21–21
43
January 26
@ New Orleans
L 86–101
Thaddeus Young (22)
Samuel Dalembert (12)
Andre Iguodala (7)
New Orleans Arena 16,131
21–22
44
January 28
@ Houston
W 95–93
Andre Iguodala (20)
Samuel Dalembert (13)
Andre Miller (7)
Toyota Center 15,544
22–22
45
January 30
Washington
W 104–94
Andre Iguodala , Willie Green (20)
Thaddeus Young (9)
Andre Miller (9)
Wachovia Center 15,528
23–22
46
January 31
New Jersey
L 83–85
Andre Miller (19)
Elton Brand (9)
Andre Miller (7)
Wachovia Center 17,783
23–23
February
: 6–6 (home: 4–3; road: 2–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
47
February 3
Boston
L 99–100
Andre Iguodala (22)
Reggie Evans (10)
Andre Miller (7)
Wachovia Center 16,831
23–24
48
February 5
Indiana
W 99–94
Willie Green (23)
Samuel Dalembert (20)
Andre Miller (12)
Wachovia Center 10,699
24–24
49
February 7
Miami
W 94–84
Andre Miller , Marreese Speights (15)
Samuel Dalembert (10)
Andre Miller , Andre Iguodala (5)
Wachovia Center 17,216
25–24
50
February 9
Phoenix
W 108–91
Thaddeus Young (25)
Samuel Dalembert (11)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Wachovia Center 16,797
26–24
51
February 11
Memphis
W 91–87
Andre Miller (24)
Samuel Dalembert (7)
Andre Miller (9)
Wachovia Center 12,812
27–24
52
February 17
@ Indiana
L 91–100
Andre Iguodala (20)
Reggie Evans (11)
Andre Iguodala (9)
Conseco Fieldhouse 13,259
27–25
53
February 18
Denver
L 89–101
Andre Miller (17)
Samuel Dalembert , Marreese Speights (10)
Andre Iguodala (4)
Wachovia Center 15,979
27–26
54
February 21
@ Miami
L 91–97
Andre Miller (30)
Andre Miller (9)
Andre Iguodala (8)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
27–27
55
February 23
@ New Jersey
L 96–98
Andre Iguodala (21)
Samuel Dalembert (10)
Andre Miller (10)
Izod Center 13,236
27–28
56
February 25
@ Washington
W 106–98
Andre Iguodala (22)
Samuel Dalembert (13)
Andre Iguodala (11)
Verizon Center 16,505
28–28
57
February 27
@ New York
W 108–103
Andre Miller (25)
Samuel Dalembert (14)
Andre Miller (6)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
29–28
58
February 28
Orlando
L 100–106
Andre Miller (23)
Andre Miller (8)
Andre Miller (7)
Wachovia Center 19,703
29–29
March
: 9–6 (home: 5–2; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
59
March 2
New Orleans
L 91–98
Andre Iguodala (30)
Reggie Evans (8)
Andre Miller (7)
Wachovia Center 14,299
29–30
60
March 7
@ Memphis
W 110–105
Andre Iguodala (24)
Andre Miller (10)
Andre Miller (8)
FedExForum 14,458
30–30
61
March 8
@ Oklahoma City
L 74–89
Thaddeus Young , Andre Miller (20)
Andre Iguodala (8)
Andre Iguodala , Andre Miller (3)
Ford Center 18,738
30–31
62
March 11
Toronto
W 115–106
Thaddeus Young (29)
Samuel Dalembert (13)
Andre Iguodala , Andre Miller (7)
Wachovia Center 17,292
31–31
63
March 13
Chicago
W 104–101
Thaddeus Young (31)
Samuel Dalembert (19)
Andre Miller (13)
Wachovia Spectrum 17,563
32–31
64
March 15
Miami
W 85–77
Andre Iguodala (21)
Samuel Dalembert (12)
Andre Miller (11)
Wachovia Center 20,100
33–31
65
March 17
@ L.A. Lakers
W 94–93
Andre Iguodala (25)
Samuel Dalembert (14)
Louis Williams , Andre Miller (6)
Staples Center 18,997
34–31
66
March 18
@ Phoenix
L 116–126
Andre Miller , Thaddeus Young (23)
Samuel Dalembert (6)
Andre Miller (8)
US Airways Center 18,422
34–32
67
March 20
@ Golden State
L 111–119
Thaddeus Young (23)
Samuel Dalembert (23)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Oracle Arena 19,596
34–33
68
March 22
@ Sacramento
W 112–100
Andre Iguodala (27)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Andre Miller (8)
ARCO Arena 12,943
35–33
69
March 23
@ Portland
W 114–108 (OT)
Andre Miller (27)
Andre Miller (10)
Andre Iguodala (5)
Rose Garden 20,620
36–33
70
March 25
Minnesota
W 96–88
Thaddeus Young (29)
Andre Iguodala , Andre Miller , Samuel Dalembert (7)
Andre Iguodala (6)
Wachovia Center 16,965
37–33
71
March 27
Charlotte
L 95–100
Andre Iguodala (25)
Thaddeus Young (7)
Thaddeus Young (4)
Wachovia Center 19,098
37–34
72
March 29
@ Detroit
L 97–101
Andre Iguodala (27)
Thaddeus Young (8)
Andre Miller (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
37–35
73
March 31
Atlanta
W 98–85
Andre Iguodala (19)
Samuel Dalembert (7)
Andre Miller (10)
Wachovia Center 18,256
38–35
April
: 3–6 (home: 2–2; road: 1–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
74
April 2
Milwaukee
W 105–95
Louis Williams (21)
Samuel Dalembert (10)
Andre Miller (11)
Wachovia Center 17,640
39–35
75
April 4
Detroit
W 95–90
Andre Iguodala (31)
Andre Miller (10)
Andre Miller (12)
Wachovia Center 19,832
40–35
76
April 5
@ New Jersey
L 67–96
Louis Williams (14)
Reggie Evans , Samuel Dalembert (11)
Andre Iguodala (5)
Izod Center 13,345
40–36
77
April 7
@ Charlotte
L 98–101
Andre Miller (23)
Theo Ratliff (5)
Andre Miller (7)
Time Warner Cable Arena 16,499
40–37
78
April 9
@ Chicago
L 99–113
Andre Miller (20)
Andre Iguodala (7)
Andre Iguodala (10)
United Center 20,791
40–38
79
April 10
Cleveland
L 92–102
Andre Iguodala (26)
Samuel Dalembert (7)
Willie Green (4)
Wachovia Center 20,484
40–39
80
April 12
@ Toronto
L 104–111
Louis Williams (23)
Samuel Dalembert (12)
Andre Iguodala (8)
Air Canada Centre 18,018
40–40
81
April 14
Boston
L 98–100
Andre Iguodala (25)
Samuel Dalembert (9)
Andre Miller (9)
Wachovia Center 17,752
40–41
82
April 15
@ Cleveland
W 111–110 (OT)
Andre Miller (28)
Thaddeus Young (9)
Andre Miller (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
41–41
2015–16 season schedule
Playoffs
First round
In the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs , the sixth seeded Philadelphia 76ers were paired with the third seed Southeast Division champions and eventual Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic in a best-of-seven series. The Sixers managed to split the series with the Magic at two games a piece after four games, but the Magic went on to win what would be the final two games of the series to eliminate the Sixers.
Game log
Player statistics
Season
Playoffs
Awards and records
Awards
Thaddeus Young was selected as a member of the sophomore team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge on All-Star Weekend.
Records
Injuries and surgeries
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
References
^ CBSSports.com wire, Sixers spend day wooing Hawks' Smith Archived 2008-07-08 at the Wayback Machine , CBSSports.com , July 2, 2008.
^ "Sixers GM Stefanski in talks to re-sign Iguodala | Philadelphia Daily News | 07/17/2008" . Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2008 .
^ http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxkE9qbHuElAU6Gv4H4qL8hFR0eQD91QID504 [dead link ]
^ Sixers.com, 76ers Sign Two-time NBA All-star Elton Brand , Sixers.com , July 9, 2008.
^ Philly.com, 76ers come to terms with Kareem Rush , Philly.com , July 28, 2008.
^ Phillyburbs.com, Rush signs, Williams rumors simmer Archived 2008-09-24 at the Wayback Machine , Phillyburbs.com , July 30, 2008.
^ Philly.com, Sixers, Williams agree on 5-year deal , Philly.com , July 31, 2008.
^ ESPN.com, Sources: Iguodala agrees to six-year, $80 million deal with Sixers , www.ESPN.com , August 12, 2008.
^ Philly.com, Source says Ratliff, Sixers agree to 1-year deal , [1] , August 19, 2008.
^ "Donyell Marshall set to join Sixers" .
^ Kate Fagan, Sixers’ Jason Smith tears ACL, could miss most of season , [2] , August 8, 2008.
^ Brand out for rest of season, will have shoulder surgery , [3] , February 5, 2009.
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