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.

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.

Game log
21,762 18,624
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 1
 * October 28
 * Milwaukee
 * Luol Deng (21)
 * Tyrus Thomas (10)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 1–0
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 31
 * @ Boston
 * Derrick Rose (18)
 * Joakim Noah (13)
 * Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich (3)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 1–1

21,785 15,606 20,562 21,967 21,965 21,738 21,751 21,759 18,997 20,599 19,596 16,202 19,911 17,837 13,561
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 3
 * November 1
 * Memphis
 * Derrick Rose (26)
 * Drew Gooden (20)
 * Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon (4)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 2–1
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * November 3
 * @ Orlando
 * Drew Gooden (21)
 * Andrés Nocioni, Luol Deng (7)
 * Kirk Hinrich, Drew Gooden, Luol Deng (3)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 2–2
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * November 5
 * @ Cleveland
 * Ben Gordon (31)
 * Drew Gooden (9)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 2–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 6
 * November 7
 * Phoenix
 * Ben Gordon (23)
 * Joakim Noah (14)
 * Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 3–3
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * November 8
 * Cleveland
 * Ben Gordon (29)
 * Tyrus Thomas (8)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 3–4
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * November 11
 * Atlanta
 * Derrick Rose (26)
 * Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Aaron Gray (10)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 3–5
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 9
 * November 13
 * Dallas
 * Ben Gordon (35)
 * Luol Deng, Derrick Rose (9)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 4–5
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 10
 * November 15
 * Indiana
 * Derrick Rose (23)
 * Andrés Nocioni (11)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 5–5
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 11
 * November 18
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * Derrick Rose (25)
 * Andrés Nocioni (8)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * Staples Center
 * Staples Center
 * 5–6
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 19
 * @ Portland
 * Andrés Nocioni (13)
 * Tyrus Thomas (7)
 * Lindsey Hunter, Ben Gordon (3)
 * Rose Garden
 * Rose Garden
 * 5–7
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 13
 * November 21
 * @ Golden State
 * Larry Hughes (26)
 * Drew Gooden (16)
 * Derrick Rose (5)
 * Oracle Arena
 * Oracle Arena
 * 6–7
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 23
 * @ Denver
 * Ben Gordon (28)
 * Joakim Noah (9)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * Pepsi Center
 * Pepsi Center
 * 6–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 15
 * November 24
 * @ Utah
 * Derrick Rose (25)
 * Tyrus Thomas (8)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * EnergySolutions Arena
 * EnergySolutions Arena
 * 7–8
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 16
 * November 26
 * @ San Antonio
 * Ben Gordon (23)
 * Drew Gooden (12)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * AT&T Center
 * AT&T Center
 * 7–9
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 17
 * November 30
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Ben Gordon (21)
 * Drew Gooden (12)
 * Derrick Rose (10)
 * Wachovia Center
 * Wachovia Center
 * 8–9

20,485 13,684 21,741 19,519 17,132 21,751 11,225 20,102 18,624 22,046 22,076 19,600 18,031 18,786 21,861
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * December 2
 * Philadelphia
 * Derrick Rose (24)
 * Tyrus Thomas (13)
 * Ben Gordon (4)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 8–10
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * December 3
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Ben Gordon (22)
 * Drew Gooden (9)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * Bradley Center
 * Bradley Center
 * 8–11
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 20
 * December 6
 * Washington
 * Luol Deng (26)
 * Drew Gooden (10)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 9–11
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 21
 * December 9
 * New York
 * Drew Gooden (22)
 * Drew Gooden (16)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 10–11
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 22
 * December 12
 * @ Memphis
 * Ben Gordon (26)
 * Drew Gooden (13)
 * Derrick Rose (11)
 * FedExForum
 * FedExForum
 * 10–12
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 23
 * December 13
 * New Jersey
 * Ben Gordon (29)
 * Joakim Noah (8)
 * Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 11–12
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 24
 * December 16
 * @ Charlotte
 * Ben Gordon (25)
 * Tyrus Thomas, Drew Gooden (9)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * 11–13
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 25
 * December 17
 * L.A. Clippers
 * Andrés Nocioni, Ben Gordon (22)
 * Drew Gooden (11)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 12–13
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 26
 * December 19
 * @ Boston
 * Luol Deng (19)
 * Aaron Gray (8)
 * Derrick Rose (5)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 12–14
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 27
 * December 20
 * Utah
 * Ben Gordon (26)
 * Joakim Noah (9)
 * Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose, Andrés Nocioni (3)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 13–14
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 28
 * December 23
 * @ Detroit
 * Larry Hughes (19)
 * Tyrus Thomas (12)
 * Ben Gordon (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 13–15
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 29
 * December 26
 * @ Miami
 * Ben Gordon (15)
 * Aaron Gray (11)
 * Derrick Rose (3)
 * American Airlines Arena
 * American Airlines Arena
 * 13–16
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 30
 * December 27
 * @ Atlanta
 * Ben Gordon (33)
 * Tyrus Thomas (9)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * Philips Arena
 * Philips Arena
 * 13–17
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 31
 * December 29
 * @ New Jersey
 * Ben Gordon (24)
 * Andrés Nocioni (8)
 * Derrick Rose (13)
 * Izod Center
 * Izod Center
 * 14–17
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 32
 * December 31
 * Orlando
 * Joakim Noah (19)
 * Joakim Noah (11)
 * Thabo Sefolosha, Andrés Nocioni (4)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 14–18

20,562 20,516 18,060 20,125 20,469 18,996 18,494 21,297 22,100 18,807 20,389 20,886 16,009 15,637 13,356 18,422
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 33
 * January 2
 * @ Cleveland
 * Ben Gordon (22)
 * Joakim Noah (10)
 * Ben Gordon (4)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 14–19
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * January 3
 * Minnesota
 * Derrick Rose (22)
 * Aaron Gray (9)
 * Ben Gordon (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 14–20
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 35
 * January 6
 * Sacramento
 * Ben Gordon (24)
 * Drew Gooden (10)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 15–20
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 36
 * January 9
 * Washington
 * Ben Gordon (22)
 * Drew Gooden (11)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 16–20
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 37
 * January 10
 * Oklahoma City
 * Ben Gordon (22)
 * Drew Gooden (12)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 16–21
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 38
 * January 12
 * Portland
 * Drew Gooden (22)
 * Drew Gooden (9)
 * Derrick Rose (10)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 16–22
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 39
 * January 14
 * @ Toronto
 * Derrick Rose (25)
 * Luol Deng (14)
 * Derrick Rose (10)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 17–22
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 40
 * January 15
 * Cleveland
 * Luol Deng (22)
 * Luol Deng (8)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 18–22
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 41
 * January 17
 * San Antonio
 * Ben Gordon (20)
 * Andrés Nocioni (15)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 18–23
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * January 19
 * @ New York
 * Luol Deng, Derrick Rose (20)
 * Joakim Noah (18)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 18–24
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 43
 * January 20
 * Atlanta
 * Ben Gordon (21)
 * Joakim Noah (11)
 * Kirk Hinrich (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 18–25
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * January 23
 * Toronto
 * Ben Gordon (19)
 * Aaron Gray (7)
 * Kirk Hinrich (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 18–26
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 45
 * January 25
 * @ Minnesota
 * Ben Gordon (23)
 * Joakim Noah (10)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * Target Center
 * Target Center
 * 18–27
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 46
 * January 28
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * Luol Deng (23)
 * Tyrus Thomas (10)
 * Ben Gordon (8)
 * Staples Center
 * Staples Center
 * 19–27
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 47
 * January 30
 * @ Sacramento
 * Ben Gordon, Luol Deng (20)
 * Tyrus Thomas (10)
 * Derrick Rose (11)
 * ARCO Arena
 * ARCO Arena
 * 20–27
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 48
 * January 31
 * @ Phoenix
 * Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon (26)
 * Luol Deng (10)
 * Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon (6)
 * US Airways Center
 * US Airways Center
 * 21–27

16,653 16,270 20,349 21,896 21,801 15,309 21,790 17,083 21,902 14,075 18,114 22,394
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 49
 * February 3
 * @ Houston
 * Luol Deng (28)
 * Tyrus Thomas (13)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * Toyota Center
 * Toyota Center
 * 21–28
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 50
 * February 4
 * @ New Orleans
 * Derrick Rose (21)
 * Tyrus Thomas (10)
 * Ben Gordon (7)
 * New Orleans Arena
 * New Orleans Arena
 * 22–28
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * February 7
 * @ Dallas
 * Ben Gordon (28)
 * Tyrus Thomas (12)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * American Airlines Center
 * American Airlines Center
 * 22–29
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 52
 * February 10
 * Detroit
 * Ben Gordon (24)
 * Joakim Noah (16)
 * Kirk Hinrich (5)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 23–29
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 12
 * Miami
 * Ben Gordon (34)
 * Joakim Noah (11)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 23–30
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 54
 * February 18
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Kirk Hinrich (31)
 * Joakim Noah (9)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * Bradley Center
 * Bradley Center
 * 24–30
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 55
 * February 20
 * Denver
 * Ben Gordon (37)
 * Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas (12)
 * Kirk Hinrich (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 25–30
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * February 22
 * @ Indiana
 * Ben Gordon (28)
 * Joakim Noah (12)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * 25–31
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 57
 * February 24
 * Orlando
 * Derrick Rose (22)
 * Joakim Noah (8)
 * Derrick Rose, Brad Miller (5)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 26–31
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * February 25
 * @ New Jersey
 * Ben Gordon (17)
 * Tyrus Thomas (11)
 * Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose (5)
 * Izod Center
 * Izod Center
 * 26–32
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 59
 * February 27
 * @ Washington
 * John Salmons (25)
 * Brad Miller (11)
 * Luol Deng, John Salmons, Derrick Rose (3)
 * Verizon Center
 * Verizon Center
 * 26–33
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 60
 * February 28
 * Houston
 * Derrick Rose (22)
 * Joakim Noah (15)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 27–33

14,216 20,108 21,186 19,600 17,461 17,563 22,135 22,107 19,136 23,011 15,421 20,502 21,908 20,756 18,949 15,687
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 61
 * March 3
 * @ Charlotte
 * Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas (14)
 * Tyrus Thomas (12)
 * Derrick Rose (5)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * 27–34
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 62
 * March 4
 * Golden State
 * John Salmons (23)
 * Joakim Noah (17)
 * Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 28–34
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 63
 * March 6
 * Milwaukee
 * Ben Gordon (34)
 * Joakim Noah (13)
 * Ben Gordon (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 29–34
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 64
 * March 9
 * @ Miami
 * Ben Gordon (43)
 * Joakim Noah (15)
 * Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose, Brad Miller, Kirk Hinrich (3)
 * American Airlines Arena
 * American Airlines Arena
 * 29–35
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 65
 * March 11
 * @ Orlando
 * John Salmons (18)
 * John Salmons (8)
 * Derrick Rose (3)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 29–36
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 66
 * March 13
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Derrick Rose (20)
 * Joakim Noah (9)
 * Derrick Rose (6)
 * Wachovia Center
 * Wachovia Center
 * 29–37
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 67
 * March 14
 * New Orleans
 * Ben Gordon (27)
 * Brad Miller, Joakim Noah (9)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 30–37
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 68
 * March 17
 * Boston
 * John Salmons (38)
 * Brad Miller (14)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 31–37
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 69
 * March 18
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Derrick Rose (25)
 * Tyrus Thomas (11)
 * Brad Miller (5)
 * Ford Center
 * Ford Center
 * 32–37
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 70
 * March 21
 * L.A. Lakers
 * John Salmons (30)
 * Tyrus Thomas (16)
 * Ben Gordon (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 32–38
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 71
 * March 23
 * @ Washington
 * Ben Gordon (21)
 * Joakim Noah (12)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * Verizon Center
 * Verizon Center
 * 33–38
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 72
 * March 24
 * Detroit
 * Kirk Hinrich (24)
 * Tyrus Thomas (12)
 * Kirk Hinrich (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 34–38
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 73
 * March 26
 * Miami
 * John Salmons (27)
 * Tyrus Thomas (12)
 * Derrick Rose (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 35–38
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 74
 * March 28
 * Indiana
 * Ben Gordon (25)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 36–38
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * March 29
 * @ Toronto
 * Ben Gordon (37)
 * Brad Miller (10)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 36–39
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * March 31
 * @ Indiana
 * Derrick Rose (24)
 * Derrick Rose (11)
 * Brad Miller (8)
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * 36–40

21,424 20,764 20,791 20,265 22,076 20,677
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 77
 * April 4
 * New Jersey
 * Ben Gordon (18)
 * Joakim Noah (10)
 * Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich (5)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 37–40
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 78
 * April 7
 * New York
 * Kirk Hinrich (25)
 * Brad Miller (12)
 * John Salmons, Derrick Rose (6)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 38–40
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 79
 * April 9
 * Philadelphia
 * Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas (24)
 * Ben Gordon, Joakim Noah (7)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 39–40
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 80
 * April 11
 * Charlotte
 * Ben Gordon (39)
 * Joakim Noah (10)
 * Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 40–40
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 81
 * April 13
 * @ Detroit
 * Derrick Rose (24)
 * Joakim Noah (13)
 * Derrick Rose (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 41–40
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 82
 * April 15
 * Toronto
 * Ben Gordon (23)
 * Brad Miller (11)
 * Derrick Rose (11)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 41–41

Playoffs
The Bulls-Celtics series became the first playoff series in NBA history to have 4 games go into overtime.

18,624 18,624 23,072 23,067 18,624 23,430 18,624 Legend:
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 1
 * April 18
 * @ Boston
 * Derrick Rose (36)
 * Joakim Noah (17)
 * Derrick Rose (11)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 1–0
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * April 20
 * @ Boston
 * Ben Gordon (42)
 * Brad Miller (9)
 * Kirk Hinrich (7)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 1–1
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * April 23
 * Boston
 * Ben Gordon (15)
 * Joakim Noah (10)
 * 3 players tied (3)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 1–2
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 4
 * April 26
 * Boston
 * Derrick Rose (23)
 * Derrick Rose (11)
 * Derrick Rose (9)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 2–2
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * April 28
 * @ Boston
 * Ben Gordon (26)
 * Joakim Noah (17)
 * Gordon, Rose (6)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 2–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 6
 * April 30
 * Boston
 * John Salmons (35)
 * Joakim Noah (15)
 * Rose, Hinrich (7)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 3–3
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * May 2
 * @ Boston
 * Ben Gordon (33)
 * Joakim Noah (15)
 * Ben Gordon (4)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 3–4
 * colspan=11 align="center"|
 * colspan=11 align="center"|

Season
* Statistics with the Chicago Bulls
 * 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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | .866 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 8.6 || 1.4 || 0.84 || 0.45 || 13.1
 * Ben Gordon
 * style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 82 || 76 || 36.6 || .455 || .410 || .864 || 3.5 || 3.4 || 0.87 || 0.27 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | .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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | .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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 80 || 37.0 || .475 || .222 || .788 || 3.9 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 6.3 || 0.81 || 0.22 || 16.8
 * John Salmons*
 * 26 || 21 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 1.91 || 10.8
 * }
 * Derrick Rose
 * 81 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 80 || 37.0 || .475 || .222 || .788 || 3.9 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 6.3 || 0.81 || 0.22 || 16.8
 * John Salmons*
 * 26 || 21 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 1.91 || 10.8
 * }
 * 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 || style="background:black;color:#d40026;" | 1.91 || 10.8
 * }
 * }
 * }

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.

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.