The 2008–09 Denver Nuggets season was the 42nd season of the franchise, 33rd in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They finished the regular season with 54 wins and 28 losses, the franchise's best record since 1987–88. In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated New Orleans Hornets in five games in the first round; this series included a notable 58-point bludgeoning of the Hornets in Game 4. The Nuggets then defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Semi-finals to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1985, ending their streak of five straight first-round exits. However, the Nuggets lost to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, ending their playoff run. This was the second straight year the Nuggets had their season ended by the Lakers.
The Nuggets' six-game loss to the Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference finals matched their six-game defeat in the 1978 Western Conference finals for the closest the franchise had ever come to reaching an NBA Finals until 2023.
Key dates June 26: The 2008 NBA draft took place in New York City. July 1: The free agency period started. During the first week of the season, superstar guard Allen Iverson was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb. McDyess was released soon after the trade.
Draft picks
The Denver Nuggets had no draft picks in the 2008 NBA draft, but did acquire the draft rights of Sonny Weems from the Chicago Bulls. Weems was the 39th pick of the draft.
Roster
Regular season
Standings
Game log
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 29 | @ Utah | | Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin (18) | Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen (6) | Allen Iverson (8) | EnergySolutions Arena19,111 | 0–1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 | October 31 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Allen Iverson (25) | Kenyon Martin (13) | Anthony Carter (6) | Staples Center11,418 | 1–1
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | November 1 | L.A. Lakers | | Anthony Carter (20) | Chris Andersen (7) | Allen Iverson (7) | Pepsi Center19,651 | 1–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | November 5 | @ Golden State | | Carmelo Anthony (28) | Nenê (15) | Anthony Carter (11) | Oracle Arena18,194 | 1–3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 | November 7 | Dallas | | Carmelo Anthony (28) | Carmelo Anthony (8) | Anthony Carter (7) | Pepsi Center19,175 | 2–3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 | November 9 | Memphis | | Carmelo Anthony (24) | Nenê (12) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center14,359 | 3–3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 | November 11 | @ Charlotte | | Carmelo Anthony (25) | Nenê, Linas Kleiza (8) | Anthony Carter (6) | Time Warner Cable Arena10,753 | 4–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | November 13 | @ Cleveland | | Chauncey Billups (26) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Quicken Loans Arena20,562 | 4–4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 | November 14 | @ Boston | | Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony (18) | Carmelo Anthony (13) | Chauncey Billups (7) | TD Banknorth Garden18,624 | 5–4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 | November 16 | Minnesota | | Chauncey Billups (26) | Carmelo Anthony (12) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center16,721 | 6–4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 | November 18 | Milwaukee | | Linas Kleiza (25) | Nenê (6) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center14,413 | 7–4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 | November 19 | @ San Antonio | | Chauncey Billups (22) | Carmelo Anthony, Nenê (9) | Carmelo Anthony (7) | AT&T Center16,559 | 8–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 21 | @ L.A. Lakers | | J. R. Smith, Nenê (18) | Carmelo Anthony (10) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Staples Center18,997 | 8–5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 | November 23 | Chicago | | Kenyon Martin (26) | Carmelo Anthony (13) | Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony (8) | Pepsi Center16,202 | 9–5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 15 | November 26 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Carmelo Anthony (30) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Chauncey Billups (11) | Staples Center14,934 | 10–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 16 | November 27 | New Orleans | | J. R. Smith (32) | Chris Andersen (8) | Anthony Carter (8) | Pepsi Center15,563 | 10–6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 | November 29 | @ Minnesota | | Chauncey Billups (27) | Carmelo Anthony (10) | Chucky Atkins (5) | Target Center14,197 | 11–6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 18 | November 30 | Houston | | Chauncey Billups (28) | Nenê (10) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center17,201 | 12–6
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 | December 2 | Toronto | | Chauncey Billups (24) | Nenê (11) | Chauncey Billups (14) | Pepsi Center14,243 | 13–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | December 4 | San Antonio | | Carmelo Anthony (16) | J. R. Smith (10) | J. R. Smith, Chauncey Billups (4) | Pepsi Center15,866 | 13–7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 | December 6 | @ Sacramento | | Chauncey Billups (24) | Nenê, Carmelo Anthony (7) | Chauncey Billups (4) | ARCO Arena12,322 | 14–7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 | December 10 | Minnesota | | Carmelo Anthony (45) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center14,007 | 15–7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 | December 13 | Golden State | | Carmelo Anthony (27) | Carmelo Anthony (9) | Chauncey Billups (11) | Pepsi Center15,322 | 16–7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 | December 15 | @ Dallas | | J. R. Smith (25) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Chauncey Billups (8) | American Airlines Center19,969 | 17–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | December 16 | @ Houston | | Carmelo Anthony (22) | Kenyon Martin (8) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Toyota Center17,737 | 17–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 19 | Cleveland | | Chauncey Billups (16) | Chris Andersen (10) | Anthony Carter, J. R. Smith (4) | Pepsi Center19,155 | 17–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | December 20 | @ Phoenix | | J. R. Smith (23) | Nenê (15) | Chauncey Billups (8) | US Airways Center18,422 | 17–10 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 | December 22 | Portland | | Chauncey Billups, Nenê (19) | Kenyon Martin (12) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center18,611 | 18–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 23 | @ Portland | | Linas Kleiza (20) | Nenê (13) | Chucky Atkins (4) | Rose Garden20,007 | 18–11 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 30 | December 26 | Philadelphia | | J. R. Smith (27) | Nenê (12) | Chauncey Billups (10) | Pepsi Center19,155 | 19–11 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 | December 28 | @ New York | | Carmelo Anthony (32) | Carmelo Anthony, Nenê (9) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 20–11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | December 29 | @ Atlanta | | Kenyon Martin (19) | Chris Andersen (6) | Anthony Carter (7) | Philips Arena17,131 | 20–12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 | December 31 | @ Toronto | | Nenê (21) | Chris Andersen (10) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Air Canada Centre18,879 | 21–12
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 34 | January 2 | @ Oklahoma City | | Carmelo Anthony (31) | Nenê (14) | Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter (7) | Ford Center18,613 | 22–12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 | January 3 | New Orleans | | Carmelo Anthony (22) | Carmelo Anthony (7) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center19,614 | 23–12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 | January 5 | Indiana | | Kenyon Martin (25) | Chris Andersen (9) | Chauncey Billups (11) | Pepsi Center14,255 | 24–12 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 | January 7 | Miami | | Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith, Linas Kleiza (21) | Kenyon Martin (8) | Anthony Carter (9) | Pepsi Center15,459 | 25–12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 38 | January 9 | Detroit | | Chauncey Billups (30) | Nenê (9) | Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith (4) | Pepsi Center19,682 | 25–13 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 | January 13 | Dallas | | Chauncey Billups (23) | Chris Andersen (10) | J. R. Smith (7) | Pepsi Center14,158 | 26–13 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 | January 15 | Phoenix | | Chauncey Billups (26) | Nenê (14) | Chauncey Billups (8) | Pepsi Center18,073 | 27–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | January 17 | Orlando | | Linas Kleiza (26) | Chris Andersen (9) | Anthony Carter (7) | Pepsi Center19,749 | 27–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | January 19 | @ Houston | | J. R. Smith (24) | Nenê (12) | Chauncey Billups (12) | Toyota Center18,199 | 27–15 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 | January 20 | Sacramento | | Linas Kleiza (27) | Nenê (12) | Anthony Carter (10) | Pepsi Center15,164 | 28–15 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 44 | January 25 | Utah | | Nenê (28) | Linas Kleiza, Nenê (9) | Anthony Carter (10) | Pepsi Center17,895 | 29–15 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 45 | January 27 | @ Memphis | | Chauncey Billups (29) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Kenyon Martin (4) | FedExForum11,338 | 30–15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | January 28 | @ New Orleans | | Kenyon Martin (22) | Linas Kleiza, Kenyon Martin, J. R. Smith, Nenê (6) | Anthony Carter (6) | New Orleans Arena15,792 | 30–16 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 | January 30 | Charlotte | | Nenê (22) | Nenê (12) | Anthony Carter, Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center18,463 | 31–16
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 48 | February 3 | San Antonio | | Carmelo Anthony (35) | Nenê (11) | Anthony Carter (9) | Pepsi Center18,536 | 32–16 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 | February 4 | @ Oklahoma City | | Carmelo Anthony (32) | Nenê (8) | Carmelo Anthony (11) | Ford Center18,332 | 33–16 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 50 | February 6 | @ Washington | | Carmelo Anthony (23) | Nenê (10) | Anthony Carter (7) | Verizon Center20,173 | 34–16 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 51 | February 7 | @ New Jersey | | Carmelo Anthony (15) | Nenê (7) | Chauncey Billups (3) | Izod Center17,697 | 34–17 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 | February 10 | @ Miami | | Chauncey Billups (23) | Kenyon Martin (10) | Anthony Carter, Chauncey Billups (5) | American Airlines Arena16,784 | 35–17 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 | February 11 | @ Orlando | | Carmelo Anthony (29) | Carmelo Anthony (8) | Chauncey Billups (4) | Amway Arena17,461 | 36–17 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 54 | February 18 | @ Philadelphia | | Carmelo Anthony (26) | Carmelo Anthony (14) | Anthony Carter, Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith (5) | Wachovia Center15,979 | 37–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 55 | February 20 | @ Chicago | | Chauncey Billups (25) | Carmelo Anthony (8) | Chauncey Billups (6) | United Center21,970 | 37–18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 56 | February 22 | @ Milwaukee | | Carmelo Anthony (33) | Carmelo Anthony (9) | J. R. Smith (5) | Bradley Center14,891 | 37–19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 57 | February 23 | Boston | | J. R. Smith (19) | Johan Petro (10) | J. R. Smith, Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center19,784 | 37–20 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 | February 25 | Atlanta | | Chauncey Billups (33) | Chris Andersen (12) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Pepsi Center18,418 | 38–20 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 | February 27 | L.A. Lakers | | Chauncey Billups, J. R. Smith (22) | Carmelo Anthony, Chris Andersen (12) | Chauncey Billups (6) | Pepsi Center19,920 | 39–20
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 60 | March 1 | @ Indiana | | Chauncey Billups (27) | Chris Andersen (12) | Chauncey Billups (7) | Conseco Fieldhouse12,458 | 39–21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 61 | March 3 | @ Detroit | | Chauncey Billups (34) | Nenê, Renaldo Balkman, Chris Andersen (7) | Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills22,076 | 39–22 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 | March 5 | Portland | | Carmelo Anthony (38) | J. R. Smith (7) | Chauncey Billups (9) | Pepsi Center16,801 | 40–22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 63 | March 6 | @ Utah | | J. R. Smith (27) | Renaldo Balkman (14) | J. R. Smith (5) | EnergySolutions Arena19,911 | 40–23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 64 | March 8 | @ Sacramento | | Carmelo Anthony (32) | Renaldo Balkman (10) | Chauncey Billups (8) | ARCO Arena12,678 | 40–24 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 65 | March 9 | Houston | | Chauncey Billups (28) | Nenê (8) | Chauncey Billups (5) | Pepsi Center16,020