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

Offseason

NBA draft

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

18,797 18,422 18,422 15,230 11,660 21,967 17,935 18,422 18,422 12,810 18,422 19,911 18,422 18,422 19,136 11,708 18,422 18,422 15,804 19,813 18,422 18,422 18,997 18,422 18,422 20,650 18,422 18,422 19,136 14,471 18,422 18,422 18,422 17,307 18,422 18,073 18,422 19,800 18,624 19,256 19,104 19,153 17,344 18,422 18,422 18,422 19,596 18,422 22,076 16,797 20,562 18,422 18,169 18,422 18,422 18,422 18,997 18,422 18,422 17,461 19,600 18,045 18,797 18,422 18,422 18,422 19,596 18,422 18,422 18,422 18,422 20,650 19,911 13,623 18,422 18,422 20,301 17,781 15,908 18,478 18,422

Player statistics

Season

• – Stats with the Suns.

• – Minimum 70 games played or 2000 minutes, 1400 points. ^ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.

Awards and records

Awards

Week/Month

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions