2008 in basketball

The following are the basketball events of the year 2008 throughout the world.

Tournaments include international (FIBA), professional (club) and amateur and collegiate levels.

Tournaments

Men's tournaments

Olympics

• FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2008 at Athens
  • Greece
  • Croatia
  • Germany
• 2008 Olympics at Beijing

  United States

  Spain

  Argentina

Other tournaments

• EuroBasket 2009 qualification

Women's tournaments

Olympics

• FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women 2008 at Madrid
  • Spain
  • Czech Republic
  • Latvia
  • Belarus
  • Brazil
• 2008 Olympics at Beijing

  United States

  Australia

  Russia

Other tournaments

• EuroBasket Women 2009 qualification

Club championships

Continental seasons

Men

Organizer	League / Tournament	Champion	Runner-up	Result	Playoff format
Euroleague Basketball	2007–08 EuroLeague	CSKA Moscow	Maccabi Tel Aviv	91–77	Single-game final
	2007–08 ULEB Cup	DKV Joventut	Akasvayu Girona	79–54	Single-game final
FIBA Americas	2007–08 FIBA Americas League	Peñarol	Soles de Mexicali	—	Single round-robin
FIBA Asia	2008 FIBA Asia Champions Cup	Saba Battery Tehran	Al-Rayyan Sports Club	82–75	Single-game final

National championships

Men:

• NBA
  • Season:
    • Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers (57–25)
    • Eastern Conference and League: Boston Celtics (66–16)
    • Other Division champions: Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic
  • Finals: The Boston Celtics defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Finals MVP: Paul Pierce
• Liga Nacional de Básquet, 2007–08 season:
  • Regular season: Libertad
  • Playoffs: Libertad defeat Quimsa 4–0 in the best-of-seven final.
• National Basketball League, 2007–08 season: The Melbourne Tigers defeat the Sydney Kings 3–2 in the best-of-five grand finals.
• Chinese Basketball Association, 2007–08 season: The Guangdong Southern Tigers defeat the Liaoning Hunters 4–1 in the best-of-seven finals.
• Croatian League:
• Estonian League, 2007–08: TÜ/Rock defeat Kalev/Cramo 4–0 in the best-of-7 final.
• French League: Nancy crush defending champions Chorale Roanne 84–53 in the one-off final.
• German Bundesliga:
• Greek League: Panathinaikos defeat Olympiacos 3–2 in the best-of-five final.
• Iranian Super League, 2007–08 season: Mahram defeat Saba Battery 2–0 in the best-of-three final.
• Israel Super League: Hapoel Holon defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv, the 14-time defending champions, 73–72 in the one-off final.
• Italian Serie A: Montepaschi Siena defeat Lottomatica Roma 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• Lithuanian LKL: Žalgiris defeat Lietuvos Rytas 4–1 in the best-of-seven final.
• Montenegro League:
• Philippine Basketball Association, 2007–08 season:
  • Philippine Cup: The Sta. Lucia Realtors defeat the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 4–3 in the best-of-seven finals. Finals MVP: Dennis Espino
  • Fiesta Conference: The Barangay Ginebra Kings defeat the Air21 Express 4–3 in the best-of-seven Finals. Finals MVPs: Ronald Tubid and Eric Menk
• Polish League:
• Russian Super League, 2007–08 season: CSKA Moscow sweep Dynamo Moscow 3–0 in the best-of-five final.
• Serbia Super League:
• Slovenian League: Union Olimpija defeat Helios Domžale 3–1 in the best-of-five finals.
• Spanish ACB:
  • Season: Real Madrid
  • Playoffs: TAU Cerámica sweep AXA FC Barcelona 3–0 in the best-of-five final.
• Turkish Basketball League:
• British Basketball League, 2007–08:
  • Season:
  • Playoffs:
• Adriatic League:

Women:

• 2008 WNBA Finals: Detroit Shock
• EuroLeague Women 2007–08: Spartak Moscow Region

College

Men

Nation	League / Tournament	Champion	Runner-up	Result	Playoff format
Canada	2008 CIS Men's Basketball Championship	Brock Badgers	Acadia Axemen	64–61	Single-game final
Philippines	2008 Philippine Collegiate Champions Cup	De La Salle Green Archers	Ateneo Blue Eagles	71–62	Single-game final
	UAAP Season 71	Ateneo Blue Eagles	De La Salle Green Archers	2–0	Best-of-three series
	NCAA Season 84	San Beda Red Lions	JRU Heavy Bombers	2–1	Best-of-three series

• NCAA
  • Division I: Kansas 75, Memphis 68 OT
    • Most Outstanding Player: Mario Chalmers, Kansas
  • National Invitation Tournament:
  • Division II: Winona State (MN) 87, Augusta State (GA) 76
  • Division III: Washington University in St. Louis (MO) 90, Amherst 68
• NAIA
  • NAIA Division I: Oklahoma City 75, Mountain State (WV) 72
  • NAIA Division II: Oregon Tech 63, Bellevue (NE) 56
• NJCAA
  • Division I: South Plains College 67, Salt Lake CC 56
  • Division II: Mott Community College 83, Columb State Community College 73
  • Division III: North Lake College TX 73, Joliet Junior College IL 70
• Philippines
  • Philippine Collegiate Championship 2008: De La Salle University 71, Ateneo de Manila University 62
  • UAAP Men's: Ateneo de Manila University def. De La Salle University, 2–0 in the finals series
  • NCAA (Philippines) Seniors': San Beda College def. José Rizal University, 2–1 in the finals series

Women

• NCAA
  • Division I: Tennessee 64, Stanford 48
    • Most Outstanding Player: Candace Parker, Tennessee
  • WNIT: Marquette 81, Michigan State 66
  • Division II: Northern Kentucky 63, South Dakota 58
  • Division III: Howard Payne (TX) 68, Messiah (PA) 54
• NAIA
  • NAIA Division I: Vanguard (CA) 72, Trevecca Nazarene (TN) 59
  • NAIA Division II: Northwestern College 82, College of the Ozarks MO 75
• NJCAA
  • Division I: Gulf Coast 62, Central Arizona 61
  • Division II: Kirkwood 78 vs Kankakee 53 (Final)
  • Division III: Monroe CC NY 79, Mohawk Valley CC 48
• UAAP Women's: Far Eastern University def. University of the Philippines, 2–0 in the finals series

Prep

• USA Today Boys Basketball Ranking #1: St. Anthony High School (New Jersey), Jersey City, New Jersey
• USA Today Girls Basketball Ranking #1: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, San Francisco, California
• NCAA (Philippines) Juniors: San Sebastian College-Recoletos def. Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 2–0 in the finals series
• UAAP Juniors: Ateneo High School def. De La Salle Zobel, 2–0 in the finals series

Awards and honors

Basketball Hall of Fame

• Class of 2008:
  • Players: Adrian Dantley, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon
  • Coaches: Pat Riley, Cathy Rush
  • Contributors: William Davidson, Dick Vitale

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

• Class of 2008
  • Debbie Ryan
  • Patty Broderick
  • Lin L. Laursen
  • Jill Rankin Schneider
  • Suzie McConnell-Serio
  • Michelle Timms

Professional

• Men
  • NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
  • NBA Rookie of the Year Award: Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics
  • NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
  • NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: Manu Ginóbili, San Antonio Spurs
  • NBA Most Improved Player Award: Hedo Türkoğlu, Orlando Magic
  • NBA Coach of the Year Award: Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets
  • FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers and Spain (also Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Euroscar Award: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers and Spain (also Memphis Grizzlies)
  • Mr. Europa: Ricky Rubio, Joventut Badalona and Spain
• Women
  • WNBA Most Valuable Player Award: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
  • WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
  • WNBA Rookie of the Year Award: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
  • WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award: Candice Wiggins, Minnesota Lynx
  • WNBA Most Improved Player Award: Ebony Hoffman, Indiana Fever
  • Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Vickie Johnson, San Antonio Silver Stars
  • WNBA Coach of the Year Award: Mike Thibault, Connecticut Sun
  • WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: Katie Smith, Detroit Shock
  • FIBA Europe Player of the Year Award: Maria Stepanova, CSKA Samara and Russia

Collegiate

• Combined
  • Legends of Coaching Award: Pat Summitt, Tennessee
• Men
  • John R. Wooden Award: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
  • Naismith College Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Memphis
  • Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Mike Green, Butler
  • Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
  • NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
  • USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Michael Beasley, Kansas State
  • Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Keno Davis, Drake
  • Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Dick Vitale
• Women
  • John R. Wooden Award: Candace Parker, Tennessee
  • Naismith College Player of the Year: Candace Parker, Tennessee
  • Naismith College Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
  • Wade Trophy: Candice Wiggins, Stanford
  • Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award: Jolene Anderson, Wisconsin
  • Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year: Candace Parker, Tennessee
  • NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player: Candace Parker, Tennessee
  • Basketball Academic All-America Team: Candace Parker, Tennessee
  • Carol Eckman Award: Doug Bruno, DePaul University
  • Maggie Dixon Award: Jeff Walz, Louisville
  • USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Maya Moore, Connecticut
  • Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year: Geno Auriemma, Connecticut
  • List of Senior CLASS Award women's basketball winners: Candice Wiggins, Stanford
  • Nancy Lieberman Award: Kristi Toliver, Maryland
  • Naismith Outstanding Contribution to Basketball: Jody Conradt

Events

• The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Movies

• More than a Game
• Semi-Pro – a screwball comedy film starring Will Ferrell, loosely based on the American Basketball Association in the 1970s.

Deaths

• March 22 — Red Stroud, American ABA player (New Orleans Buccaneers) (born 1941)
• March 25 — Ben Carnevale, American Hall of Fame coach of the Navy Midshipmen and North Carolina Tar Heels (born 1915)
• April 1 — Marvin Stone, former Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals player (born 1981)
• April 4 — Julius McCoy, 76, All-American college player at Michigan State (1956).
• April 9 — Art Spoelstra, American NBA player (Rochester Royals, Minneapolis Lakers, New York Knicks) (born 1932)
• May 5 — Sam Aubrey, American college player and coach (Oklahoma State) (born 1922)
• May 23 — Bob Knight, American professional basketball player (New York Knicks) (born 1929)
• June 25 — A. L. Bennett, American college player (Oklahoma State) (born 1924)
• July 15 — Gennadi Volnov, Russian (Soviet) Olympic gold medalist (1972) (born 1939)
• August 20 — Larry Hennessy, American Villanova All-American (born 1929)
• August 20 — Kevin Duckworth, American NBA All-Star with the Portland Trail Blazers (born 1964)
• September 5 —Bob Cluggish, American BAA player (New York Knicks) (born 1917)
• September 5 — Doyle Parrack, American college coach (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) (born 1921)
• September 6 — LeRoy Gardner Jr., University of Minnesota guard from 1966 to 1969. (born 1947)
• September 8 — Don Haskins, American Hall of Fame coach of the UTEP Miners, 1966 National Champions (born 1930)
• September 19 — Ernie Andres, All-American college player (Indiana), NBL player (Indianapolis Kautskys) (born 1918)
• November 17 — Pete Newell, American Hall of Fame coach of the California Golden Bears, 1959 National Champions (born 1915)

External links

Media related to 2008 in basketball at Wikimedia Commons