The New Orleans Hornets 2008–09 were led by Chris Paul, whose elite playmaking, efficient scoring, and defensive activity powered the offense. David West complemented him as the primary frontcourt scorer, while Tyson Chandler anchored the interior with rebounding and rim protection when healthy. The statistics reflect a balanced team that emphasized ball movement, efficient offense, and strong interior play, with reliable contributions from multiple experienced veterans.
Primary engine of New Orleans’ offense, blending elite pick-and-roll command with relentless tempo control. Paul consistently collapsed defenses with drives before spraying passes to shooters or feeding David West in the mid-post, while his 2.8 steals per game anchored aggressive perimeter defense.
NBA All-Star 2009; All-NBA Second Team 2009; NBA All-Defensive First Team 2009; 5th in NBA MVP Voting 2009; 6th in NBA Defensive Player of the Year Voting 2009
David West
Starter / Star [1.1]
39.2
High [1.2]
21.0
8.5
2.3
1.5
87.12
Face-up scoring forward who served as Paul’s most reliable half-court partner. West thrived from the elbows and mid-range, punishing defenders with physical post positioning and soft jumpers while maintaining heavy minutes as the team’s interior scoring anchor.
NBA All-Star 2009
Tyson Chandler
Starter / Star [1.1]
32.1
Medium [1.1]
8.8
8.7
0.5
1.5
47.19
Rim-running center whose impact leaned toward defense and vertical spacing. Chandler protected the paint, rebounded at a strong rate, and finished lobs created by Paul’s pick-and-roll playmaking when healthy.
Peja Stojaković
Starter / Star [1.1]
34.2
Medium [1.1]
13.3
4.3
1.2
0.9
47.67
Veteran floor-spacer who stretched defenses well beyond the arc. Stojaković’s off-ball movement and quick release forced opponents to respect the perimeter, opening driving lanes for Paul and interior touches for West.
Rasual Butler
Starter / Star [1.1]
31.9
Medium [1.1]
11.2
3.3
0.9
1.3
40.15
Starting wing tasked primarily with spacing and complementary scoring. Butler delivered steady three-point shooting and quietly added defensive activity, including occasional weak-side blocks and steals.
James Posey
Key Contributor [1.05]
28.5
Medium [1.1]
8.9
4.8
1.1
1.1
36.50
Defense-minded veteran used heavily as a rotation stabilizer. Posey guarded multiple positions and spaced the floor from the corners, offering playoff-tested composure even while coming off the bench.
16th in NBA Sixth Man of the Year Voting 2009
Devin Brown
Bench [1.0]
13.8
Medium [1.1]
5.2
1.9
0.9
0.6
18.92
Reserve wing providing occasional scoring bursts and backcourt depth. Brown attacked off the dribble when second units slowed and helped defend opposing guards in short rotations.
Julian Wright
Bench [1.0]
14.3
Low [1.0]
4.4
2.8
0.8
1.0
18.00
Athletic forward whose role centered on energy plays—cutting, running the floor, and defending with length. Wright’s activity often showed up in transition opportunities and loose-ball plays.
Hilton Armstrong
Key Contributor [1.05]
15.6
Low [1.0]
4.8
2.8
0.4
1.0
18.48
Rotation big who filled frontcourt minutes behind Chandler. Armstrong focused on rim protection and finishing around the basket, typically scoring off rebounds or simple interior feeds.
Morris Peterson
Bench [1.0]
12.0
Low [1.0]
4.4
2.0
0.4
0.3
14.20
Veteran shooter used situationally to provide perimeter spacing. Peterson’s offense mainly came from spot-up threes and quick catch-and-shoot attempts.
Antonio Daniels
Bench
12.0
Low
3.8
0.9
2.1
0.3
14.20
Veteran backup point guard who handled brief stretches of ball-handling relief behind Paul, focusing on safe playmaking and keeping the offense organized in limited minutes.
NBA Champion 1999
Sean Marks
Bench
14.0
Low
3.2
3.1
0.2
0.7
14.40
Physical reserve center relied on for screening, rebounding, and interior toughness when the main bigs rested.
NBA Champion 2003
Melvin Ely
Bench
12.0
Low
3.1
2.1
0.6
0.4
12.40
Depth big who contributed spot minutes in the rotation, typically operating near the basket for short hooks and rebounding opportunities.
Ryan Bowen
Bench
10.4
Low
2.2
1.1
0.4
0.9
9.20
Hustle-first forward whose role revolved around defense, screens, and energy possessions rather than offensive production.
Mike James
Bench
9.3
Low
2.5
0.9
1.0
0.3
9.40
Veteran scoring guard briefly used for offensive punch off the bench, looking to create shots quickly when inserted into the rotation.
Ball-dominant floor general who orchestrated nearly every half-court possession for New Orleans in this playoff series. Paul relentlessly probed defenses out of pick-and-roll sets, piling up 10.4 assists per game while still creating his own offense late in the shot clock; the heavy workload (40+ minutes nightly) reflected how dependent the offense was on his tempo control and decision-making.
NBA All-Star 2009; All-NBA Second Team 2009; NBA All-Defensive First Team 2009
David West
Starter / Star [1.1]
35.6
High [1.2]
18.0
7.4
1.2
1.4
73.39
Physical mid-post scorer who operated as Paul’s primary scoring partner, repeatedly attacking single coverage from the elbows and low block. West’s playoff role leaned heavily on half-court shot creation—his 18.0 points per game came largely from face-up jumpers and tough interior finishes while anchoring the team’s rebounding on the defensive glass.
NBA All-Star 2009
Peja Stojaković
Starter / Star [1.1]
32.4
Medium [1.1]
11.2
2.8
0.4
1.0
37.27
Veteran perimeter specialist whose job in the offense was clear: stretch the floor and punish defensive help on Chris Paul drives. Stojaković hunted catch-and-shoot looks beyond the arc, and while efficiency fluctuated during the series, his spacing gravity remained essential to opening driving lanes and mid-post touches for teammates.
NBA Champion 2011
Rasual Butler
Starter / Star [1.1]
31.6
Medium [1.1]
10.6
3.0
0.2
1.0
35.70
Low-usage starting wing who thrived as a spot-up option alongside New Orleans’ stars. Butler shot confidently from deep—hitting over half his threes in the series—and filled a classic complementary role: defend his matchup, run the floor, and punish defenses that rotated too aggressively toward Paul or West.
James Posey
Key Contributor [1.05]
24.6
Medium [1.1]
11.4
6.2
0.6
0.6
43.24
Defensive-minded forward deployed off the bench to stabilize lineups with veteran awareness. Posey chipped in timely scoring and rebounding while spacing the floor, and his playoff experience showed in small details—physical defense on wings and smart rotations that helped New Orleans maintain structure when starters rested.
NBA Champion 2008
Tyson Chandler
Starter / Star [1.1]
23.5
Medium [1.1]
3.8
5.3
0.5
0.8
20.57
Rim-running center whose value showed more in defense and screen-setting than scoring. Chandler protected the paint and battled on the boards while serving as the vertical threat in Paul’s pick-and-roll attack, though injuries limited his minutes and overall influence in the series.
NBA Champion 2011; NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2012
Sean Marks
Bench [1.0]
16.0
Low [1.0]
3.2
4.0
0.0
1.0
16.40
Physical reserve big who stepped in to absorb frontcourt minutes when the rotation thinned. Marks focused on rebounding position and interior defense, rarely looking for offense outside of short-range opportunities created by offensive boards or simple drop-off passes.
NBA Champion 2003
Hilton Armstrong
Key Contributor [1.05]
13.3
Low [1.0]
3.8
2.0
0.3
1.3
15.96
Energetic backup center whose minutes revolved around rim protection and hustle plays. Armstrong used his length to contest shots and occasionally generate steals or blocks, offering short bursts of defensive activity when the starters needed relief.
Antonio Daniels
Bench [1.0]
12.8
Low [1.0]
2.8
0.6
1.8
0.6
11.60
Veteran backup point guard responsible for maintaining offensive structure during brief Chris Paul rest periods. Daniels leaned on cautious ball movement and free-throw generation rather than scoring bursts, helping keep turnovers manageable in limited minutes.
NBA Champion 1999
Morris Peterson
Bench [1.0]
10.5
Low [1.0]
3.0
1.5
0.5
0.5
11.00
Situational perimeter shooter who saw sparse playoff minutes but was used primarily to add spacing on the wing. Peterson’s offensive role remained simple: spot up around the arc and take advantage of defensive collapses on New Orleans’ primary creators.
Julian Wright
Bench [1.0]
8.0
Low [1.0]
2.0
1.5
0.5
0.3
8.60
Athletic young forward inserted for energy rather than scoring. Wright’s contributions came through activity—cutting along the baseline, contesting shots with length, and helping push the pace in transition during short rotation stints.
Devin Brown
Bench [1.0]
11.0
Low [1.0]
2.7
1.7
0.0
0.0
8.80
Reserve guard who provided brief scoring support when called upon. Brown looked to attack quickly off the dribble or capitalize on defensive lapses, though his offensive role remained limited in the postseason rotation.
NBA Champion 2007
Ryan Bowen
Bench [1.0]
2.0
Low [1.0]
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.00
End-of-bench forward used only briefly in the series, typically inserted for situational defense or to absorb a possession late in games already decided.
