List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
![](../I/m/Kobe_Bryant2_2014.jpg)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league consisting of 30 teams in North America (twenty-nine in the United States and one in Canada). The NBA was founded on June 6, 1946 in New York City, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).[1] The league adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL).[2] The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball, which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for basketball in the country.[3] The league is considered to be one of the four major professional sports leagues of North America.[4]
The players listed here have spent their entire NBA career with just one franchise. Active players, Tim Duncan for the San Antonio Spurs for 19 years, and Dirk Nowitzki for the Dallas Mavericks for 18 years. Hall of Famer John Stockton spent his entire 19-year playing career with the Utah Jazz, Reggie Miller, also a Hall of Famer, played his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers. Kobe Bryant who retired in 2016, played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Several players also played the majority of their careers with one team before being traded to another team near the ends of their careers. These include Hall of Famers Karl Malone (18 seasons with the Utah Jazz before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for one final season), Hakeem Olajuwon (17 seasons with the Houston Rockets before being traded to the Toronto Raptors for one final season), Patrick Ewing (15 seasons with the New York Knicks before playing his final two seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Orlando Magic), Michael Jordan (13 seasons with the Chicago Bulls before returning to the NBA with the Washington Wizards for two seasons), and active player Paul Pierce (15 seasons with the Boston Celtics before moving to three other teams). Kevin Johnson had a contrasting effect by starting out his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers for one season before spending the rest of his career afterwards with the Phoenix Suns (12 seasons).
Key
Pos. | G | F | C |
Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
All-time
Note: This list is correct through the start of the 2015–16 season.
^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
* | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame |
No. of seasons played | Player | Pos. | Team | Career | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 1996–2016 | Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 and traded to the Lakers. | [5] |
19 | Stockton, JohnJohn Stockton* | G | Utah Jazz | 1984–2003 | — | [6] |
19 | Duncan, TimTim Duncan^ | F/C | San Antonio Spurs | 1997–present | — | [7] |
18 | Miller, ReggieReggie Miller* | G | Indiana Pacers | 1987–2005 | — | [8] |
18 | Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki^ | F | Dallas Mavericks | 1998–present | Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 and traded to the Mavericks | [9] |
16 | Havlicek, JohnJohn Havlicek* | F/G | Boston Celtics | 1962–1978 | — | [10] |
15 | Schayes, DolphDolph Schayes* | F/C | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers | 1949–1964 | Drafted by the New York Knicks in 1948, but opted to play for the Nationals in the NBL before moving to the NBA with the Nationals in 1949[11] | [12] |
15 | Greer, HalHal Greer* | G/F | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers | 1958–1973 | — | [13] |
15 | Parker, TonyTony Parker^ | G | San Antonio Spurs | 2001–present | — | [14] |
14 | Baylor, ElginElgin Baylor* | F | Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers | 1958–1971 | Retired on November 1971 due to injury after only playing 9 games in the 1971–72 season | [15] |
14 | West, JerryJerry West* | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 1960–1974 | — | [16] |
14 | Dumars, JoeJoe Dumars* | G | Detroit Pistons | 1985–1999 | — | [17] |
14 | Robinson, DavidDavid Robinson* | C | San Antonio Spurs | 1989–2003 | Drafted by the Spurs in 1987, but did not enter the NBA until 1989 due to his commitment with the Navy[18] | [19] |
14 | Ginóbili, ManuManu Ginóbili^ | G | San Antonio Spurs | 2002–present | Drafted by the Spurs in 1999, but did not enter the NBA until 2002 | [20] |
13 | Russell, BillBill Russell* | C | Boston Celtics | 1956–1969 | Drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 and traded to the Celtics | [21] |
13 | Sanders, SatchSatch Sanders* | F | Boston Celtics | 1960–1973 | — | [22] |
13 | Unseld, WesWes Unseld* | C/F | Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets | 1968–1981 | — | [23] |
13 | Murphy, CalvinCalvin Murphy* | G | San Diego / Houston Rockets | 1970–1983 | — | [24] |
13 | Brown, FredFred Brown | G | Seattle SuperSonics | 1971–1984 | — | [25] |
13 | Adams, AlvanAlvan Adams | C/F | Phoenix Suns | 1975–1988 | — | [26] |
13 | Bird, LarryLarry Bird* | F | Boston Celtics | 1979–1992 | Drafted by the Celtics in 1978, but did not enter the NBA until 1979, after his college graduation[27] | [28] |
13 | Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 1979–1991; 1996 | Came out from retirement on January 1996 and played 32 games in the 1995–96 season | [29] |
13 | McHale, KevinKevin McHale* | F/C | Boston Celtics | 1980–1993 | — | [30] |
13 | Thomas, IsiahIsiah Thomas* | G | Detroit Pistons | 1981–1994 | — | [31] |
13 | Foster, JeffJeff Foster | F/C | Indiana Pacers | 1999–2012 | Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1999 and traded to the Pacers | [32] |
13 | Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade^ | G | Miami Heat | 2003–present | — | [33] |
13 | Haslem, UdonisUdonis Haslem^ | F | Miami Heat | 2003–present | Went undrafted in 2002, but signed as a free agent with the Heat a year later | [34] |
12 | Jones, SamSam Jones* | G/F | Boston Celtics | 1957–1969 | — | [35] |
12 | Cooper, MichaelMichael Cooper | G/F | Los Angeles Lakers | 1978–1990 | — | [36] |
12 | Worthy, JamesJames Worthy* | F | Los Angeles Lakers | 1982–1994 | — | [37] |
12 | McMillan, NateNate McMillan | G/F | Seattle SuperSonics | 1986–1998 | — | [38] |
12 | Smits, RikRik Smits | C | Indiana Pacers | 1988–2000 | — | [39] |
12 | Collison, NickNick Collison^ | F/C | Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder | 2003–present | Missed the 2003–04 season due to injury[40] | [41] |
11 | Pettit, BobBob Pettit* | F/C | Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks | 1954–1965 | — | [42] |
11 | Twyman, JackJack Twyman* | G/F | Rochester / Cincinnati Royals | 1955–1966 | — | [43] |
11 | Attles, AlAl Attles | G | Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors | 1960–1971 | — | [44] |
11 | Tomjanovich, RudyRudy Tomjanovich | F | San Diego / Houston Rockets | 1970–1981 | — | [45] |
11 | Erving, JuliusJulius Erving* | G/F | Philadelphia 76ers | 1976–1987 | Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972, but opted to play in the ABA before joining the 76ers after the ABA–NBA merger in 1976[46] | [47] |
11 | Eaton, MarkMark Eaton | C | Utah Jazz | 1982–1993 | — | [48] |
10 | Mikkelsen, VernVern Mikkelsen* | F/C | Minneapolis Lakers | 1949–1959 | — | [49] |
10 | Arizin, PaulPaul Arizin* | G/F | Golden State Warriors | 1950–1962 | Missed the 1953–54 season and the 1954–55 season due to military service[50] | [51] |
10 | Bianchi, AlAl Bianchi | G | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers | 1956–1966 | Drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1954 and traded to the Nationals, but did not enter the league until 1956 due to military service[52] | [53] |
10 | Hagan, CliffCliff Hagan* | G/F | St. Louis Hawks | 1956–1966 | Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1953 and traded to the Hawks, but did not enter the league until 1956 due to military service[54] | [55] |
10 | Reed, WillisWillis Reed* | F/C | New York Knicks | 1964–1974 | — | [56] |
10 | Bradley, BillBill Bradley* | G/F | New York Knicks | 1967–1977 | Drafted by the Knicks in 1965, but did not enter the NBA until 1967 due to academic commitment in England[57] | [58] |
10 | Boerwinkle, TomTom Boerwinkle | C | Chicago Bulls | 1968–1978 | — | [59] |
10 | Leavell, AllenAllen Leavell | G | Houston Rockets | 1979–1989 | — | [60] |
10 | Griffith, DarrellDarrell Griffith | G | Utah Jazz | 1980–1991 | Missed the 1985–86 season due to injury[61] | [62] |
Active
Note: This list is correct through the start of the 2015–16 season.
No. of seasons played | Player | Pos. | Team | Career | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | Duncan, TimTim Duncan | F/C | San Antonio Spurs | 1997–present | — | [7] |
18 | Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki | F | Dallas Mavericks | 1998–present | Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 and traded to the Mavericks | [9] |
15 | Parker, TonyTony Parker | G | San Antonio Spurs | 2001–present | — | [14] |
14 | Ginóbili, ManuManu Ginóbili | G | San Antonio Spurs | 2002–present | Drafted by the Spurs in 1999, but did not enter the NBA until 2002 | [20] |
13 | Haslem, UdonisUdonis Haslem | F | Miami Heat | 2003–present | Went undrafted in 2002, but signed as a free agent with the Heat a year later | [34] |
13 | Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade | G | Miami Heat | 2003–present | — | [33] |
12 | Collison, NickNick Collison | F/C | Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder | 2003–present | Missed the 2003–04 season due to injury[40] | [41] |
9 | Conley, Jr., MikeMike Conley, Jr. | G | Memphis Grizzlies | 2007–present | — | [63] |
9 | Durant, KevinKevin Durant | F | Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder | 2007–present | — | [64] |
9 | Horford, AlAl Horford | C | Atlanta Hawks | 2007–present | — | [65] |
9 | Noah, JoakimJoakim Noah | C | Chicago Bulls | 2007–present | — | [66] |
See also
References
General
- Grasso, John. "Players Who Played Their Entire Careers With One Franchise". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
Specific
- ↑ Goldaper, Sam. "The First Game". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ↑ "1949–50 Season Overview: Powerful Lakers Repeat". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Inside USA Basketball". USA Basketball. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ↑ Pennington, Bill (April 4, 2003). "Drugs; Anti-Doping Executive Plans to Prod Pro Leagues". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved July 6, 2009.
- ↑ "Kobe Bryant Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "John Stockton Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- 1 2 "Tim Duncan Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Reggie Miller Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- 1 2 "Dirk Nowitzki Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "John Havlicek Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Dolph Schayes Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Dolph Schayes Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Hal Greer Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- 1 2 "Tony Parker Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Elgin Baylor Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Jerry West Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Joe Dumars Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ Anderson, Dave (May 18, 1987). "Sports of the Times; The Robinson Plot Thickens". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "David Robinson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- 1 2 "Manu Ginobili Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Bill Russell Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Tom Sanders Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Wes Unseld Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Calvin Murphy Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Fred Brown Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Alvan Adams Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Larry Bird Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Larry Bird Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Magic Johnson Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Kevin McHale Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Isiah Thomas Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Jeff Foster Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- 1 2 "Dwyane Wade Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- 1 2 "Udonis Haslem Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Sam Jones Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Michael Cooper Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "James Worthy Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Nate McMillan Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Rik Smits Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- 1 2 "First-rounder needs shoulder surgery". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. October 4, 2003. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "Nick Collison Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Bob Pettit Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Jack Twyman Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Al Attles Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Rudy Tomjanovich Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Julius Erving Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Julius Erving Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Mark Eaton Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Vern Mikkelsen Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Paul Arizin Bio". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Paul Arizin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Suns Add Al Bianchi to Coaching Staff". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 18, 2002. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Al Bianchi Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ McCallum, Jack (October 24, 2008). "Wait over, Oden is ready to go". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Cliff Hagan Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Willis Reed Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ Mann, Jack (February 7, 1966). "Just A Guy At Oxford". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Bill Bradley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Tom Boerwinkle Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Allen Leavell Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "1985–86: "The Mailman" Delivers A Winning Season". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Darrell Griffith Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Mike Conley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Kevin Durant Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Al Horford Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Joakim Noah Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 22, 2014.