List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise

The following is a list of National Basketball Association players who have spent their entire career with one franchise. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 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 players listed here have spent their entire NBA career with just one franchise. Hall of Famer John Stockton spent his entire 19-year playing career with the Utah Jazz. Reggie Miller played his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers. Among active players, Kobe Bryant has played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 16 years, while Tim Duncan has played for the San Antonio Spurs for 15 years.

Contents

Key

Pos. G F C
Position Guard Forward Center

All-time

Note: This list is correct through the start of the 2011–12 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.
19 Stockton, JohnJohn Stockton* G Utah Jazz 1984–2003 — [3]
18 Miller, ReggieReggie Miller G/F Indiana Pacers 1987–2005 — [4]
16 Havlicek, JohnJohn Havlicek* F/G Boston Celtics 1962–1978 — [5]
16 Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant^ G Los Angeles Lakers 1996–present Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 and traded to the Lakers [6]
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[7] [8]
15 Greer, HalHal Greer* G/F Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers 1958–1973 — [9]
15 Duncan, TimTim Duncan^ F/C San Antonio Spurs 1997–present — [10]
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 [11]
14 West, JerryJerry West* G/F Los Angeles Lakers 1960–1974 — [12]
14 Dumars, JoeJoe Dumars* G Detroit Pistons 1985–1999 — [13]
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[14] [15]
14 Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki^ F Dallas Mavericks 1998–present Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 and traded to the Mavericks [16]
14 Pierce, PaulPaul Pierce^ F Boston Celtics 1998–present — [17]
13 Russell, BillBill Russell* C Boston Celtics 1956–1969 Drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 and traded to the Celtics [18]
13 Sanders, SatchSatch Sanders F Boston Celtics 1960–1973 — [19]
13 Unseld, WesWes Unseld* C/F Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets 1968–1981 — [20]
13 Murphy, CalvinCalvin Murphy* G San Diego / Houston Rockets 1970–1983 — [21]
13 Brown, FredFred Brown G Seattle SuperSonics 1971–1984 — [22]
13 Adams, AlvanAlvan Adams C/F Phoenix Suns 1975–1988 — [23]
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[24] [25]
13 Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson* G/F Los Angeles Lakers 1979–1991; 1996 Came out from retirement on January 1996 and played 32 games in the 1995–96 season [26]
13 McHale, KevinKevin McHale* F/C Boston Celtics 1980–1993 — [27]
13 Thomas, IsiahIsiah Thomas* G Detroit Pistons 1981–1994 — [28]
13 Foster, JeffJeff Foster^ F/C Indiana Pacers 1999–present Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1999 and traded to the Pacers [29]
12 Jones, SamSam Jones* G/F Boston Celtics 1957–1969 — [30]
12 Cooper, MichaelMichael Cooper G/F Los Angeles Lakers 1978–1990 — [31]
12 Worthy, JamesJames Worthy* F Los Angeles Lakers 1982–1994 — [32]
12 McMillan, NateNate McMillan G/F Seattle SuperSonics 1986–1998 — [33]
12 Smits, RikRik Smits C Indiana Pacers 1988–2000 — [34]
11 Pettit, BobBob Pettit* F/C Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks 1954–1965 — [35]
11 Twyman, JackJack Twyman* G/F Rochester / Cincinnati Royals 1955–1966 — [36]
11 Attles, AlAl Attles G Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors 1960–1971 — [37]
11 Tomjanovich, RudyRudy Tomjanovich F San Diego / Houston Rockets 1970–1981 — [38]
11 Eaton, MarkMark Eaton C Utah Jazz 1982–1993 — [39]
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[40] [41]
11 Parker, TonyTony Parker^ G San Antonio Spurs 2001–present — [42]
10 Mikkelsen, VernVern Mikkelsen* F/C Minneapolis Lakers 1949–1959 — [43]
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[44] [45]
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[46] [47]
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[48] [49]
10 Reed, WillisWillis Reed* F/C New York Knicks 1964–1974 — [50]
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[51] [52]
10 Boerwinkle, TomTom Boerwinkle C Chicago Bulls 1968–1978 — [53]
10 Leavell, AllenAllen Leavell G Houston Rockets 1979–1989 — [54]
10 Griffith, DarrellDarrell Griffith G Utah Jazz 1980–1991 Missed the 1985–86 season due to injury[55] [56]
10 Kirilenko, AndreiAndrei Kirilenko F Utah Jazz 2001–2011 Drafted by the Jazz in 1999, but did not enter the NBA until 2001 [57]
10 Ginóbili, ManuManu Ginóbili^ G San Antonio Spurs 2002–present Drafted by the Spurs in 1999, but did not enter the NBA until 2002 [58]
10 Nenê, Nenê^ F/C Denver Nuggets 2002–present Drafted by the New York Knicks in 2002 and traded to the Nuggets [59]
10 Prince, TayshaunTayshaun Prince^ F Detroit Pistons 2002–present — [60]

Active

Note: This list is correct through the start of the 2011–12 season.

No. of seasons played Player Pos. Team Career Notes Ref.
16 Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant G Los Angeles Lakers 1996–present Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 and traded to the Lakers [6]
15 Duncan, TimTim Duncan F/C San Antonio Spurs 1997–present — [10]
14 Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki F Dallas Mavericks 1998–present Drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 and traded to the Mavericks [16]
14 Pierce, PaulPaul Pierce F Boston Celtics 1998–present — [17]
13 Foster, JeffJeff Foster F/C Indiana Pacers 1999–present Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 1999 and traded to the Pacers [29]
11 Parker, TonyTony Parker G San Antonio Spurs 2001–present — [42]
10 Ginóbili, ManuManu Ginóbili G San Antonio Spurs 2002–present Drafted by the Spurs in 1999, but did not enter the NBA until 2002 [58]
10 Nenê, Nenê F/C Denver Nuggets 2002–present Drafted by the New York Knicks in 2002 and traded to the Nuggets [59]
10 Prince, TayshaunTayshaun Prince F Detroit Pistons 2002–present — [60]
9 Haslem, UdonisUdonis Haslem F Miami Heat 2003–present Went undrafted in 2003, but signed as a free agent with the Heat [61]
9 Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade G Miami Heat 2003–present — [62]
9 Walton, LukeLuke Walton F Los Angeles Lakers 2003–present — [63]
8 Collison, NickNick Collison F Seattle SuperSonics / Oklahoma City Thunder 2003–present Missed the 2003–04 season due to injury[64] [65]
8 Biedriņš, AndrisAndris Biedriņš C Golden State Warriors 2004–present — [66]
8 Deng, LuolLuol Deng F Chicago Bulls 2004–present Drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2004 and traded to the Bulls [67]
8 Howard, DwightDwight Howard F/C Orlando Magic 2004–present — [68]
8 Iguodala, AndreAndre Iguodala G/F Philadelphia 76ers 2004–present — [69]
8 Nelson, JameerJameer Nelson G Orlando Magic 2004–present Drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2004 and traded to the Magic [70]
8 Smith, JoshJosh Smith F Atlanta Hawks 2004–present — [71]
8 Varejão, AndersonAnderson Varejão F/C Cleveland Cavaliers 2004–present Drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2004 and traded to the Cavaliers [72]

References

General
Specific
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