With Kobe's retirement imminent I was thinking about players who stayed with the same team for their entire career*. I thought it would be more common, but I'm not coming up with many names off the top of my head: Kobe Reggie Robinson Bird Magic Stockton Isaiah Dumars McHale Worthy KJ Russel West Reed Irving **Sabonis **Yao In the next few years we'll certainly add the following: Duncan Dirk Parker Ginobili Wade Who am I missing? Given how many great players there have been (especially 80s/90s), this seems to suggest that there's a good deal of player movement even at the very top talent levels. *Players who defined their team, not role players. **As much as I want to, not sure I can count Sabas/Yao due to circumstances.
Kareem played for Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Parish played for the Warriors, Celtics, Hornets, and Bulls. McHale did only play for the Celtics. AC played for the Lakers, Suns, Mavericks, and Heat. To add to the list of current players that might be one day added to this list, I think you have to look at: - Dwyane Wade - Steph Curry (Not even 30 yet, so there's plenty of time for him to potentially move)
Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, James Worthy The guys like Hakeem and Karl Malone who weren't technically one-team players, but for all intents and purposes pretty much were.
I was going to start listing several others that are probably too early to call. You really need another category for the Malone's and Drexlers.
How about Mr Sonic, Nate McMillian? Although maybe the criteria should be players who were an Allstar. Kevin Johnson? There's probably some random ones like Rik Smits. I would think some of the 60s Celtics stayed on one team. Though I don't pay attention to history before the 77 merger.
OMG - I don't know how I totally skipped over the Pistons! Thanks! I'm not considering anyone who ever played for another NBA team (Jordan, Malone, etc).
Yeah, I'm only thinking of historic players. I'm not sure I'd include Nate...but maybe that's because I hated him so much as a coach! KJ? For some reason I thought he played for someone else...but I can't think of who. I'll add him to the list.
Good one! But for the purposes of this list I'm thinking of players who defined the team, though I guess I didn't specify that. But please keep throwing those names out just for fun - I won't add them to the OP, but it's interesting to have them in the thread.
How about 'Nique? Did he play for anyone besides ATL? Or Frazier (not Tim!)? Of course I could look this stuff up, but I find it more fun this way...internet is overrated.
How can anybody forget the head scratcher 1 teamer Nick Collision How hes not been traded by now is beyond me
