NBA: Longest Serving Players In NBA History To Have Represented Only One Team 

Dirk Nowitzki #41, Tim Duncan #21
Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Tim Duncan #21

#1 Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers - 20 years

Kobe
Kobe Bryant has the longest career with one team spending 20 years with the L.A. Lakers.

Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft. This sounds very familiar. Similar to what happened to Nowitzki, the Hornets traded their draft rights to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. Another interesting fact is that Bryant was the first guard to be drafted right out of high school, and was 17 at the time of the draft. He had to cosign with his parents on his contract with the Lakers until Bryant turned 18 before the season began.

Bryant has had the most dominant and impressive career in NBA history. He was a 5-time NBA Champion in 2000, 01, 02, 2008-09,10 with Finals MVPs in 2009 and 2010. He earned a regular season MVP in 2008, appeared in 18 All-Star games, and selected 15 times for the All-NBA Team. He also won the Slam Dunk contest in 1997. Bryant retired in 2016 which signified an end to a legend’s career.

Bryant’s presence on the floor was unlike any other. Earning the nickname “Black Mamba”, he proved why that was an appropriate nickname. When it came down to the wire, when his team needed him the most, Bryant always knew when to turn on the heat. He would leave opponents in the dust with his impossible to guard handles, and left young players paralyzed. Some of Bryant’s most impressive accomplishments include 81 point game in 2006, 35.4 points per game in the 2005-06 season, and his career ending the 60-point game.

Kobe Bryant will forever be known as one of the greatest players in NBA history, but also goes down as the most loyal player of all time spending two decades with the Lakers, giving them two great decades of basketball.

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