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

When it comes to longevity in the league, it is sometimes hard to believe that some players have lasted in the league as long as they have, let alone with the same team. When you think of players who have lasted a long time in the league with one team, some names come to mind like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Robinson, and Jerry West. But to your surprise, these players actually didn't even last 15 years with their organization (a couple of them didn't even play 15 years in the league).

Magic Johnson's 13-year career was sadly cut short due to his battle with AIDS. Larry Bird also lasted 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics but that was cut short due to a back injury. David Robinson's 14-year career ended when he was 38 years old and the wear and tear of the league started to set in.

Finally, Jerry West's 14-year career ended with a really good story. The Lakers' didn't pay West's last contract, so he wanted to sue the organization. The organization decided they weren't going to give West another contract even though he was healthy enough to play another season. Since he wasn't going to get a contract from the Lakers, West decided to end his career rather than play another season with another team.

As you could see, some players do stay loyal to their team, but complications like injury, disease, feuds, and much more can affect the longevity of an NBA player's career. This list is going to focus on all-time players that have spent their entire career with one team. Not only do they stay with one team, but these players have lasted the longest in the league.

#5 Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers - 18 years

Perhaps one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time, Miller was drafted 11th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 1987 NBA Draft.

Miller didn’t win very many awards throughout his playing career with the Pacers but he did make an appearance in five All-Star games and made the All-NBA third team three times. Miller is second all-time in total 3-point field goals with 2,560 made on 39.5% 3-point shooting. Lastly, Miller was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2012.

Miller is the best player in Pacers’ franchise history with 174.4 win shares but he has never won a championship with the team although he did make one NBA Finals appearance in 2000. He did have one of the most memorable games in NBA history with the Famous Choke Game in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. Miller scored 8 points in nine seconds solidifying his name in the NBA with one of the most impressive comeback games of all time.

Miller retired in 2005 making it 18 years with the Pacers.

#4 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs - 19 years

Duncan was drafted 1st overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1997 NBA Draft. One of the most dominant power forwards of all time, Duncan spent his entire career with Gregg Popovic and the Spurs.

Duncan has one of the most impressive resumes on this list. He has won 5 NBA Championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. He was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005. He was named the 1997-98 Rookie of the Year, regular season MVP in 2001-02 and 2002-03, and appeared in 15 All-Star games. He also was selected to both All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams in all of his first 13 seasons.

I would say with this resume that Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time. He helped make the Spurs one of the most dominant teams in the NBA for the past two decades with his leadership and dominant play style. Not only that, he is a very smart player earning him the nickname of Mr. Fundamentals.

His big size and amazing athleticism made it impossible to guard him in the paint, and he could elevate over his opponents and slam the ball down without any struggle. Duncan retired in 2016 marking 19 years with the Spurs.

#3 John Stockton, Utah Jazz - 19 years

Stockton was selected 16th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1984 NBA Draft.

Stockton never won an NBA Championship but came very close. He appeared in 10 All-Star games and earned 11 All-NBA Team selections. Stockton is the all-time leader in assists with 15,806 assists over his 19-year career. He is also the all-time leader in steals with 3,265 steals. Stockton was a member of the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team better known as the “Dream Team” He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2009 and once again in 2010 as a member of the Dream Team.

Stockton wasn’t very well known for scoring, but he had the best court vision and hands in league history, leading in assists and steals. His assist totals were so crazy, he averaged 10.5 assists per game over his entire career. He was definitely a team player always looking for opportunities to get his teammate an open score. Unfortunately, Stockton could never win a ring because he played during the dominant Bulls’ years with Jordan.

Stockton retired in 2003 serving 19 years with Utah Jazz.

#2 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks - 20 years

Enter capti — Dirk Nowitzki is the only currently active player in the league on this list.

Nowitzki is the longest currently active player and the only active player on this list. He is tied for the most years of all time. All of the details of his career can be read here.

Another very dominant power forward, I would put Nowitzki as the second best behind Tim Duncan, but he has spent more time in the league and on the same team which is impressive on its own. Since Nowitzki is still active, I wouldn’t be surprised if he returned for another season with Mavericks so he could take over the top spot and be honored as the longest playing career for one team.

#1 Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers - 20 years

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.