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Since the 2000-01 NBA season, Vince Carter is the only player to have appeared in more than 1400 games. It's a feat that stands to this day. The only other player to ever come close to Carter's tally is Dirk Nowitzki, who appeared in 1393 games.
At present, LeBron James is the only active player who can even hope to break this record set by Air Canada. His tally of 1310 games is 119 more than Andre Iguodala, a three-time NBA champion who stands second on the list of most games played by current players.
Now that we know the tallies for most games played, it is only natural to wonder about the players who have started the most games. Not considering playoff games, here's a look at the five players who have started the most NBA games in the 21st century:
#5 Tony Parker - 1151 NBA games
Tony Parker is the ray of hope that has motivated French basketball aspirants for the last two decades. His is a story that did not begin with a marching band and fireworks. Instead, it began by proving his prowess.
When he was with the San Antonio Spurs, Parker was by no means Greg Popovich's first choice. He had to outperform Antonio Daniels in his rookie season to earn the right to be Popovich's starting player.
Parker would go on to become one of the Spurs' Big 3 three, a trio that won four championships together. In his quest for glory, Parker started 1151 of his 1254 NBA games.
#4 Paul Pierce - 1166 games
Paul Pierce, like Parker, was part of a formidable Big Three. In Paul's case, this Big Three belonged to the Boston Celtics, a team as old as the NBA itself. Pierce spent most of his career playing for the Celts. He is one of only three players in Celtics' history to have scored more than 20,000 points.
'The Truth' later played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and the LA Clippers. In his 1222 career games, Pierce started in 1166. His prolific career includes one NBA Championship, one Finals MVP, and ten All-Stars appearances.
#3 Tim Duncan - 1183 NBA games
Tim Duncan is a five-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star and the 1998 Rookie of the Year.
His accolades are plentiful, but not nearly enough. Tim Duncan questioned the idea of basketball and the sense of game that dwelled in most minds. In a world where flashy celebrations and crowd-arousing dunks were the norm, Duncan personified humility and gravitas.
Duncan appeared in 1186 NBA games, starting 1183 of them. His record of games started in comparison to games played is the second-best on this list. In his 19 years in the NBA, the Spurs legend scored 31,668 points and snatched 17,950 rebounds. He is truly the greatest power forward ever.
#2 LeBron James - 1309 games
If all goes well, LeBron James should end his career with the most games started and played in the NBA in the 21st century. But as of now, he stands second on the list. He currently plays for the LA Lakers alongside the likes of Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis.
King James has played in 1310 games in the entirety of his career, starting 1309 of them. His record of games started in comparison to games played is almost perfect and even better than that of Duncan's.
James and Michael Jordan are widely acknowledged as two of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen. The former Cavs player has won pretty much everything to be won in the world of basketball. He has two Olympic gold medals, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, 17-time All-Star appearances, and was the 2004 Rookie of the Year.
#1 Dirk Nowitzki - 1355 games
The greatest player to come out of the Dallas Mavericks, the best European basketballer of all time, Dirk Nowitzki is ranked first on the list of the most NBA games started in the 21st century. He started 1355 of his 1393 games.
The 7' 0" Mavs player bullied rivals beyond measure. An unstoppable force, Dirk Nowitzki could score virtually from anywhere inside the arc. and, when needed, from downtown too.
He was the commander in chief of the team that led the Mavericks to their only championship win. He will forever remain one of the greatest big shooters of all time and an NBA player loved by fans and rivals alike.
