If there’s one thing we don’t see often enough in the NBA today, it’s loyalty. In a league where NBA players are demanding – not just requesting – trades left and right, it’s rare that we see a player stick it out through thick and thin. And even if the player wants to stick around, that feeling has to be mutual.
The sad truth is that breakups are just as real in the NBA as they are in high school – and they happen often. From an executive’s standpoint, players either aren’t performing well, want too much money, are toxic in the locker room, or are expendable in lieu of younger talent. Either way, a breakup is inevitable.
From an NBA player’s perspective, they might want out due to a coaching change, a lack of playing time, not getting paid enough, or are simply ready for a change in scenery. The point is there are a ton of reasons – on both sides of the equation – why a player might move on from a team (and vice-versa).
RELATED: NBA Players Who Won an NBA Championship With the Team That Drafted Them
NBA Players With the Most Games Played With One Franchise
Sports experts often highlight the NBA players who had the longest careers, but we should be giving a little extra love to the NBA players who had the longest careers with a single franchise. While those two lists would share a lot of similarities, not everyone on that first list would show up on that second list.
Let’s talk numbers real quick. Only 146 NBA players have played at least 1,000 games in their career. Of those 146 players, only 17 have played at least 1,000 games with one team – that’s only 11.6%! And of the top-10 players all-time in games played, only five of them played at least 1,000 games with one team.
Vince Carter is a perfect example. He currently ranks third all-time with 1,541 games played in his career, but he never played more than 403 games with one franchise. Same with Kevin Garnett, Kevin Willis, LeBron James, and Jason Terry – all in the top-10, but haven’t played 1,000 games with one team.
With that said, let’s see if you can name the 17 NBA players who have played at least 1,000 games with a single franchise – some of the names might surprise you!
17. Calvin Murphy – 1,002 games (Houston Rockets)
Games With the Rockets: 1,002 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,002 games
Calvin Murphy was drafted by the San Diego (now-Houston) Rockets with the No. 18 overall pick (2nd round) in the 1970 Draft. He spent his entire 13-year career with the team and played a total of 1,002 games in a Rockets’ uniform – you can add another 51 games to that total if you include the playoffs.
Murphy averaged 18.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game throughout his career and had a career-high 57 points against the New Jersey Nets on March 18, 1978. He was an All-Star during the 1978-79 season and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
16. Joe Dumars – 1,018 games (Detroit Pistons)
Games With the Pistons: 1,018 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,018 games
Joe Dumars was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 18 overall (1st round) pick in the 1985 Draft. He spent his entire 14-year career with the team and played a total of 1,018 games in a Pistons’ uniform – you can add another 112 games to that total if you include the playoffs, where he won two NBA titles.
Dumars averaged 16.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game in his career and had a career-high 45 points vs. the Warriors on March 12, 1992. He was a 6-time All-Star, 5-time All-Defensive shooting guard, and former Finals MVP who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
15. Patrick Ewing – 1,039 games (New York Knicks)
Games With the Knicks: 1,039 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,183 games
Patrick Ewing was drafted by the New York Knicks with the No. 1 overall (1st round) pick in 1985. He spent the first 15 years of his career with the team and played a total of 1,039 games in a Knicks’ uniform – he played in 135 playoff games with the Knicks. He retired with 1,183 regular season games played.
Ewing averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.7 blocks in 36.2 minutes per game with the Knicks. He was an 11-time All-Star, 7-time All-NBA center, 3-time All-Defensive center, and former Rookie of the Year who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
14. Manu Ginobili – 1,057 games (San Antonio Spurs)
Games With the Spurs: 1,057 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,057 games
Manu Ginobili was drafed by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 57 overall (2nd round) pick in the 1999 Draft. He spent his entire 16-year career with the team and played a total of 1,057 games in a Spurs’ uniform – you can add another 218 games to that total if you include the playoffs, where he won 4 titles.
Ginobili averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 27.9 minutes per game with the Spurs. He was a 2-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA shooting guard, and former Sixth Man of the Year who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. He was teammates with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
13. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 1,093 games (Los Angeles Lakers)
Games With the Lakers: 1,093 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,560 games
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 1 overall (1st round) pick in the 1969 Draft. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers after six seasons and spent the next 14 years in LA, where he played in a total of 1,093 games in a Lakers’ uniform – and another 180 games in the playoffs.
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.6 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game with LA. He was a 13-time All-Star, 3-time MVP, 5-time champion, former Finals MVP, 3-time All-Defensive center, and 8-time All-NBA center with LA and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
12. Paul Pierce – 1,102 games (Boston Celtics)
Games With the Celtics: 1,102 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,343 games
Paul Pierce was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the No. 10 overall (1st round) pick in the 1998 Draft. He spent the first 15 years of his career with the team and played in a total of 1,102 games in a Celtics’ uniform – you can add another 136 games to that total if you include the playoffs, where he won one title.
Pierce averaged 18.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 36.6 minutes per game with Boston. He was a 10-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA small forward, and Finals MVP with Boston and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021. He also played for the Wizards, Nets, and Clippers.
11. Robert Parish – 1,106 games (Boston Celtics)
Games With the Celtics: 1,106 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,611 games
Robert Parish was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the No. 8 overall (1st round) pick in the 1976 Draft. He was traded to the Boston Celtics four years later and spent the next 14 seasons with the team – playing in a total of 1,106 regular season games and 168 playoff games in a Celtics’ uniform.
Parish averaged 16.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game with the Celtics. He was a 9-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA center, and 4-time champion (three of which were with Boston) who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
10. Hal Greer – 1,122 games (Philadelphia 76ers)
Games With the 76ers: 1,122 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,122 games
Hal Greer was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadlephia 76ers) with the No. 14 overall (2nd round) pick in the 1958 Draft. He spent his entire 15-year career with the Nationals/76ers, playing in a total of 1,122 regular season games and 92 playoff games with the team. They won a title in 1967.
Greer averaged 20.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 39.6 minutes per game with Philadelphia. He was a 10-time All-Star, 7-time All-NBA guard, 1967-68 All-Star Game MVP, and member of the 75th Anniversary Team who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
9. Hakeem Olajuwon – 1,177 games (Houston Rockets)
Games With the Rockets: 1,177 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,238 games
Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the No. 1 overall (1st round) pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. He spent the next 17 years with the team and played in a total of 1,177 regular season games in a Rockets’ uniform – you can add another 140 games to that total if you include the playoffs.
Olajuwon averaged 26.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 3.3 blocks in 40.5 minutes per game in Houston. He was a 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 9-time All-Defensive, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time champion, 2-time Finals MVP, and 1994 MVP who is now in the Hall of Fame.
8. Tony Parker – 1,198 games (San Antonio Spurs)
Games With the Spurs: 1,198 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,254 games
Tony Parker was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 28 overall (1st round) overall pick in the 2001 Draft. He spent the next 17 seasons with the team and played in a total of 1,198 regular season games in a Spurs’ uniform – you can add another 226 games to that total if you include the playoffs.
Parker averaged 15.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 0.9 steals in 31.1 minutes per game with the Spurs. He was a 6-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA, four-time NBA champion, and 2007 Finals MVP who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023. He was teammates with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
7. John Havlicek – 1,270 games (Boston Celtics)
Games With the Celtics: 1,270 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,270 games
John Havlicek was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the No. 9 overall (1st round) pick in the 1962 Draft. He spent his entire 16-year career with the team and played a total of 1,270 regular season games in a Celtics’ uniform – you can add 172 games to that total if you include the playoffs, where he won 8 titles.
Havlicek averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 36.6 minutes per game with the Celtics between 1962 and 1978. He was a 13-time All-Star 11-time All-NBA, 8-time All-Defensive forward, and 1974 Finals MVP who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
6. Kobe Bryant – 1,346 games (Los Angeles Lakers)
Games With the Lakers: 1,346 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,346 games
Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 13 overall (1st round) pick in the 1996 Draft, but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he spent the next 20 years and played in a total of 1,346 regular season games – he played in another 220 games in the playoffs.
Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 36.1 minutes per game with the Lakers between 1996 and 2016. He was an 18-time All-Star, 5-time champion, 2008 MVP, 2-time Finals MVP, and 12-time All-Defensive guard who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
5. Reggie Miller – 1,389 games (Indiana Pacers)
Games With the Pacers: 1,389 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,389 games
Reggie Miller was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 11 overall (1st round) pick in the 1987 Draft. He spent his entire 18-year career with the team and played in a total of 1,389 regular season games in a Pacers’ uniform – you can add another 144 games to that total if you include the playoffs.
Miller averaged 18.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 34.3 minutes per game with the Pacers between 1987 and 2005. He was a 5-time All-Star and 3-time All-NBA shooting guard who was inducted into the Basketball hall of Fame in 2012. He retired with 2,560 three point field goals made.
4. Tim Duncan – 1,392 games (San Antonio Spurs)
Games With the Spurs: 1392 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,392 games
Tim Duncan was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 1 overall (1st round) pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. He spent his entire 19-year career with the team and played a total of 1,392 regular season games in a Spurs’ uniform – you can add another 251 games to that total if you include the playoffs.
Duncan averaged 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.2 blocks in 34.0 minutes per game with the Spurs between 1997 and 2016. He was a 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-Defensive power forward, 5-time champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 2-time MVP, former Rookie of the Year, and Hall of Famer.
3. Karl Malone – 1,434 games (Utah Jazz)
Games With the Jazz: 1,434 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,476 games
Karl Malone was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the No. 13 overall (1st round) pick in the 1985 Draft. He spent the first 18 seasons of his career with the team and played a total of 1,434 regular season games in a Jazz uniform – you can add another 172 games if you include the playoffs, though he never won a title.
Malone averaged 25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 37.3 minutes per game with the Jazz between 1985 and 2003. He was a 14-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA power forward, 4-time All-Defensive power forward, and 2-time MVP who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
2. John Stockton – 1,504 games (Utah Jazz)
Games With the Jazz: 1,504 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,504 games
John Stockton was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the No. 16 overall (1st round) pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. He spent his entire 19-year career with the team and played a total of 1,504 regular season games in a Jazz uniform – you can add 182 games if you include the playoffs, though he never won a title.
Stockton averaged 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 2.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game with the Jazz between 1984 and 2003. He was a 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA guard, 5-time All-Defensive guard, and 1992-93 All-Star MVP who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
1. Dirk Nowitzki – 1,522 games (Dallas Mavericks)
Games With the Mavericks: 1,522 games
Total Games in the NBA: 1,522 games
Dirk Nowitzki was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 9 overall (1st round) pick in the 1998 Draft, but was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks – where he spent his entire 21-year career. He played in a total of 1,522 regular season games and another 145 games in the playoffs with the Mavs.
Nowitzki averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game with the Mavs between 1999 and 2019. He was a 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA power forward, 2007 MVP, 2011 champion, and 2011 Finals MVP who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.
NBA Players Who Might Join This List in the Future
When you look at the NBA today, there aren’t many players out there with an opportunity to join this list – especially considering how common it is for NBA players to jump ship and join another team. Even players like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal are jumping ship before reaching that 1,000-game mark.
Right now, the closest player to joining this list is Stephen Curry – he has played in 882 games in his career and will likely retire with the Golden State Warriors. His teammates – Draymond Green (758 games) and Klay Thompson (716 games) could join him if they stick together, which is certainly possible.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Denver Nuggets Win First Championship in Franchise History — Can You Name the 10 NBA Franchises Who Have Yet to Win
Other players to keep an eye on are Giannis Antetokounmpo (719 games played with the Milwaukee Bucks), Kris Middleton (657 games played with the Bucks), NikolaJ okic (596 games played with the Denver Nuggets), and Karl-Anthony Towns (511 games played with the Minnesota Timberwolves).
Contents
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.