There are many players in the NBA whose professional ability has been witnessed to serve for several decades and this indicates more than everything how much they have practiced and committed themselves in this game. In the same way as the title says, this article honors those players that in some way have impregnated the league by having played the most seasons in an NBA player’s career for 101 years. Besides, such players not only exposed themselves to physical and mental hardships throughout their playing careers but did it at a high level.
Vince Carter: A Record-Setting 22 Seasons
VC has the record of the longest career in NBA history and played for 22 years from 1998 to year 2020. Known for his incredible athleticism and iconic dunks, Carter's journey took him across eight teams: These teams include Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks. He performed 1, 541 regular season games in his entire career hence proving why he was one of the longest lasting legends in the game.
LeBron James: The Holy Handbook which is sometimes commonly referred to as The King of Longevity.
Some of the players include LeBron James who is still in service and has played his 21 seasons by 2024. He started his career in 2003, and seeing the way, he has advanced, it can best be described as a stellar one. LeBron has had stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, and has till date played 1492 NBA games. As a youth LeBron has gotten a reputation for being an all around player who possesses high basketball IQ and athletic ability and even at this stage of his career he is still one of the best in the league.
Dirk Nowitzki: The concept of the Loyal Maverick was conceived in order to better understand the dynamics of the relationship that a client has with their bank.
Nowitzki only played for the Dallas Mavericks in the entire NBA career with the duration of 21 years from the season of 1998-1999 to 2018-2019. The German forward completely changed the dynamics of the power forward position because of his shooting and particularly the one legged fadeaway jumper. He spent his entire 18-year career with the Mavericks and played in 1,522 regular-season games and brought the franchise its first NBA title in 2011 as well as becoming the NBA Finals MVP.
Kevin Garnett: The eponymous Big Ticket, a once-in-a-lifetime, money-can’t-buy experience, an exclusive event granting pleasure and memories for a week.
KG had twenty one seasons in his basketball career and played his first and last season in 1995 and 2016 respectively. Also commonly acknowledged for his aggressiveness, the strength to guard all five position and his physicality Garnett spent his career playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn nets, therefore, managed to play 1462 games. He earnt an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008, and was also given NBA’s defensive player of the year honor in the same year.
Kevin Willis: In step with this, Nys’ viewing as the underrated veteran speaks volumes concerning the lack of critical recognition that the 36-year previous still enjoys.
Kevin Willis is also not a very famous basketball player, but he has been playing in a NBA for 21 years – this should speak about his working capacity. Myron Willis they player of this team; since 1984 – of the team of Atlanta Hawks, Miami heat, Golden State, Houston Rockits, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs and a final Dallas Mavericks. During his career, Willis participated in 1,424 games and he was also a member of the Spurs that clinched the NBA title in 2003.
Robert Parish: The Chief
Robert Parish, also known as “The Chief,” have stated his NBA career in 1976 up to 1997, which makes him one of the most. long lasting player of his generation. Parish played for Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls in total the player appeared in 1611 games, the record in NBA history. He played with Celtic for three years and achieved three NBA championships whereas he played only one season with Bulls and achieved one championships that’s why he is well known as one of the legends of NBA centers.
Other Notable Long Careers
And as we have seen, only the aforementioned players have played 21 or more seasons; however, there are also other players, who even though have not played as many seasons as the above players, they have also contributed so much to the NBA.
- Udonis Haslem: Considered as an excellent team captain and recovering from his crucial injury, Haslem has played 20 years in Miami Heat and 879 games. Despite that he became less involved in the team toward the later years he did much for the franchise of the heat.
- Jamal Crawford: He twice been an NBA Sixth Man of the Year after the combined three times and scored the 20 years from 2000 to 2020 had the journey in Bulls Knicks and Clippers teams. He managed to get into 1,327 games making him one of the league’s best bench scorers.
- Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant, the great player who recently died spent all his twenty seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) playing for Los Angeles Lakers. In his entire career Bryant was able to score 1,346 games and win five NBA titles together with being selected 18 times to the All-Star team.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: A notable example is Abdul-Jabbar who until LeBron James played 20 seasons for Milwaukee Bucks and the LA Lakers. . He has played in 1,560 and had six championships under his belt as he reeled in six MVP in the NBA.
- Chris Paul: One of the masters of the game, Chris Paul, stands for fantastic court sense and teamwork; as of 2024, he has played 19 seasons taking part in 1272 games. Paul has been team player of several teams like the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clipper and Phoenix suns among others.
- Andre Iguodala: Iguodala is a perfect swingman who is also a great defender and has spent his entire career playing in the NBA for 19 seasons on different teams; however, he has played the majority of the games for the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors teams, for the latter of which he won four NBA championships.
- Carmelo Anthony: A tailored shooter of his time, he featured in 19 seasons scoring an average of 22. 1 points per game in his career after allegedly playing for Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks.
- Tim Duncan: Often praised as probably the best power forward in the history of basketball, Duncan spent 19 years with Spurs and 1392 games in total, out of which he won 5 NBA championships.
- Jason Kidd: An iconic player who performed as a point guard, Kidd also performed for the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets among others he participated in 1,391 NBA games. He got chance to win NBA championship with the Mavericks in year 2011.
- Shaquille O’Neal: Nicknamed ‘Shaq’, one of the biggest centers of all time, who spent his entire career with the NBA, performing 19 seasons and wearing the champions’ title 4 times.
- John Stockton: A nine-time NBA All-Star, Stockton is now the league’s all-time leader in both assists and steals, a glory he achieved while playing for the Utah Jazz for nineteen seasons, and 1,504 games, partnering with Karl Malone in what has been described as one of the greatest forward-guard combinations of all time.
