One-Team Players

[blue9]

With Kobe's retirement imminent I was thinking about players who stayed with the same team for their entire career*. I thought it would be more common, but I'm not coming up with many names off the top of my head:

Kobe
Reggie
Robinson
Bird
Magic
Stockton
Isaiah
Dumars
McHale
Worthy
KJ
Russel
West
Reed
Irving
**Sabonis
**Yao

In the next few years we'll certainly add the following:

Duncan
Dirk
Parker
Ginobili
Wade

Who am I missing? Given how many great players there have been (especially 80s/90s), this seems to suggest that there's a good deal of player movement even at the very top talent levels.

*Players who defined their team, not role players.
**As much as I want to, not sure I can count Sabas/Yao due to circumstances.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Kareem played for Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Parish played for the Warriors, Celtics, Hornets, and Bulls. McHale did only play for the Celtics. AC played for the Lakers, Suns, Mavericks, and Heat.

To add to the list of current players that might be one day added to this list, I think you have to look at:
- Dwyane Wade
- Steph Curry (Not even 30 yet, so there's plenty of time for him to potentially move)

 

[B-Roy]

Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, James Worthy

The guys like Hakeem and Karl Malone who weren't technically one-team players, but for all intents and purposes pretty much were.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, James Worthy

The guys like Hakeem and Karl Malone who weren't technically one-team players, but for all intents and purposes pretty much were.

Never forget that Karl was a L*ker. Heinous.

 

[Eastoff]

I was going to start listing several others that are probably too early to call. You really need another category for the Malone's and Drexlers.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I would put an asterisk next to Kobe's name. He essentially forced a trade before he even played.

 

[KingSpeed]

Damian Lillard

 

[Draco]

How about Mr Sonic, Nate McMillian?

Although maybe the criteria should be players who were an Allstar. Kevin Johnson?

There's probably some random ones like Rik Smits. I would think some of the 60s Celtics stayed on one team. Though I don't pay attention to history before the 77 merger.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

How about Mr Sonic, Nate McMillian?

Although maybe the criteria should be players who were an Allstar. Kevin Johnson?

There's probably some random ones like Rik Smits. I would think some of the 60s Celtics stayed on one team. Though I don't pay attention to history before the 77 merger.

Mark Eaton? One-time All-Star, one team.

 

[blue9]

Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, James Worthy

The guys like Hakeem and Karl Malone who weren't technically one-team players, but for all intents and purposes pretty much were.

OMG - I don't know how I totally skipped over the Pistons! Thanks!

I'm not considering anyone who ever played for another NBA team (Jordan, Malone, etc).

 

[blue9]

How about Mr Sonic, Nate McMillian?

Although maybe the criteria should be players who were an Allstar. Kevin Johnson?

There's probably some random ones like Rik Smits. I would think some of the 60s Celtics stayed on one team. Though I don't pay attention to history before the 77 merger.

Yeah, I'm only thinking of historic players. I'm not sure I'd include Nate...but maybe that's because I hated him so much as a coach!
KJ? For some reason I thought he played for someone else...but I can't think of who. I'll add him to the list.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Bill Russell
Jerry West
Dr J
Willis Reed

Udonis Haslem

 

[blue9]

Udonis Haslem

Good one! But for the purposes of this list I'm thinking of players who defined the team, though I guess I didn't specify that. But please keep throwing those names out just for fun - I won't add them to the OP, but it's interesting to have them in the thread.

 

[blue9]

Mark Eaton? One-time All-Star, one team.

Wow, really? That brings to mind Laimbeer...who'd be play for besides the Pistons?

 

[blue9]

How about 'Nique? Did he play for anyone besides ATL? Or Frazier (not Tim!)?
Of course I could look this stuff up, but I find it more fun this way...internet is overrated.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

How about 'Nique? Did he play for anyone besides ATL? Or Frazier (not Tim!)?
Of course I could look this stuff up, but I find it more fun this way...internet is overrated.

Dominique played for several different teams at the end of his career.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Hoping he is on the list in 10 years.

 

[Tunchi]

How can anybody forget the head scratcher 1 teamer Nick Collision

How hes not been traded by now is beyond me

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Wow, really? That brings to mind Laimbeer...who'd be play for besides the Pistons?

Yep only Detroit, for 14 years.

 

[riverman]

Damian Lillard

Derrick Rose and I believe Paul George, John Wall, Al Horford and Blake Griffin

 

[riverman]

I thought Ilgauskas but he played for the Heat and Cavs

 

[Sedatedfork]

If Kevin Durant never leaves the Thunder -- would he qualify or not, since he has played for the Sonics and the Thunder. Could be a fun trivia question, but I'm not sure how it would be phrased. Maybe something like -- Which NBA player was never traded, and never signed with a different team after becoming a free agent, but played for 2 different NBA teams in his career.

 

[riverman]

If Kevin Durant never leaves the Thunder -- would he qualify or not, since he has played for the Sonics and the Thunder. Could be a fun trivia question, but I'm not sure how it would be phrased. Maybe something like -- Which NBA player was never traded, and never signed with a different team after becoming a free agent, but played for 2 different NBA teams in his career.

Good point! There are still quite a few players on the teams that drafted them...I'd say Durant was still with the team...sort of like the Hornets and Bobcats are basically the same team if you consider the original Hornets were in Charlotte

 

[blue9]

Hoping he is on the list in 10 years.

Yeah - here's hoping! But way too early to add to the list of soon-to-be-retired players [knock on wood].

 

[blue9]

If Kevin Durant never leaves the Thunder -- would he qualify or not, since he has played for the Sonics and the Thunder. Could be a fun trivia question, but I'm not sure how it would be phrased. Maybe something like -- Which NBA player was never traded, and never signed with a different team after becoming a free agent, but played for 2 different NBA teams in his career.

If KD retires with OKC then I'd put him on the list. But I'll be shocked if he retires with that team.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Wow, really? That brings to mind Laimbeer...who'd be play for besides the Pistons?

The Cavs. In the bad boys doc they said he played in Cleveland

 

[blue9]

The Cavs. In the bad boys doc they said he played in Cleveland

Wow - had no idea!

 

[B-Roy]

Yep only Detroit, for 14 years.

Laimbeer started his career in Cleveland.

 

[Hobbesarable]

His premature death cut his career short, but you may want to consider the Boston Celtics Reggie Lewis.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Laimbeer started his career in Cleveland.

Speaking of Cleveland, Brad Daugherty spent his entire career as a Cavalier.