In the history of the NBA, only four players have spent 19 or more seasons with one franchise.
In the 2021-22 season, Udonis Haslem is reportedly set to become the fifth.
Udonis Haslem will return to the Miami Heat on a one-year, $2.6M deal for his 19th NBA season with the franchise, source tells @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 11, 2021
Haslem will join a group that features a few of the most iconic players to play the game. Learn more about the careers and accolades of the five players whose respective careers with one franchise span the course of multiple decades.
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, 21 seasons (1998-2019)
Selected with the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, a draft-day trade began Nowitzki's Hall of Fame career with the Mavericks began in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season.
Over 21 seasons with Dallas, Nowitzki earned 14 All-Star selections, 12 All-NBA selections (four First Team), was named MVP of the 2006-07 season and led Dallas to its first-ever NBA title with a legendary performance in the 2011 NBA Finals, for which he was named NBA Finals MVP.
Dirk retired as the franchise's all-time leader in over a dozen statistical categories, including games played, minutes, points, rebounds and blocks. He currently sits at sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 31,560 points.
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, 20 seasons (1996-2016)
After Bryant was selected with the No. 13 overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, he was traded to the Lakers, where he began his career as an 18-year-old rookie.
Bryant's 20-year career in Los Angeles was highlighted by a number of honours, including 18 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections and 12 All-Defensive Team selections. The Hall of Famer also won five NBA titles with the Lakers, winning Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010 and was named league MVP in 2008.
As it stands, Bryant is the franchise's all-time leader in points, steals, games and minutes played, among other statistical categories. Bryant's 33,643 career points rank fourth all-time in NBA history.
John Stockton, Utah Jazz, 19 seasons (1984-2003)
The Jazz used the 16th overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft to select Stockton, who enjoyed a four-year career at Gonzaga University.
From there, he became one of the greatest point guards in league history.
After playing a reserve role for the majority of his first three seasons, Stockton became a full-time starter in Year 4, which is when he won the first of nine consecutive assists titles with 13.8 assists per game. Stockton earned 11 All-NBA selections, 10 All-Star nods, five All-Defensive selections and was the MVP of the 1993 All-Star Game.
Stockton retired as Utah's all-time leader in games played, while his 15,806 career assists are the most in NBA history by a steep margin, and a mark that is unlikely to ever be matched.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 19 seasons (1997-2016)
After winning the 1997 NBA Draft lottery, the Spurs selected Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
His impact was immediate.
As a rookie, Duncan earned an All-NBA First Team selection to go along with All-Defensive Second Team and, of course, Rookie of the Year honours. His career in San Antonio spanned three decades and included 15 All-Star selections, 15 All-NBA selections, 15 All-Defensive Team selections, five NBA championships, three FInals MVPs and two league MVPs.
Duncan is the franchise's all-time leader in over 10 statistical categories, including games and minutes played, points, rebounds and blocks.
Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat, 19 seasons (2003-Present)
Undrafted in 2002, Haslem joined his hometown team as a free agent in 2003.
Haslem earned All-Rookie honours in the 2003-04 season and by his second season, became a full-time starter in Miami's frontcourt. Year 3 saw Haslem play a key role for the Heat, who would escape from a 2-0 series deficit in the 2006 NBA Finals to win the first title in franchise history.
In the years since, Haslem has added two more NBA titles to his resume and returns for a 19th season as a key veteran leader in Miami's locker room.
Entering the 2021-22 season, Haslem is the franchise's all-time leader with 5,755 rebounds and trails only Dwyane Wade as second all-time in games and minutes played.
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