Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks

As many NBA fans can testify, Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a man of many firsts. Nowitzki was an exceptional player that broke and set many records during his career. Initially drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA draft, he was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he played during his entire 21-season basketball stint.

He led the team to its first-ever NBA championship in 2011 and won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in the same year. He holds many records, including being the first highest-scoring foreign player in the NBA. In 2021, Nowitzki was selected to be on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant was regarded by many as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He possessed immense talent and had numerous awards to show for it. The Charlotte Hornets drafted him in 1996 as the 13th overall pick. He was traded to the L.A. Lakers shortly after and played his entire 20-season career with the team.

His many achievements include being named the NBA Finals MVP twice in a row. Bryant’s legacy lived on even after passing, as he was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame posthumously in 2020. In 2021, he was also included in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Udonis Haslem – Miami Heat

Udonis Haslem has been a prominent player right from when he was in high school. He soon went to the University of Florida on a scholarship, where he led the Gators to four NCAA tournaments and was a key player. Haslem played professionally as an undrafted player for Chalon-sur-Saône in 2002.

He was soon drafted into the NBA in 2003 by the Miami Heat, where he became the longest-tenured player in the franchise’s history. He won three NBA championships with the Heats and was also the oldest active player in the NBA. In 2021, Haslem renewed his contract and re-signed with the team.

Reggie Miller – Indiana Pacers

Reginal Miller, or Reggie Miller, as he was popularly referred to, was one of the best players of all time for the Indiana Pacers. He played his entire 18-season at the club. Miller was known for particular skills, such as his accurate three-point shots under pressure. He was also known for his record against the New York Knicks.

He was selected in the first round as the 11th overall pick by the Pacers in 1987 and retired in 2005. His 31 jersey number was subsequently retired in 2006. In 2021, Miller gained more recognition even after retirement and was listed as part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Manu Ginóbili – San Antonio Spurs

Argentine-born Emanuel Ginóbili is a former basketball player who played for 16 years in the NBA. He played professionally for a few international teams before he was drafted by the Spurs in 1999. Ginóbili has played basketball professionally for 23 years and was one of two players to win an Olympic gold medal, a EuroLeague title, and an NBA championship.

Ginóbili has had numerous achievements during the course of his career, which comes as no surprise seeing that he is from a family of professional basketball players. He retired in 2018 and by 2022, was a first-ballot inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

John Havlicek – Boston Celtics

John Havlicek is considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1962, where he spent his entire career. During his time with the Celtics, he won eight NBA Championships and has been one out of three persons with an unsurpassed record of 8-0 in the NBA Finals series.

Havlicek played collegiate basketball, where he got the opportunity to compete in the 1960 Olympics. He retired in 1978 after a successful career and was inducted into the  Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984 in honor of his achievements.

Dolph Schayes – Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers

From playing to coaching, Dolph Schayes was an invaluable asset to the National Basketball Association. Before the NBA, Schayes was first drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1948 BAA draft and by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the NBL draft. He was traded to the Syracuse Nationals by the Blackhawks, after which the team moved to the newly formed NBA.

Schayes played his entire 16-year career at the Nationals, which later transitioned into the Philadelphia 76ers. He retired as a player in 1964 and was a full-time coach for the team. In honor of his impactful career, he was listed on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Hal Greer – Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers

Harold Greer played as a guard for the Syracuse Nationals, which later became the Philadelphia 76ers, for his entire career. He was a formidable player and was a 10-time NBA All-Star. He played collegiate basketball while at Marshall University, where he also played baseball.

Greer was immediately drafted into the NBA by the Nationals in 1958, where he spent his entire professional career. He was honored in 2021 by his alma mater, Marshall University, with a bronze statue made in his resemblance. He was also included in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in the same year, just two weeks after the statue was unveiled.

Nick Collison – Oklahoma City Thunder

Nicholas Collison had a good start in his basketball career right from high school to college. He played for the Kansas Jayhawks and finished his collegiate career as a leading scorer. Collison also got to play for the United States National Team at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

He was subsequently drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, in the 2003 NBA draft. He played his entire professional career with the SuperSonics, including after their transition. He retired in 2018 and served as the special assistant to the Executive Vice President and general manager of the Thunders in 2021.

Elgin Baylor – Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers

Elgin Baylor was one basketball player that possessed many skills on the court. He was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958 as the first overall pick for the team. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time in the game’s entire history.

Baylor spent 14 seasons playing for the Lakers and retired as a player in 1971. He became a coach for the New Orleans Jazz from 1974 to 1979. He later served as an executive for the Los Angeles Clippers for 22 years. In 2021, he was given the honor of being one of the greatest players to make the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team list.

Jerry West – Los Angeles Lakers

Jerome West was given many nicknames during his time as a player for the L.A. Lakers. One of them includes being called the logo because his silhouette was used as part of the NBA logo. He began his career in 1960 as the 2nd pick for the Minneapolis Lakers, where he played for 14 years.

During his career run, he won a gold medal for the United States at the 1960 Olympic Games. After his retirement, he coached the Lakers for three years and soon became general manager just before the 1982-83 NBA season. He was honored and listed in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Joe Dumars – Detroit Pistons

Joe Dumars III was a highly skilled player because he could play point guard and shooting guard. He could play as a defender and on the offensive, which made him invaluable. He was drafted by the Pistons in 1985 and played his entire 14-year career with the team.

Dumars retired in 1999 and moved to the executive part of basketball. From 2000 to 2004, he served as the president of basketball operations for the Pistons. In 2022, he received an appointment as the executive vice president and head of basketball operations of the NBA, further advancing his executive career in the sport.

David Robinson – San Antonio Spurs

David Robinson, or the Admiral, as he was nicknamed, was an outstanding center, revered in both college and in NBA history. He played for the United States in the 1992 Olympics and as a result, was a two-time inductee of a few honors, including the United States Hall of Fame.

He played his entire 14-year career with the Spurs, where he was a 10-time NBA All-Star. Robinson retired in 2003 and started other personal ventures, such as the Carver Academy. He was honored for his exemplary sportsmanship throughout his career and was included in the 2021 NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Bill Russell – Boston Celtics

Bill Russell was referred to as the centerpiece of the Boston Celtics during his career run. He played his whole 13-year professional career with the Celtics, during which the team won 11 NBA Championships. He is also a 12-time NBA All-Star and is considered one of the greatest players in the league’s history.

Russell was a player and coach for the Celtics and officially left the team in 1969 when he retired as a player. He coached two more teams afterward, the Seattle SuperSonics and the Sacramento Kings. He is one of the most decorated players and was honored in 2021 as one of the league’s 75 greatest players.

Satch Sander – Boston Celtics

Thomas Satch Sanders is one of three unsurpassed players in the NBA with an 8-0 record. He was drafted by the Celtics in 1960 and spent his entire 13-year career with the team. He played as a forward for the team where he won eight championships.

Sanders retired in 1973 as a player and began coaching the Harvard Crimson team in the same year, making him the first African-American to serve as head coach of any sport at an Ivy League school. He left the Harvard Crimson and became a cinch for his former team, the Boston Celtics. In 2011, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wes Unseld- Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets

Despite the odds and challenges he faced, Westley Sissel Unseld had a great sports career. Unseld was one of the few people who were privileged enough to venture into all spheres of their basketball career and succeed in them. 

In his entire career, Unseld played only for the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, now known as the Washington Wizards, until he retired and became a coach of the same team. His exceptional abilities made him one of the best NBA players of his time. It seems his son, Wes Unseld Jnr, inherited his skills, as he was made a coach of the Wizards in 2021.

Calvin Murphy – San Diego/ Houston Rockets

Calvin Murphy was best known for his speed and high-scoring skills during his time. Murphy’s 13-year-long sports career was successful. He was a skillful player that was much respected in the profession. He played for the San Diego/Houston Rockets throughout his career before he retired in 1983.

The American player’s talent and efforts earned him several achievements, including being mentioned in an NBA All-Rookie First Team, becoming an NBA All-Star, winning the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, and becoming a Hall of Fame inductee in 1983.  As of 2022, he was a member of Rocket’s TV broadcast team and a host for “The Calvin Murphy Show.”

Fred Brown – Seattle Supersonics

The former American basketball player and one-time NBA champion, Fred Brown, is still known as one of the Seattle SuperSonics’ favorite stars decades after he left the team in 1984. While his 13-year career with the SuperSonics wasn’t glamorous, it was as eventful as it could be.

With an NBA All-star recognition in 1976, his career got just the right shade of the limelight as he was soon named captain of the SuperSonics championship team of the 1978-79 season. He won the 1979 NBA championship in the same season. Brown’s abilities made him the NBA three-point percentage leader in the 1980 season.

Alvan Adams – Pheonix Suns

The importance of Alvan Adams’ role in the Phoenix Suns could not be overemphasized. While the Suns had not reached the NBA finals before Adams was drafted in 1975, he led them to their first-ever NBA finals in 1976 as a power forward/center player. Adams also led them to the 2021 NBA finals as the Vice President for Facilities Management of the footprint center in Phoenix.

Decorating his 13-year career with the Suns, Adams became both an NBA All-star and a respected NBA rookie in 1976. He retired with a career record of 13,910 points and 4,012 assists.

Larry Bird – Boston Celtics

Larry Legend was the nickname given to the former Boston Celtics’ power forward, Larry Bird. The name was bestowed on him for his prowess on the pitch as the Celtics’ star. Even after his retirement in 1992, his name lived on such that he was able to host his event, “Larry Bird Award,” in 2022.

Bird’s first professional appearance on the pitch was in the 1979-80 NBA season, after being drafted months before in 1978. However, his performance was more than impressive that by the end of the season in 1980, he got the NBA rookie of the year Award, and by the next year was already an NBA champion.

Magic Johnson – Los Angeles Lakers

Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr is agreeably one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Starting with his 1979 draft into the Los Angeles Lakers as the first overall pick, till 2000 when he finally called it quits, the American pro basketball player always gave NBA fans something new to talk about.

Be it as a twelve-time NBA star, or as a five-time NBA champion, he always knew how to spice the game. Seeing as he became the president of basketball operations for the Lakers in 2017, it’s no surprise he got the Lifetime NBA achievement award in 2019 and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary team.

Kevin McHale – Boston Celtics

Despite Kevin McHale’s retirement from basketball in 1993, his fame has only increased since then, and in 2022, he was even called up to star in some shows, one being “The Killer B’s.” The former NBA star was drafted as the overall third pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1980 NBA draft.

While he was just a young adult at the time, he held his forward position so well that even after quitting the game, he is still remembered as one of the greatest forwards in the NBA. Aside from being a three-time NBA champion and a seven-time NBA All-Star, McHale was made a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.

Isiah Thomas – Detroit Piston

Isiah Lord Thomas III had an amazing career as a professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons. It was a great period for him as it put him on a pedestal for greater heights in his fame. Thomas joined the Pistons in 1981 after leading his college basketball team to the 1981 NCAA championship.

He ended his 13-year career with the Pistons’ lead center as a 12-time NBA All-star and a two-time NBA champion. He also won the NBA finals as the most valuable player in 1990. He went on to be a TV commentator, an executive of the Toronto Raptors, and, in June 2022, a guest of the “Insider.”

Jeff Foster – Indiana Pacers

After a 13-year career in the spotlight as a center and power forward for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, Jeff Foster finally called it quits in March of 2012. Foster was drafted in 1999 by the Golden State Warriors, who immediately passed him to the Pacers, where he spent the entirety of his career.

Foster’s retirement from the pitch in 2012 has seen him live a quiet life with his wife and twin kids in Austin, Texas. He keeps up his charitable acts of giving back to society. One such was his gift to the men’s basketball program for Texas State student-athletes in 2022.

Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry will always be revered as one of the greatest shooters in all of NBA history. With his level of talent and skill, it’s no surprise he was named the NBA final’s most valuable player in 2022.

In his decade-long career following his draft to the Golden State Warriors, he has become an eight-time NBA All-star,  a two-time and a four-time NBA champion, to mention a few of his accolades. His brilliance may be attributed to the fact that he was born into a family of basketball players. There’s no denying that he’s also one of the hardest-working players in the game.

Sam Jones – Boston Celtics

The former Boston Celtics shooting guard and five-time NBA All-star two-time, Sam Jones, was reputed on the pitch for his match-winning speed. Initiated into professional basketball by the 1957 NBA draft, Jones was the 8th overall pick. He used the opportunity wisely, such that, by his retirement in 1969, he was already a ten-time NBA champion.

Jones began his coaching career in 1974, proving his undeniable love for the game. To the surprise of no NBA fan, he has been named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. In 2021, he was named to the 75th-anniversary team of the NBA with the likes of James Worthy.

Michael Cooper – Los Angeles Lakers

Michael Cooper was one of the heroes who kept the Los Angeles Lakers flag high. Drafted into the team at the 1978 NBA draft, Cooper led the team through five NBA championships. Although he retired as a professional basketball player in 1991 after his stay at Virtus Roma, his career as a coach picked up fast.

Starting with the Lakers as their assistant coach in 1994, he moved on to the Sparks as an assistant as well, and later became the team’s head coach from 2000 through 2004. He transferred to six others and, lastly, in 2021, was hired by Culver City High School as the boys’ varsity coach.

James Worthy – Los Angeles Lakers

Being drafted as the number one pick in the 1982 NBA draft set the stage for James Worthy’s climb to fame as a professional basketball player. By the end of his career in 1994, Worthy was a three-time NBA champion. He also became a seven-time NBA All-star between 1986 and 1992.

Even after his career break, he got more time in the spotlight as he became a sports analyst and commentator. In 2021, he was included in the 75th NBA anniversary team. He can boast of a respectable career in the entertainment industry, having produced the 2019 movie documentary, “The Opera Game.”

Nathaniel McMillan – The Seattle SuperSonics

While Nathaniel McMillan retired from pro basketball in 1998 following his 1986 draft into the SuperSonics, his fame as a legend has only grown higher. With his 19 years of service, becoming the assistant coach of the SuperSonics after his retirement was something of an emotional feat.

The pro basketball player’s appointment as interim coach of the SuperSonics kickstarted his coaching profession. His career as a coach got better in no time as he moved to the Portland Trail Blazers and then to the Indiana Pacers. In 2020, McMillian moved to the Atlanta Hawks, and a year afterward, he was made the interim coach.

Rik Smits – Indiana Pacers

Former Indiana Pacers, player, Rik Smit joined the Pacers at the 1988 NBA draft. Although the pause in his basketball career in 2000 was inevitable, he spent all of his career with the Pacers.

Starting in a less integral role and later replacing Steve Stipanovich as the full-time center, Smit led the Pacers to the 1999–2000 championships. Though he took a well-deserved retirement from the pitch and found a new hobby on the track, his love for the sport lived on. Smit relocated from his home in 2019 to support his son, Derrek Smith, who played for the Butler Bulldogs during the 2019-2020 season.

Bob Pettit- Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks

Bob Pettit needs no lesson on loyalty. A retired professional basketball player, he played a total of 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association with one team, the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks. Although he had a rocky start when he was first drafted to the team in 1954, he found his way and even rose to become a prominent star on the court. 

Soon, he was the player everyone was looking out for. In 1956, he became the first recipient of the National Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player Award. An award he once again took home in 1959. Sadly, Pettit lost his wife, Candace, in 2010.

Jack Twyman- Sacramento Kings

John Twyman was quite the basketball player. Right from his early days, it was easy to tell how much passion he had for basketball. Despite being cut from his high school team three times, he practiced every day until he eventually made the team as a senior. 

He went on to become one of the first players in NBA history to average more than 30 points per game in a single season. In 1983, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He stayed with the Sacramento Kings all through his career, and after he died in 2012, his shirt number, 27 was retired by the team.

Alvin Attles – Golden State Warriors

Alvin Attles was in a league of his own. More than just a retired basketball player, he was also a respectable coach. His relationship with the Golden State Warriors lasted for so long that he spent all 11 seasons of his NBA career with this team. 

As if that was not enough, in his eleventh season, he took over as player-coach and was there until he rose to head coach. In that same team, he also worked as the general manager. Attles is the longest-serving coach in the history of the Golden State Warriors. In 2019, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Rudy Tomjanovich – San Diego/ Houston Rockets

We don’t doubt Ruddy Tomjanovich’s passion. Any man capable of playing all his NBA games with one team is certainly passionate. Tomjanovich spent all his time as a professional basketball player with the San Diego/Houston Rockets. 

A five-time NBA All-Star forward, he also made the playoffs five times. Following his retirement, he began to coach. His coaching career is just as impressive as his playing career. He was the coach of the Team USA men’s basketball team that won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. In 2021, he joined other greats like him to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Julius Erving – Philadelphia 76ers

Legends do not get better than Julius Erving. He is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and that doesn’t come cheap. Erving is well-deserving of that title as he was a major tool in the legitimization of the American Basketball Association.

Even when the association was merged into the National Basketball Association, he was the most famous player in the league. Nicknamed “Dr. J,” he is also regarded as one of the best basketball dunkers ever. While Joe spent his career with different teams, he spent the most time with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2022, Erving made an appearance in the movie “Hustle.”

Mark Eaton – Utah Jazz

We can’t count how many times Mark Eaton was a champ on the court. However, more than that, he did all his jumping and scoring for one team only; the Utah Jazz of the NBA. More than just playing for the team, he contributed to its improvement from a last-place squad to a reoccurring playoff team. 

During his time as a professional basketball player, he was named an NBA All-Star in 1989, voted the NBA Defensive Player of the Year two times, and also won a slew of other awards. The basketball legend passed away in May 2021, leaving behind a great legacy.

Arild Mikkelsen – Minneapolis Lakers

When you love a sport, it just shows. Arild Mikkelsen clearly loved basketball. He was one of the first power forwards in the NBA. Throughout his career, which spanned ten seasons, he played for the Minneapolis Lakers. During this time, he managed to play in six NBA All-Star Games.

After retiring, he served as a coach and general manager of the Minnesota Pipers of the American Basketball Association. In 1995, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Basketball Hall of Fame. The basketball great passed away in 2013, never to be forgotten.

Paul Arizin – Philadelphia Warriors

Far more than the game, some athletes form a deep connection to the team. It seems professional basketball player Paul Arizin formed quite a relationship with the Philadelphia Warriors. He spent his entire NBA career playing for the team.

Nicknamed “Pitchin’ Paul”, he retired with the third-highest career point total in the history of the association. In 1978, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was named as one of the 50 greatest players in the association’s history. Thereafter, in 2021, even after his death in 2006, he was honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time.

Al Bianchi – The Syracuse Nationals

We bet that if you named five professions available in the basketball league, Alfred Bianchi would have experience in all five. He was a professional basketball player, a scout, a general manager, a coach, and a consultant. During his career, he only played for the Syracuse Nationals and was with the team when they transitioned to become the Philadelphia 76ers. 

His coaching career was a little more extensive as he coached three teams. In 2007 and 2016, he was inducted into the New York City and the Ohio Basketball Halls of Fame. Bianchi lived his life for basketball before he passed away in October 2019.

Cliff Hagan – St. Louis Hawks

For a decade, NBA fans almost couldn’t get enough of Cliff Hagan’s hook shots. “Li’l Abner,” as he was often called, played his entire 10-year NBA career with the St. Louis Hawks. From playing college basketball at the University of Kentucky to becoming one of the greats, Hagan has quite the story.

During his decade-long career, he became a player-coach for the Dallas Chaparrals. In 1978, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, becoming the first ex-University of Kentucky player to receive that honor. In 1993, the university renamed its baseball field in honor of Hagan.

Willis Reed – New York Knicks

Willis Reed surely knows the inner workings of basketball like the back of his palms. A retired basketball player, he played for the New York Knicks throughout his career. It was a decision that paid off as in 1996, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in National Basketball Association History.

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. With his vast experience of slam dunks and magnificent passes, it’s no surprise that he is also a coach and general manager. In 2021, Reed was named one of the league’s greatest players of all time.

William Bradley- New York Knicks

You may know William Bradley as an American politician. However, long before that, he was shooting through hoops and getting the crowd to chant his name. Bradley is a former professional basketball player who spent his entire decade-long career playing for the New York Knicks.

During that period, he won the NBA Championship title two times. After retiring in 1977, he went into politics. In 1979, he started his career as a Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. Despite retiring from basketball decades ago, in 2008, he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. In 2012, he published the book, “We Can All Do Better.”

Tom Boerwinkle – Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are one of the most famous basketball teams. However, Tom Boerwinkle already spent his entire NBA career with them before they became a major force to reckon with. He was drafted in 1968 and continued to play with the team until 1978.

He was very efficient with passing, and when he retired, he did so with incredible career totals in the bag. He was so good he had set five triple-doubles during the course of his career. It’s no wonder the Bulls had no plan to let him go. After retiring, he became a radio color analyst for the team. He passed away in 2013.

Allen Leavell – Houston Rockets

Throughout his NBA career, Allen Leavell shared a tight bond with the Houston Rockets. After being selected in the 1979 draft by the Houston Rockets, he went on to play ten seasons in the NBA with the team. In 1983, he set a franchise record with 22 assists in a game.

In the 1982–1983 season, he led the team in points, steals, and assists. Even after he retired, he stayed with the team, volunteering for community outreach and serving as a commentator with local outlets. He retired in 1992 and has since enjoyed the benefits of his highly successful playing career.

Darrell Griffith – Utah Jazz

Darrell Griffith is no stranger to true fans of the Utah Jazz. Nicknamed “Dr. Dunkenstein,” Griffith spent his NBA career with the Utah Jazz from when he was drafted in 1980 to when he retired in 1991.

His first season was so good that he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. With his contribution, the Utah Jazz noticeably improved. Over the course of his career, he scored an impressive total of 12,391 points. After his retirement, the franchise retired his jersey number 35 in 1993. In 2020, he became the special assistant to the President of the University of Louisville.