Damian Lillard, Kobe Bryant and other NBA stars who played entire career for one team

Damian Lillard is in his twelfth season within the NBA with Portland Trail Blazers and it’s the solely franchise the guard has performed for.

The seven-time All Star made news together with his look on J.J. Reddick’s podcast the place he stated that he “does not like what the league is becoming as a whole.”

Lillard rued the truth that most gamers nowadays solely care about successful rings, and ignore the journey they’re on.

In latest instances, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have switched groups so as to pursue an NBA title.

Lillard is certainly from a uncommon breed of gamers who’ve caught with a single crew. And the type is dwindling by the day. The main distinction, although, has been that almost all have been in a position to construct a title-winning facet round them. We’re nonetheless ready on Lillard to try this.

Sportstar takes a have a look at a number of the names who’ve performed for a single NBA crew for his or her complete profession.

Kobe Bryant

Perhaps the certainly one of best gamers to function within the league. Kobe Bryant performed for Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. He managed 20 seasons for the LA franchise the place he pulled off 5 NBA titles. Bryant was picked for the NBA All Star on 18 events, which stays the second-highest within the league’s historical past. He additionally has one league and two finals Most Valuable Player awards.

Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki introduced the European aptitude to the NBA. The German was a mainstay with Dallas Mavericks for 21 seasons. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks however by no means performed for it. Over his profession, Nowitzki amassed 31,560 factors – the sixth highest within the league. The six-foot-ten participant was in a position to get his palms on the NBA title in 2011.

Reggie Miller

Modern-day NBA has seen Stephen Curry dazzle from the three-point line. Back within the day, it was Reggie Miller who dominated from downtown. Miller had an 18-year affiliation with Detroit Pistons. Such was his influence that the Pistons retired Miller’s jersey quantity as soon as he known as it quits. The one main disappointment possibly within the five-time All Star’s profession was the shortage of a championship.

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan was one of many best forwards within the league. He was drafted by San Antonio Spurs in 1997 and caught with the crew until his retirement in 2016. In this time, he received 5 NBA championships with the franchise. His private achievements embody successful the league MVP award twice, successful Finals MVP trophy thrice and making it to the NBA All Star a whopping 15 instances. In 2020, Duncan was indicted to the NBA Hall of Fame.

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson was synonymous with Los Angeles Lakers within the Nineteen Eighties. Well, him and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. They led the Showtime-era of the franchise which banked on razzmatazz of high-intensity high-scoring basketball. During Magic’s time, the Lakers made it to 9 NBA Finals, and received 5 of them. Magic collected three Finals MVPs and 9 All-NBA First Team alternatives. He stayed at Los Angeles proper until the tip of his profession in 1991. He even got here again in 1996 for one season and took the court docket for a similar Purple-and-Gold of the Lakers.

Larry Bird

Larry Bird can’t be outdoors an inventory that names Magic. Bird was the second celebrity of the 80s period. He constructed a title-winning facet at Boston Celtics with Kevin McHale and Robert Parish – the unique large three of NBA. Together, the trio introduced three NBA Championships to Boston and fashioned a fabled rivalry in opposition to Los Angeles Lakers. Bird versus Magic too made for a high-intensity rivalry again within the day. Bird stayed with the Celtics from 1979 to 1992. Six years later, he was named into the NBA Hall of Fame.