A surprising number of the NBA’s longest-tenured players by team have stayed put since we compiled our most recent list in August 2021.
Since then, stars like Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard have had the opportunity to seek out teams closer to contention by requesting trades (or, in Beal’s case, by signing elsewhere as a free agent), but chose to remain in Washington and Portland, respectively. Zach LaVine also re-upped in Chicago as a free agent, while Mitchell Robinson did the same in New York, despite rumors he may head elsewhere.
Meanwhile, many other long-tenured players frequently mentioned as trade candidates, including John Collins, Joe Harris, Terrence Ross, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, and Marcus Smart, have remained with their respective teams.
Given how many trade candidates and players on expiring contracts are on the list, it’s possible our 2023 update will include a ton of new names. But for the time being, 25 of the NBA’s 30 teams still have the same longest-tenured player they did a year ago — and a 26th might end up joining that group (Miles Bridges is the longest-tenured Hornet, but his NBA future is up in the air following his arrest for domestic violence).
Here are the NBA’s current longest-tenured players by team:
(Note: This is a snapshot as of August 2022 and won’t be updated throughout the season. This list includes each team’s longest-tenured player, so only one player per team is listed.)
- Miami Heat: Udonis Haslem (free agent), August 2003
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (draft), June 2009
- Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal (draft), June 2012
- Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (draft), June 2012
- Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (draft), June 2013
- Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid (draft), June 2014
- Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart (draft), June 2014
- Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (draft), June 2014
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love (trade), August 2014
- Dallas Mavericks: Dwight Powell (trade), December 2014
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns (draft), June 2015
- Indiana Pacers: Myles Turner (draft), June 2015
- Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (draft), June 2015
- Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam (draft), June 2016
- Houston Rockets: Eric Gordon (free agent), July 2016
- Brooklyn Nets: Joe Harris (free agent), July 2016
- Orlando Magic: Terrence Ross (trade), February 2017
- Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox (draft), June 2017
- Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell (draft trade), June 2017
- Atlanta Hawks: John Collins (draft), June 2017
- Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine (draft trade), June 2017
- Memphis Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks (draft trade), June 2017
- New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson (draft), June 2018
- Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James (free agent), July 2018
- San Antonio Spurs: Jakob Poeltl (trade), July 2018
- New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (draft), June 2019
- Charlotte Hornets: P.J. Washington (draft), June 2019
- Washington is the Hornets’ longest-tenured player by a matter of hours. He was selected 12th overall in the 2019 draft, while Cody Martin (No. 36) and Jalen McDaniels (No. 52) were drafted by Charlotte later in the night.
- Miles Bridges, acquired in a 2018 draft trade, would be the Hornets’ longest-tenured player if he re-signs with the team as a restricted free agent.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Ivica Zubac (trade), February 2019
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Darius Bazley (trade) / Luguentz Dort (free agent), July 2019
- Bazley and Dort officially joined the Thunder on the same day (July 6, 2019). The team reached agreements on draft night (June 20) to acquire Bazley and sign Dort.
- Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes (draft), November 2020
- The Pistons acquired several players on the night of the 2020 draft, including Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Saben Lee, and Rodney McGruder. Hayes, the No. 7 pick in the draft, was the first of those acquisitions.
The teams with new longest-tenured players this year are the Kings (Fox replaced Buddy Hield), Jazz (Mitchell replaced Rudy Gobert), Spurs (Poeltl replaced Dejounte Murray), Hornets (Washington replaced Bridges, for now), and Pistons (Hayes replaced Sekou Doumbouya).
Wouldn’t Brandon Ingram be the longest tenured on the Pels because the AD trade happened before they drafted Williamson?
Wasn’t official until the free agent period started which was after the draft. AD held off because they were trying to get Leonard to the lakers.
Ah thank you!
Not sure why you’re including UH if he’s a free agent
He’s not a FA. He signed with the Heat. He also was a FA signing in 2003.
Lebron the longest tenured Laker says so much
Right. Right.