Since we last checked in on the NBA’s longest-tenured players by team one year ago, many of the players on that list have remained with their respective teams despite reaching free agency (e.g. LeBron James, Miles Bridges, Nic Claxton) or being considered trade candidates (e.g. Zach LaVine, Trae Young, Darius Garland, Jae’Sean Tate).
As a result, we don’t need to make a ton of changes to this year’s list, though a few notable names have been removed for the 2024 version. That group starts with Damian Lillard, who had been with the Trail Blazers since being drafted in June 2012 before he was traded to Milwaukee last September.
The Raptors are one of the other teams with a new longest-tenured player this season after parting ways with Pascal Siakam in January. Siakam had been with the franchise since 2016 before being dealt to Indiana midway through the 2023/24 season. With the 2024 departures of Killian Hayes and Deni Avdija, the Pistons and Wizards also have new names on the list below.
The top name on our list remains unchanged, as Stephen Curry – a Warrior since 2009 – is still the player who has been with his current club for the longest period, having cracked the 15-year mark this summer.
Because our list includes just one player per team, Draymond Green doesn’t show up in the space below, but if we were simply listing the players who have been with their current clubs the longest, he’d own the No. 2 spot behind Curry, having been in Golden State since being drafted in 2012.
Khris Middleton (a Buck since July 2013), Kevon Looney (a Warrior since June 2015), and Jamal Murray (a Nugget since June 2016) are among the others who would place highly on that version of the list.
Here is each team’s longest-tenured player, along with how he was acquired:
(Note: This is a snapshot as of August 2024 and won’t be updated throughout the season. Because this list only features each team’s longest-tenured player, one player per team is listed.)
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry (draft), June 2009
- Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (draft), June 2013
- Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid (draft), June 2014
- Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (draft), June 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
- Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown (draft), June 2016
- Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox (draft), June 2017
- Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac (draft), June 2017
- Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (draft), June 2017
- Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine (draft trade), June 2017
- Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. (draft), June 2018
- Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young (draft trade), June 2018
- Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges (draft trade), June 2018 (*)
- Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons (draft), June 2018
- New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson (draft), June 2018
- Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James (free agent), July 2018
- Toronto Raptors: Chris Boucher (free agent), July 2018
- New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (draft), June 2019
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland (draft), June 2019
- Brooklyn Nets: Nic Claxton (draft), June 2019
- Los Angeles Clippers: Ivica Zubac (trade), February 2019
- San Antonio Spurs: Keldon Johnson (draft), June 2019
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Luguentz Dort (free agent), July 2019
- Utah Jazz: Jordan Clarkson (trade), December 2019
- Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart (draft trade), November 2020
- Houston Rockets: Jae’Sean Tate (free agent), November 2020
- Washington Wizards: Anthony Gill (free agent), November 2020
* Note: Bridges was a free agent for the entire 2022/23 season, but the Hornets retained his RFA rights during that time and brought him back for the following season, extending his tenure with the team. If we don’t count Bridges, Charlotte’s’ longest-tenured player is Cody Martin, who was selected in the 2019 draft.
While it’s a safe bet that many players on this list – especially a few near the top – will remain the same when we check in again during the summer of 2025, it’s a lock we’ll see some changes too. For instance, I’d be a little surprised if LaVine and Boucher are still members of the Bulls and Raptors, respectively, at this time next year. Clarkson and Tate are a couple others worth watching.
Which players do you expect to change teams and come off this list in the next 12 months?
“Which players do you expect to come off this list in the next 12 months?”
I’d go with Jordan Clarkson or Beef Stew, maybe even Jae’Sean Tate but Ime loves his hard-nosed defenders.
Mitchell Robinson is up there too. Great fit for the Knicks, but he’s injured a lot, which could simply make a move necessary.
Possibly but the best time to have made that decision should have been back in May/June before Hartenstein left for OKC, imo.
If NY moves on from him then I hope for Knicks fans sake that they find another starting caliber center to replace him. They could also use a 2nd big with experience to right now.
Oh, no question. Any movement of Robinson wouldn’t be ideal, but playoff rosters march ever onward. If he’s out for the year and they don’t have a functional Center beyond 6’9″ Precious, they basically have to make a move. Sims isn’t much of a rim protector either.
Giannis and Dame and $ to GSW for Kuminga, Podz, Wiggins and picks, who says no?
The Bucks, and also everyone who knows anything about basketball. Or how salaries work, including the NBA as an organization.
Anyone with a brain
Even beyond the absurdity and lack of salary sense, where does Lillard even fit? Is he supposed to play SG next to Steph? Making them the worst defensive backcourt in NBA history? Does he come off the bench, which he’d obviously refuse to do? Do they trade Steph, god forbid?
His scenario is only part one. In part two they trade Curry to the Lakers for everyone but AD and LeBron, apron levels and salary cap be damned!
Davey is playing 2k
I don’t even 2k would agree to the trade LOL
Yeah, pretty sure salaries have to work out in 2K. Been a long time since I played it, lol.
My young fella turns the cap off and overrides trades to get the fanal say regardless, he’s 12. Steph, dame, KD, Bron, Jokic here we come….go warriors lol.
Dame @ the 2 lol. This from a guy who says Bam isn’t a centre because he’s 6’8 – 6’9, he needs to play the 4. Warriors are a 60 win team this season as is. Yet GSW clearly need help and the lakers should trade Bron for Pods lol. Lastly Steph is the GOAT and the GOAT clutch player with the most buzzer beaters of all time.
I’m not sure where this guy gets his facts from but I highly doubt opinions and or wishful thinking counts.
No, it wouldn’t in 2k. Not only do salaries have to work in 2k, stars are hard to trade or to trade for.
Dude, you can turn the cap off and have final say and force teams to agree to trades, if you’re not playing online anyways. Not sure what you’re arguing there, thems the facts. My son stacks teams all the time.
Get over yourself, the replay was directed at Dezpoo and I was agreeing with him.
@ Chuck. Oh, that makes you right then lol. Always telling others they’re wrong. It appears you’re human like the rest of us lol.
Not that it matters but I’m pretty sure Jayson Tatum should be on the list of draftees from 2017.
Steph to the spurs lol.