PLAYER DRAFTED AND WILL RETIRE WITH THE SAME TEAM

Who do you think in the NBA was drafted and will be retiring with the same team who drafted him?

Im thinking of TIM DUNCAN, he's playing with the spurs for so long and I don't see him playing for another team until he retires esp with Greg Popovich as head coach.

Michael Redd of the Bucks or maybe Howard of Magic

Another one Im thinking is Paul Pierce, I do think he'll end up his career in green.

let me take back Michael Redd. he sucks

let me take back Michael Redd. he sucks

That seems a bit harsh. So he's been injured last year or so, doesn't mean he sucks


As for the list, it's very hard to say but guys like Duncan, Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki seem certainties. Then you have franchise guys like Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Dwight, Melo, Roy & Durant who will stay with same team if they choose too. Guys like Yao, Parker & Manu seem on their way, but you never know.

Someone's going to argue with you on Dirk, Kobe and Roy. Although it should be noted that the teams that technically drafted them did not want them (or preferred someone else) and were drafting by proxy for another team that was willing to "pay" for the expense. (Better phrasing for the thread might be "PLAYERS WHO WILL PLAY FOR ONLY ONE TEAM IN THEIR CAREER" or "PLAYERS WHO WILL RETIRE ON THE SAME TEAM THEY WERE A ROOKIE ON" although the latter could be interpreted differently.)

Most of the people you mentioned I agree except for the potential that if a team falls into disrepair they may change teams late in their career to win instead of sticking with the franchise or said franchise may cast off the veteran and his contract to rebuild quicker. (Like say, KG?)

Better phrasing for the thread might be "PLAYERS WHO WILL PLAY FOR ONLY ONE TEAM IN THEIR CAREER"

Agreed, that's the way I've chosen to interpret the topic.

I'd agree with Tim Duncan being a prime candidate to finish his career having only played for one team. A couple of years ago it looked like Kobe Bryant might be moving on if the Lakers couldn't get back into true title contention but that's obviously changed now, I think he'll play out the rest of his career for the Lakers no matter what happens from here on out. I'm not quite as confident in Paul Pierce remaining and retiring a Celtic, though I'd still say it's fairly likely at this point. Dwight Howard's another good suggestion though he's a lot younger and should have more years left in the league, which leaves the door open for trade demands and whatnot.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony...I could definitely see them playing for their respective teams for the duration of their careers and I wouldn't rule it out but with 2010 looming I think it's kind of up in the air for the first three. If they re-sign to long term deals then I'd suggest they're likely to remain with their respective teams until they hang it up, barring a KG-to-Boston scenario. Speaking of which, I could see that happening with Dirk though I do lean towards him remaining a Maverick for his career.

I wouldn't call it a lock, but right now I'm hoping that Derrick Rose will spend his entire career with the Bulls.

Any reason for the all-caps in the topic title? I could agree with Kobe, the Spurs big 3 and Pierce. I could see Dirk getting traded though, with the Mavericks seemed to be trapped as perennial second round fodder for the near future.

Brandon Roy will almost definitely remain in Portland, but I'm going out on a limb and predicting that all four 03 draft superstars leave at some point.

all four 03 draft superstars leave at some point.

Which would you consider the most likely to do so as soon as 2010? I'd say Chris Bosh.

LeBron actually, but I expect Bosh to also leave next year.

I reckon Cleveland have improved their chances of retaining him though. I'd probably put Wade as the second most likely to leave in 2010.

Perhaps. I just don't see why LeBron would stay in Cleveland, other than having the one-team legacy, and a temporarily better team. While I expect Wade to eventually leave the Heat, I think the ideal location, along with the possibility of a Boozer acquisition gives him more incentive to stay.

I just think Cleveland is capable of being competitive long enough for him to commit to them beyond next season. The only other team he's really linked with beyond 2010 is New York and even with him they won't be that close to genuinely competing for a championship. All other things being equal - he's going to be paid an unfathomable amount of money through his NBA contract and all his endorsements no matter where he is - it comes down to which team can compete and New York would be a big step back and years away from getting where Cleveland is now, if they ever got there.

Meanwhile, you've got Wade talking about wanting to contend now and leaving his options open in case he feels Miami isn't on the right track. That could be much ado about nothing, anothing bargaining chip or simply frustration that there was such a steep drop-off following the 2006 championship and a rocky re-tooling era could be ahead as they try to get back into the upper echelon of the league, but it could also mean that he's not as keen to remain with the Heat as he perhaps once was.

I think there are some easy guesses like Kobe, TD and imho also Dirk ... just because these guys are in their thirties now and are still on contending teams. But for the guys of the 03 draft class I don't see LeBron, Wade or Bosh playing for the same team their whole career. It's also a thing of attention. I don't think Tim Duncan ever asked for the attention some of these guys nowadays ask. LeBron is just such a icon on and off the court that I can't see him staying in Ohio for his career (but it would certainly boost the image I have of him).

Kobe was actually drafted by Charlotte.

So Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce and Dwight come to mind. Maybe even Tony Parker.

Not sure on Wade, Lebron and Bosh. Wade's the most realistic option in my mind.

Kobe was actually drafted by Charlotte.

That's already been acknowledged, same as Dirk's draft day trade. As Ben said:

Better phrasing for the thread might be "PLAYERS WHO WILL PLAY FOR ONLY ONE TEAM IN THEIR CAREER" or "PLAYERS WHO WILL RETIRE ON THE SAME TEAM THEY WERE A ROOKIE ON" although the latter could be interpreted differently.

Tim Duncan comes to mind...

Matt Barnes too

Matt Barnes too

A bit hard when he's already with his seventh NBA team.