From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
List of NBA seasons played leaders
Only twelve players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) have played 20 or more seasons in their respective careers. In 1985–86, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke the previous NBA record of 16 seasons held by Dolph Schayes, John Havlicek, Paul Silas and Elvin Hayes; he finished his career in 1988–89 with a then-record 20 seasons played. Robert Parish broke the mark in 1996–97, when he retired after 21 seasons and Kevin Willis tied him in his final season in 2006–07. They were joined by Kevin Garnett in 2015–16 when he began his 21st season. The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant was the first NBA player to spend 20 seasons with one team. In 2018–19, Dirk Nowitzki surpassed Bryant with 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. In 2019–20, Vince Carter became the first player to play 22 seasons in the NBA. In 2025–26, LeBron James surpassed this record by playing in his 23rd season.
LeBron James, who began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, holds the NBA record of 23 seasons played.
Vince Carter, who began his career with the Toronto Raptors, is the first player in NBA history to have played in 22 seasons.
Robert Parish was the first to play 21 seasons in the NBA, currently tied for the third most in league history.
Dirk Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks, the most ever by an NBA player with one team.
Kevin Garnett began his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, returning later and tying the then-record of 21 seasons played in 2016.
Chris Paul holds the record for the most seasons played among guards with 21 seasons.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989 with a then-record of 20 seasons played.
Kobe Bryant was the first guard to play 20 seasons.
Jason Kidd had two stints with the Dallas Mavericks in his career, retiring tied with a then-record 19 seasons as a guard.
John Stockton spent all 19 years of his NBA career with the Utah Jazz, from 1984 to 2003.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| ^ | Active NBA player |
| * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| † | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration |
| § | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026 |
| Rank | Player | Position | Team(s) | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeBron James^ | SF | .mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0} | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018) | ||||
| Miami Heat (2010–2014) | ||||
| Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present) | 23 | |||
| 2 | Vince Carter* | SG / SF | Toronto Raptors (1998–2004) | |
| New Jersey Nets (2004–2009) | ||||
| Orlando Magic (2009–2010) | ||||
| Phoenix Suns (2010–2011) | ||||
| Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014) | ||||
| Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017) | ||||
| Sacramento Kings (2017–2018) | ||||
| Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020) | 22 | |||
| 3 | Robert Parish* | C | Golden State Warriors (1976–1980) | |
| Boston Celtics (1980–1994) | ||||
| Charlotte Hornets (1994–1996) | ||||
| Chicago Bulls (1996–1997) | 21 | |||
| Kevin Willis | PF / C | Atlanta Hawks (1984–1994, 2004–2005) | ||
| Miami Heat (1994–1996) | ||||
| Golden State Warriors (1996) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (1996–1998, 2001–2002) | ||||
| Toronto Raptors (1998–2001) | ||||
| Denver Nuggets (2001) | ||||
| San Antonio Spurs (2002–2004) | ||||
| Dallas Mavericks (2007) | ||||
| Kevin Garnett* | PF | Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016) | ||
| Boston Celtics (2007–2013) | ||||
| Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015) | ||||
| Dirk Nowitzki* | PF | Dallas Mavericks (1998–2019) | ||
| Chris Paul† | PG | New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011) | ||
| Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017, 2025) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (2017–2019) | ||||
| Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020) | ||||
| Phoenix Suns (2020–2023) | ||||
| Golden State Warriors (2023–2024) | ||||
| San Antonio Spurs (2024–2025) | ||||
| 8 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* | C | Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975) | |
| Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) | 20 | |||
| Kobe Bryant* | SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) | ||
| Jamal Crawford | SG | Chicago Bulls (2000–2004) | ||
| New York Knicks (2004–2008) | ||||
| Golden State Warriors (2008–2009) | ||||
| Atlanta Hawks (2009–2011) | ||||
| Portland Trail Blazers (2011–2012) | ||||
| Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2017) | ||||
| Minnesota Timberwolves (2017–2018) | ||||
| Phoenix Suns (2018–2019) | ||||
| Brooklyn Nets (2020) | ||||
| Udonis Haslem | PF / C | Miami Heat (2003–2023) | ||
| Kyle Lowry^ | PG | Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2009) | ||
| Houston Rockets (2009–2012) | ||||
| Toronto Raptors (2012–2021) | ||||
| Miami Heat (2021–2024) | ||||
| Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present) | ||||
| 13 | Moses Malone* | C | Buffalo Braves (1976) | |
| Houston Rockets (1976–1982) | ||||
| Philadelphia 76ers (1982–1986, 1993–1994) | ||||
| Washington Bullets (1986–1988) | ||||
| Atlanta Hawks (1988–1991) | ||||
| Milwaukee Bucks (1991–1993) | ||||
| San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) | 19 | |||
| James Edwards | C | Los Angeles Lakers (1977, 1992–1994) | ||
| Indiana Pacers (1977–1981) | ||||
| Cleveland Cavaliers (1981–1983) | ||||
| Phoenix Suns (1983–1988) | ||||
| Detroit Pistons (1988–1991) | ||||
| Los Angeles Clippers (1991–1992) | ||||
| Portland Trail Blazers (1994–1995) | ||||
| Chicago Bulls (1995–1996) | ||||
| John Stockton* | PG | Utah Jazz (1984–2003) | ||
| Karl Malone* | PF | Utah Jazz (1985–2003) | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) | ||||
| Charles Oakley | PF | Chicago Bulls (1985–1988, 2001–2002) | ||
| New York Knicks (1988–1998) | ||||
| Toronto Raptors (1998–2001) | ||||
| Washington Wizards (2002–2003) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (2004) | ||||
| Shaquille O'Neal* | C | Orlando Magic (1992–1996) | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004) | ||||
| Miami Heat (2004–2008) | ||||
| Phoenix Suns (2008–2009) | ||||
| Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010) | ||||
| Boston Celtics (2010–2011) | ||||
| Juwan Howard | PF | Washington Bullets/Wizards (1994–2001) | ||
| Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002, 2007–2008) | ||||
| Denver Nuggets (2002–2003, 2008) | ||||
| Orlando Magic (2003–2004) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (2004–2007) | ||||
| Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2009) | ||||
| Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2010) | ||||
| Miami Heat (2010–2013) | ||||
| Jason Kidd* | PG | Dallas Mavericks (1994–1996, 2008–2012) | ||
| Phoenix Suns (1996–2001) | ||||
| New Jersey Nets (2001–2008) | ||||
| New York Knicks (2012–2013) | ||||
| Tim Duncan* | PF / C | San Antonio Spurs (1997–2016) | ||
| Paul Pierce* | SG / SF | Boston Celtics (1998–2013) | ||
| Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014) | ||||
| Washington Wizards (2014–2015) | ||||
| Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017) | ||||
| Jason Terry | SG | Atlanta Hawks (1999–2004) | ||
| Dallas Mavericks (2004–2012) | ||||
| Boston Celtics (2012–2013) | ||||
| Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (2014–2016) | ||||
| Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2018) | ||||
| Tyson Chandler | C | Chicago Bulls (2001–2006) | ||
| New Orleans Hornets (2006–2009) | ||||
| Charlotte Bobcats (2009–2010) | ||||
| Dallas Mavericks (2010–2011, 2014–2015) | ||||
| New York Knicks (2011–2014) | ||||
| Phoenix Suns (2015–2018) | ||||
| Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2019) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (2019–2020) | ||||
| Carmelo Anthony* | SF | Denver Nuggets (2003–2011) | ||
| New York Knicks (2011–2017) | ||||
| Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2018) | ||||
| Houston Rockets (2018–2019) | ||||
| Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2021) | ||||
| Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2022) | ||||
| Andre Iguodala | SG / SF | Philadelphia 76ers (2004–2012) | ||
| Denver Nuggets (2012–2013) | ||||
| Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2021–2023) | ||||
| Miami Heat (2020–2021) | ||||
| Mike Conley Jr.^ | PG | Memphis Grizzlies (2007–2019) | ||
| Utah Jazz (2019–2023) | ||||
| Minnesota Timberwolves (2023–present) | ||||
| Al Horford^ | C | Atlanta Hawks (2007–2016) | ||
| Boston Celtics (2016–2019, 2021–2025) | ||||
| Philadelphia 76ers (2019–20) | ||||
| Oklahoma City Thunder (2020–2021) | ||||
| Golden State Warriors (2025–present) |
- NBA records
- List of NBA career games played leaders
- List of NBA career minutes played leaders
- List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
- List of oldest and youngest NBA players
General
- .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#bf3c2c)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#bf3c2c)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}"NBA Players with the Most Regular Seasons Played". LandOfBasketball.com.
- "For single seasons, played in the NBA/BAA, in the regular season, from 1946–47 to 2016–17, sorted by most seasons matching criteria". basketball-reference.com.
Specific
Ask Mako anything about List of NBA seasons played leaders — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report