Who Played The Longest In The NBA?

The answer to who played the longest in the NBA is not a simple one. There are a number of factors that come into play when trying to determine an answer.

Introduction

In this article, we will take a look at the NBA player who played the longest in terms of years active. This is a somewhat arbitrary measure, as some players played very few minutes over the course of their careers while others played very few games. Nevertheless, it provides a interesting perspective on longevity in the NBA.

It should not be surprising that Robert Parish, who played 21 seasons in the NBA, is the record holder for most years played. Parish is followed closely by Kevin Willis and Kurt Thomas, who both played 20 seasons. In fourth place is A.C. Green, who played 19 seasons. These four players are outliers, as the next highest number of years played is 17 by Alvin Robertson and Buck Williams.

A Look at the Data

In order to answer the question of who played the longest in the NBA, we first have to take a look at the data. The data we are looking at is from the 2015-16 NBA season, and it includes minutes played, games played, and age.

The first thing we notice is that there are a few outliers. The oldest player in the dataset is Vince Carter, who is 41 years old. He played in 58 games and averaged 20.1 minutes per game. The second oldest player is Kobe Bryant, who is 37 years old. He played in 35 games and averaged 29.6 minutes per game. These two players are significantly older than the rest of the players in the dataset.

The player with the most minutes played is LeBron James, who played in all 82 games and averaged 37.8 minutes per game. The second most minutes played is Kevin Durant, who also played in all 82 games and averaged 34.6 minutes per game.

When we look at the data, we can see that there are a few players who stand out as playing more than others. However, when we take into account age and games played, we can see that these players are not necessarily playing longer than others; they are just playing more due to their age or the number of games they have played.

The Five Longest Players in NBA History

In order to play professional basketball at the highest level, you need a combination of natural talent, skill, drive, and of course, a good measure of height. At 7’2’’ tall, China’s Yao Ming is one of the tallest players in NBA history, but he only played for eight seasons before retiring due to injuries. So who are the five players who have played the longest in the NBA?

1. Robert Parish – 21 seasons
A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Robert Parish holds the record for most seasons played in the NBA. He started his career with the Golden State Warriors in 1976 and went on to play for the Boston Celtics (1980-1987), Charlotte Hornets (1988-1996), and Chicago Bulls (1996-1997). In all, he played 1,611 games and is one of only three players to have won three NBA championships in three different decades.

2. Kevin Willis – 21 seasons
Willis is second on the list of longest-tenured NBA players with 21 seasons under his belt. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1984 and also played for the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and New Jersey Nets before retiring in 2007. In total, he appeared in 1,424 games.

3. Karl Malone – 19 seasons
Karl Malone is one of only two players in NBA history to have played more than 18 seasons and not be a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame (the other is Kevin Garnett). Malone was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1985 and spent his first 18 seasons with them before finishing his career with brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers (2003-2004) and San Antonio Spurs (2003-2004). He retired as a Jazz player in 2003 after playing 1,476 games over 19 seasons.

4. John Stockton – 19 seasons
Drafted by the Jazz in 1984 alongside Malone, Stockton is widely regarded as one of the best point guards ever to play the game. He spent his entire 20-year career with Utah before retiring in 2003 and currently holds numerous NBA records including most assists (15 Castro Pellegrino) Spyrou season)and most steals (3 Castro Pellegrino) Spyrou season). In all, he played 1 Castro Pellegrino) Spyrou season)and is onearticlentvhlxof only two players to play more than 19 seasons without being inducted into the Hall of Fame (the other is Karl Malone).

5. Reggie Miller – 18 seasons
Reggie Miller was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1987 and went on to enjoy a stellar 18-year career with them before retiring in 2005. He was a five-time All-Star and remains one of only six players ever to have made more than 2 Castro Pellegrino) Spyrou season)three pointers; he currently ranks second on that list behind only Ray Allen). In total Miller appeared in 1 Castro Pellegrino) Spyrou season), which is good for sixth place on the all-time list.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dirk Nowitzki played the longest in the NBA with a total of 21 seasons. He is followed by Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan who all played 20 seasons each. These 4 players are considered to be some of the best to ever play in the NBA and will most likely go down as legends.