Vince Carter, who began his career with the Raptors, is the only player in NBA history to have played in 22 seasons. In the NBA, big men tend to have more time. The three-time sixth NBA player played his last three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets. Getting to the NBA is very difficult, because you have to be very talented, work hard and, in addition, be lucky, even if some people say that luck it doesn't exist.
Being first in the overall draft comes with a lot of pressure and, unfortunately for these NBA players, it was just too difficult to handle. Throughout NBA history, there have been more than 4,500 players and the average length of a career is about 4.5 years. Throughout his 21-year career, LeBron James has proven time and time again that he is one of the best basketball players to ever walk on a court. Speaking of NBA legends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also played 20 seasons, 14 with the Los Angeles Lakers and six with the Milwaukee Bucks.
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 record of 20 seasons played. Throughout the history of the league, several of the best prospects fell short and didn't even last 10 years in the NBA. The longest-serving player in the NBA is Vince Carter, who played 22 seasons on eight teams: the Toronto Raptors, the New Jersey Nets, the Orlando Magic, the Phoenix Suns, the Dallas Mavericks, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Jamal Crawford in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft, but on the same day of the draft, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he played his first four seasons. He always adapted to his role and fulfilled, and that's why he stayed in the NBA for 20 years despite being an average player at best.
Only ten players in NBA history have played 20 or more seasons in their respective careers. To stay in the NBA, you must prove that you are one of the best players in the world and that you live up to the league's standards. NBA Hall of Famer Robert Parish made his debut in the 1976-77 season with the Golden State Warriors, then played 14 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning three rings. However, there are always exceptions, and there have been a handful of players who have stayed in the NBA for a long time, competing at the highest level for 15 or even 20 seasons, which is absolutely admirable.
