The days of loyalty to one team in the NBA seem to be coming to an end. When you think of players that spent their entire career with one franchise, only a few players come to mind. Will that trend continue into the future of the NBA or die with the increase in player movement?
Dirk Nowitzki holds the all-time record for most seasons on one team with 21 seasons in Dallas. Behind him are more legends like Kobe Bryant with 20, Tim Duncan and John Stockton with 19, Reggie Miller with 18, Manu Ginobili and Udonis Haslem with 16, Nick Collison with 15, followed by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson with 13.
When you look back on these players, there is one team that you associate them with. They had an undying loyalty to one franchise and took it upon themselves to bring that city greatness.
Upon the retirement of Dirk Nowitzki and Udonis Haslem after this season, there will still be a handful of active players in the NBA that have been with one team their entire career. At the top of the list is Mike Conley who has been with the Memphis Grizzlies for 12 seasons. That being said, after the Grizzlies looked to move him prior to the trade deadline this season, there is a sense that Conley’s time in Memphis could be coming to an end this summer.
Behind Conley, the player with the second most seasons with one franchise among active players will be Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. He has been with the organization for 11 seasons, from the Thunder’s inaugural season in 2008 to now.
After Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City in free agency in the summer of 2016, Thunder fans had even more to worry about with Russell Westbrook’s contract nearing its end. Durant’s departure had everyone wondering if Westbrook would do the same and walk for nothing in return.
Coming off of an MVP award in the 2016-17 season, Russell Westbrook decided to stay loyal to Oklahoma City. On September 29, 2017, he signed a 5-year, $205M extension, earning the largest contract in NBA history.
In a press conference following the extension, Westbrook elaborated on why he decided to stay with the Thunder long-term through the remainder of his prime. “Thank you guys for obviously believing in me, believing in the things I’m able to do. The fans are unbelievable to me, they mean so much to me, and what I believe in and who I am, the player I’ve become to this day," he said. "Me being able to come back here is a true blessing. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than Oklahoma City.” Westbrook would go on to say, “You guys have basically raised me. I’ve been here since I was 18-19 years old. You guys did nothing but great things for me, through the good and the bad”.
Russell Westbrook has been an icon in Oklahoma City on the court as well as off. He does an incredible amount for the community through various fundraisers, charity events, and especially through his Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation. In 2016, Westbrook was even inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and was introduced at this ceremony by none other than Michael Jordan.
Westbrook has shown loyalty to the Oklahoma City franchise that the city will never forget. He is under contract through the 2022-23 season, which will be his 15th season with the Thunder. There is no doubt that one day Westbrook's jersey will be retired within the organization, as his commitment to the franchise is one that is extremely rare.
Russell Westbrook's loyalty in re-signing eventually led to Paul George re-signing long term with the Thunder, setting the team up to be contenders for years to come. His dedication to Oklahoma City on and off the court has led him to become one of the most influential people in the history of the state of Oklahoma.
