The star players on this list are indelibly linked with a single franchise where they built their legend, but closed out their career looking not-quite-right in a different jersey
1) Tony Parker, Charlotte Hornets
After 17 seasons with the Spurs team that had drafted him in 2001, Parker found himself at a crossroads in the summer of 2018. His longtime teammate and lifelong Spur Tim Duncan had retired two years earlier, and was being followed in 2018 by another franchise legend, Manu Ginobili. Parker had ruptured his quadriceps tendon during the 2017 playoffs and fought hard to return the next season but struggled when he did, posting career lows in scoring and assists. The always frank Gregg Popovich informed Parker that his role would be reduced in '18-'19, so the former star point guard started exploring other options. He found a friendly situation in Charlotte, where former Spurs assistant coach James Borrego had taken over the head job, and fellow Frenchman Nic Batum was in the starting lineup. That's how Parker played his final season with the Hornets after 17 years, four titles, one Finals MVP, six All-Star appearances, and the all-time franchise record for assists on the Spurs. Though his numbers ticked up slightly from the previous season, he still struggled in '18-'19 with injuries and increasing ineffectiveness, and missed the playoffs for the first time in his career.
2) Shaquille O'Neal, Boston Celtics
The odds were always minimal of O'Neal ending his career with the Magic team that drafted him or the Lakers team with which he won three titles but feuded almost constantly with fellow superstar Kobe Bryant. But it was still surprising to see his late career turn as a journeyman, venturing from the Suns (to whom he was traded from the Heat in 2008) to the Cavaliers (traded again in 2009) to the Celtics (signed as a free agent in 2010). Shaq's pairing with Boston was an irregular one from the beginning, starting with him tipping the signing days ahead of time during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Ever one with the self-monikers, he labelled himself "The Big Shamrock" upon signing a two-year contract, and won the starting center job thanks to injuries to incumbent veterans Jermaine O'Neal and Kendrick Perkins. Though the 39-year-old threw down a few vintage early season performances, including 25 points and 11 rebounds in a win over the Nets, he struggled throughout the season with leg soreness and knee pain, ultimately appearing in just 37 regular season games and two playoff tilts, as the Celtics dropped a second round series against the Heat. Citing a desire to no longer "hold Boston hostage," Shaq announced his retirement soon after the season ended.
3) Rick Barry, Houston Rockets
Unrestricted free agency was not available in the NBA until 1988, which means that player movement before then was in near full control of franchise ownership. Players could technically sign as a free agent starting in the mid '70s, but it was restricted movement and their previous team would receive compensation. A team would have to be really comfortable with letting a player walk, and of course one of the rare cases where this happened involved Barry and the Warriors. He had ditched the franchise once already, walking away from his contract in 1967, fresh off winning the scoring title and leading the team to the NBA Finals, to join the Oakland Oaks of the ABA. Lawsuits ensued, but the relationship was shockingly mended when Barry returned to the Warriors in 1972. He secured his franchise legend status by leading Golden State to a title in 1975, but the team slowly slipped out of contention the next three years, missing the playoffs altogether in '77-'78. Barry wanted out again, this time opting to sign with Houston, who compensated the Warriors with cash and a young John Lucas. Barry's two seasons with the Rockets were brief and relatively unmemorable, as he averaged less than 20 points per game for the first time in his career, and the team was quietly eliminated from the playoffs both years. He did set the NBA record for best free throw percentage in a season during that time, with a mark of 94.7% in '78-'79 (Rockets teammate Calvin Murphy broke it two years later). Ever the malcontent, Barry would later call signing with the Rockets the biggest mistake of his career, deeming the franchise as a "zoo" during his time there.
4) Dominique Wilkins, Orlando Magic
Though synonymous with Atlanta Hawks basketball as much as any player, Wilkins was actually drafted by the Jazz in 1982, but refused to suit up for Utah when they deigned to play him at the less natural power forward position (a Wilkins-Stockton-Malone pairing is one of the great NBA what-ifs). He was traded to the Hawks right before his rookie season, and 11 years later, the "Human Highlight Film" had built such a reputation in Atlanta that not only is his jersey retired in the rafters of State Farm Arena, but a statue of him was built outside. One thing Wilkins never brought to Atlanta was playoff success and looking to rebuild in '93-'94, the team traded him (along with a first round pick) at the deadline to the Clippers for Danny Manning. The then 34-year-old Wilkins was a revelation in Los Angeles, averaging 29.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in 25 games, possibly feeling extra motivated by the Hawks deeming him dispensable. Subsequent stints with the Celtics and Spurs were less successful, as 'Nique started to show his age. After spending some time dominating the Greek and Italian leagues, Wilkins made one last go at the NBA at age 39 in the lockout-shortened '98-'99 season, signing with the Magic. He teamed up for the first time with his younger brother, Gerald, but both Wilkins siblings found playing time scarce as the Magic, led by Penny Hardaway, tied for the East's best record before getting upset in the first round of the playoffs. Dominique could still excite the Orlando fans with the occasional scoring outburst or dunk, but finished his final season averaging just 5.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
5) Dave Cowens, Milwaukee Bucks
A two-time champion, eight-time All-Star, and MVP of the '72-'73 season, Cowens packed a lot of success into his 10 seasons with the Celtics, but also plenty of wear-and-tear. He perfectly bridged the gap between the Bill Russell and Larry Bird eras, leading Boston to six Conference Finals, and titles in 1974 and 1976. Playing so deep into the spring every year took its toll however, as did his relentless style of play, and Cowens struggled late in his career with various ankle and leg injuries. He announced his retirement on the eve of the '80-'81 season, ceremoniously handing over the reigns to Bird, who led the Celtics to another title that year. As a man who once quit mid-season in his prime to sell Christmas trees, Cowens developed an aloof and distracted reputation throughout his career, but that belied his competitive spirit, which led him to mount a comeback for the '82-'83 season. Knowing that the Celtics were already stacked in the front court with Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, he asked for a trade and was dealt to the Bucks, who were coached by his former Celtics teammate, Don Nelson. Though certainly not the same player anymore after two years away, Cowens was still a solid asset for Milwaukee and provided some highlights throughout the season, especially in an early season game where he put in 10 points and nine rebounds as the Bucks upset the Celtics in Boston Garden, where his retired jersey already hung from the rafters. Cowens could have provided more shining moments in the second round of the playoffs, when Milwaukee faced off against Boston again, but he was waylaid by a leg injury suffered in the regular season finale and was unable to suit up the entire postseason. He retired for good after the Bucks were eliminated, but supposedly considered another comeback over a decade later while working as an assistant coach for the Spurs.
6) Hakeem Olajuwon, Toronto Raptors
7) Patrick Ewing, Orlando Magic
Two of the great paint warriors in NBA history, Ewing and Olajuwon did battle in the 1994 NBA Finals for the Knicks and Rockets, respectively. Each player is indelible to the franchise that drafted them first overall. Ewing spent 15 seasons with New York and is still the all-time franchise leader in games played, points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. Olajuwon put in 17 years with Houston, leading them to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995 while setting all the same franchise records that Ewing did. When the two Hall of Famers squared off for the final time in March of 2002, it was in unfamiliar environs. Ewing was a member of the Magic, having signed with them in the summer of 2001, while Olajuwon had been traded that offseason to the Raptors. Both players had only nominal success in their final season, each coming off the bench and each averaging less than eight points and six rebounds per game. When Orlando and Toronto faced off in a key March match-up that season, each team was jockeying for playoff position but it was little thanks to their legendary centers. Ewing contributed six points and five rebounds that night in a Magic win, as Olajuwon shot just one-of-eight from the floor for two points. Olajuwon, who actually rejected a contract offer from the Rockets before the trade, retired after the season due to his ailing back. Ewing, who had already spent the '00-'01 season looking awkward in a Sonics jersey, also retired in the summer of 2002, to accept a coaching position with the Wizards.
8) Alex English, Dallas Mavericks
Unlike many on this list, English bounced around a few different teams early in his career before settling with the franchise with which he's most synonymous, the Nuggets. Drafted by the Bucks in 1976, he was traded three times in his first four seasons, eventually winding up with Denver. It was a match made in heaven in the Rockies, with English's mid-range shooting and dribble-drives thriving in coach Doug Moe's up-tempo system. He was the NBA's overall leading scorer for the '80s, named to eight All-Star Games, and led Denver to the Conference Finals in 1985. The Nuggets reached the playoffs nine straight years with English on the court and Moe at the helm, but opted to rebuild at the end of the decade, firing Moe and letting English walk in free agency. Upon signing a one-year contract with the Mavericks, the aging English announced that '90-'91 would be his final season. He averaged just 7.6 points per game for Dallas and when they fell short of the playoffs, stayed true to his word and retired as the then seventh-highest scoring player in NBA history (he has since slipped to 18th). The Nuggets retired his jersey soon after, and he still holds the franchise records for games played, points, field goals, and assists.
9) Walt Frazier, Cleveland Cavaliers
Radiating cool with his custom suits, his signature beige Rolls-Royce, and his efficiently smooth style of play, Frazier was the essence of New York basketball for 10 years before finishing out his career in far-flung Cleveland. Teaming up with Willis Reed as a killer inside-outside duo, Frazier became a hero in the Big Apple when he led the Knicks to championships in 1970 and 1973, noted for his calm demeanor under pressure. But that "coolness" began to be perceived by fans and the media as disinterest soon after that, as the Knicks struggled to contend after Reed's 1974 retirement. The blame was mainly shouldered on Frazier, especially as knee injuries started to cost him some athleticism, and in 1977 the Knicks traded their star point guard to the Cavs for Jim Cleamons. Though obviously accustomed to big city stardom and yearly title contention, Frazier made the best of it with the lowly Cavs, thanks in large part to a close friendship with new teammate Jim Chones. His stats declined sharply in each of his three years with Cleveland and after managing to appear in just three games early in the '79-'80 season, Frazier retired and returned to New York to become a broadcaster.
10) Michael Jordan, Washington Wizards
Here's the thing about Jordan's time with the Wizards: it's not as bad as you remember. Despite carrying a little extra weight after three years away from basketball and playing with a subpar supporting cast, he managed to average a respectable 21.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game over two seasons. Washington improved by 18 wins in Jordan's first season there, and came within a few games of reaching the playoffs in both campaigns. It's also notable that his brief second comeback was a first opportunity for many fans to watch him play live, especially younger ones, and Spanish-speaking ones, as ESPN Deportes was launched in 2001, just before his return. But there's no denying just how weird it was seeing Jordan in a non-Bulls uniform, especially one as tacky as what the Wizards were wearing in the early aughts.
11) Sidney Moncrief, Atlanta Hawks
After 10 seasons, two Defensive Player of the Year trophies, five All-Star nods, and three Conference Finals appearances, Moncrief still got a "what have you done for me lately?" response from the Bucks when his contract ended in 1989. Granted, the combo guard had struggled in his final three seasons in Milwaukee, dropping well off his typical career averages while suffering from the effects of a knee injury. With the Bucks moving on, Moncrief retired and purchased a car dealership back in his native Arkansas. A year later the Hawks, in need of some guard depth, called on the then 33-year-old Moncrief to return. He didn't contribute much, averaging just 4.7 points in 15.2 minutes per game during the regular season, but his veteran leadership was immeasurable. Moncrief saved his best that season for nearly last, scoring 23 points in a shocking first round playoff upset win over the Pistons (Detroit put the series away one game later).
12) Dennis Rodman, Dallas Mavericks
Long before he was building his Hall of Fame resume by racking up Defensive Player of the Year awards and titles with the Pistons and Bulls, Rodman played at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas. He returned to the city in 2000, signing with the Mavericks after nearly a year away from the NBA. After the Bulls released him before the '98-'99 season, Rodman spent less than two months on the Lakers before getting cut again, but got one more chance with the Mavericks one year later. The move did make some measure of sense at the time. Dallas was in the middle of the its 10th consecutive losing season, despite an influx of young talent in Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. Brand new owner Mark Cuban (he had purchased the team just a month earlier) was so desperate to make an immediate splash that he not only let Rodman move into his house, he also basically gave the mercurial star permission to show up to practices late. Sporting the jersey #70 and his hair dyed blue-and-yellow to match the team color scheme, Rodman lasted just 12 games in Dallas. He tallied double-digit rebounds in 10 of those games, including 21 in one match-up against New Jersey and the Mavericks compiled a 2-10 record with The Worm on the floor. He also got ejected twice, suspended once, and essentially challenged David Stern to a naked boxing match. And how did Rodman express gratitude for his new owner's graciousness? He criticized Cuban for his intrusiveness in player activities and overt chumminess with the roster and staff. This was likely the final straw, as Cuban (who later claimed it was unrelated) waived Rodman one day after those comments hit the media.
13) Dave Bing, Boston Celtics
In nine seasons with the Pistons team that drafted him and with which he'll always be entwined, Bing had plenty of individual accolades but never any playoff success. Detroit reached the playoffs just three times in his nine years there, losing in the first round in 1968, 1974, and 1975. He was traded to a much better Bullets team in 1975 but they were soon stunned in the first round of the playoffs in 1976 and injuries started to hamper Bing in the '76-'77 season. He contributed just 4.0 points per game in the 1977 playoffs but finally got to experience a series win, as the Bullets reached the second round. Thanks to years of carrying subpar Pistons squads, Bing was essentially damaged goods at this point and signed with the Celtics on the cheap for the '77-'78 season. Though he played much better in Boston than he had in Washington, Bing was joining Boston just at the end of the Dave Cowens-John Havlicek title contending era and the Celtics missed the playoffs in 1978 for the first time in seven years (meanwhile, his former Bullets team won the title that spring). Upon retiring he returned to his adopted hometown of Detroit, eventually opening a successful steel business and then becoming mayor of the city in 2009.
14) George Gervin, Chicago Bulls
Even though he was still averaging over 20 points per game and leading them to the playoffs, the Spurs were ready to give up on their first big franchise star in 1985. At age 32, Gervin certainly wasn't the same player anymore that had won four scoring titles and twice finished second in MVP voting just a few years earlier. But he was still an effective scorer and proved as much after San Antonio traded him to the Bulls. The move rankled the Bulls' own rising scoring star, Michael Jordan, who told the media he was "unhappy" about the trade. It was arguably with good reason, as just months before the transaction was made, Gervin was at the center of a cadre of veterans who froze out Jordan in the 1985 All-Star Game, trying their best to embarrass the then rookie Bulls star. The presence of Gervin turned out to be a blessing for Chicago when Jordan missed most of the '85-'86 season with a broken foot. Gervin averaged a career low but respectable 16.2 points per game, including a 45-point performance in one game against Dallas but was buried on the bench in the postseason after Jordan returned, playing just 11 total minutes in two games during a first round series loss to Boston. He then played for several years in Europe before finally officially retiring in 1990.
15) Karl Malone, Los Angeles Lakers
16) Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers
According to our metrics, Malone is the greatest player of all-time to never win a championship, while Nash is the second greatest to never reach the NBA Finals. Unlike fellow ring-less legends Dominique Wilkins, Patrick Ewing, George Gervin, Dave Bing, and Sidney Moncrief, who also appear on this list, Malone and Nash both made a late career move in an attempt to finally garner that elusive title. Both wound up on the Lakers, as teammates of Kobe Bryant, and both failed in distinctively tragic fashions. Of the two, Malone seemed more assured of a title upon arrival in Los Angeles. The Lakers were the odds-on favorite to win it all in '03-'04, with Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal buttressed by Malone and Gary Payton. Though he was 40 years old when the season started, Malone was playing well early in the season until a knee injury forced to miss 40 games. He was back healthy for the playoffs, helping the Lakers battle through the Spurs and Timberwolves to reach the NBA Finals, but struggled in that series against the Pistons, as the Lakers were upset in five games. As for Nash, his arrival along with Dwight Howard was heralded as a last chance for the Bryant-era Lakers to win a championship but this time things were disastrous from the beginning. Nash was obviously a shell of his former MVP self by then, and the Lakers struggled with injuries and chemistry, eventually bowing out meekly in the postseason first round. Unlike Malone, who immediately retired after one season in L.A., Nash made one more go of it in '13-'14 but played in just 15 games and the Lakers missed the playoffs entirely.
17) Moses Malone, San Antonio Spurs
Switching jerseys was no rare occurrence for Malone, who was on the roster of 10 different teams during his career. But what was really surprising about his time on the Spurs was that the 39-year-old opted to sign with San Antonio for one final season instead of retiring with the team with which he's most commonly associated, the 76ers. Thanks to joining the NBA straight out of high school and getting bounced around the ABA and ensuing dispersal draft, Malone was technically a member of five different franchises before he even turned 22. He finally settled with the Rockets and blossomed into a megastar, winning MVP in 1979 and 1982. It was a 1982 trade to Philadelphia that really elevated Malone's career into all-time legend status, as he won his third MVP trophy and added a Finals MVP award as well while leading the 76ers to the 1983 title. He spent just four seasons total with Philadelphia before moving on to short stints with the Bullets, Hawks, and Bucks, with diminishing returns. There wasn't much left in the tank when Malone returned to Philly for the '93-'94 season but at least he was set up to retire as a Sixer. It was a shock then when he signed with the Spurs before the '94-'95 season, and played limited minutes backing up David Robinson. That final season did at least provide a memorable denouement moment for Malone, when he hit a buzzer-beating three-quarter-court shot to defeat the Hornets in his final game.
18) Robert Parish, Chicago Bulls
Unlike his longtime teammates Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Parish started his career with a team other than Boston, then ended it with a couple stops in unfamiliar environs. Drafted by the Warriors in 1976 as an heir apparent to Nate Thurmond at center, Parish was a burgeoning star by the '79-'80 season but the team was mired in a lengthy decline. Seeing Purdue's Joe Barry Carroll as a better bet as a franchise savior, Golden State traded Parish and the #3 pick to the Celtics for the #1 pick in the 1980 draft. Boston used that third selection on McHale and the rest is history, with Parish starting at center for the Boston teams that reached five NBA Finals in the '80s, winning three of them. Even as the Celtics dynasty wound down and the younger stars Bird and McHale retired in the early '90s, Parish was still plugging away in his 40s when he hit the open market before the '94-'95 season. After two seasons with the Hornets, with whom his stats dropped precipitously (they had already been in steady decline throughout the '90s), Parish signed one final NBA contract in 1996 with the Bulls. He was essentially the fourth-string center in Chicago but played in 42 regular season games, including four as the starter, and became the third-oldest player in NBA history at age 43. Having earned a fourth NBA title that spring, Parish finally officially retired after the season and still holds the record for most games played.
19) Gary Payton, Miami Heat
20) Clyde Drexler, Houston Rockets
On the same '03-'04 Lakers team that featured Karl Malone and ended with an NBA Finals loss was Payton, also chasing an elusive ring to cap a Hall of Fame career. Payton was much younger at the time (age 35) than Malone (40) and had further opportunities to win a title as a mercenary. It worked out for him in his final stop, when he signed with the Heat as a free agent in 2005. Backing up Jason Williams effectively at point guard, Payton played in all but one playoff game, helping the Heat win the NBA Finals over Dallas. He re-signed and played for one more season with Miami before retiring. Over a decade earlier than Payton, Drexler had also managed to close out his career as a role player on a championship team. Drafted in the first round by Portland in 1983, he led the Blazers to two NBA Finals losses in his 11 seasons there but the team was in an obvious need of rebuilding in the '94-'95 season. They traded Drexler at the deadline to Houston for Otis Thorpe and unlike many of his contemporaries like Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing, and Charles Barkley, Drexler was able to finally break through and win a title in the Michael Jordan era. He was hardly washed up at this point either, averaging 21.4 points per game down the stretch for the Rockets, plus 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game over the next three seasons, during which he was named to two final All-Star teams.
21) Paul Pierce, Los Angeles Clippers
Looking to make a splash under new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, the Nets traded for veterans Pierce and Kevin Garnett from the Celtics on the day of the 2013 NBA Draft. Despite spending his entire 15-year career up to that point with Boston, Pierce was at peace with the decision, claiming that a move to Brooklyn was his best chance to win another championship. It didn't quite work out that way, as the Nets were bounced in the second round of the playoffs in 2014, and the same result ensued for Pierce on the Wizards in '14-'15. Truthfully, he would have been much better off getting traded to the Heat in 2013 or signing with the Cavs in 2014 or 2015, but Pierce was likely much too stubborn to be giving in to playing alongside LeBron James. He made one last go of it by signing a two-year contract with the Clippers in 2015, but both of those seasons ended with the Clippers bowing out of the postseason first round. Pierce didn't contribute much during that stretch, averaging just 5.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He played his final game in Boston in February of 2017, receiving a rousing send-off from the home crowd after hitting a three-pointer late in the game. The Clippers waived Pierce after the '16-'17 season so that he could sign a ceremonial contract with the Celtics before officially retiring.
22) Cliff Hagan, Dallas Chaparrals
Though the ABA was more known for giving opportunities to young players that didn't want to complete four years of college before turning pro (the NBA still had a restriction on non-seniors entering the draft), it also gave longtime veterans like Hagan a chance to extend their career. An accomplished scorer (especially with his hook shot) and rebounder, Hagan teamed up with Bob Pettit for 10 seasons as a killer forward combo on the St. Louis Hawks, during which time the team reached four NBA Finals and won a championship in 1958. Like many of the stars of his era, Hagan struggled to keep up with younger players as he reached his 30s and his stats dropped sharply in his final few seasons. He retired in 1966 as the franchise's second all-time leader in points, rebounds, and assists (behind Pettit in all three categories) but one year later was lured back to the pro game. The Dallas Chaparrals of the nascent ABA hired Hagan as a player-coach, and at age 36 he proved surprisingly adept at both, averaging 18.2 points per game, becoming the first player to be named an NBA and ABA All-Star in their career, and guiding the team to a Conference Finals appearance. The next two seasons were more of a struggle both on the court and off, as Hagan's achy knees and fiery temperament caught up to him. He retired early in the '69-'70 season and soon returned to his alma mater, Kentucky, to take over as athletic director. The Chaparrals soon moved to San Antonio and became the Spurs.