NBA: One player you forgot played for your favorite team

NBA free agency movement comes and goes, it is easy to overstate how impactful each of these transactions will be going forward. Every move is reacted to as if it is franchise-altering. In reality, many of the players brought into a new team will be looked back on in years and fans will forget they ever played there. In that light, considering some of the most notable players in the history of the league and their most forgettable stops along the way is an interesting thought exercise.</p> <p>For generations, the player who has remained with one franchise for the duration of their career has been romanticized as if it is something the greatest players of all time always do. While this was true for Bill Russell, he is one of the few top 10 players of all time to do so. Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar all donned more than one jersey. Other than Jordan, all of the other additional stops resulted in championships. Most of the players on this list are not quite so lucky.</p> <h2>Every team has had some notable names make brief and forgettable stops with their team. Today, we chronicle one from each franchise.</h2> <p>The most fun part of a list like this is that there are so many answers. Plenty of players get a chance early in their career before moving on to greatness somewhere else (like Khris Middleton going from second-round Detroit Pistons project to All-NBA Milwaukee Bucks champion). Other players hang around so long in the league that they end up hanging various jerseys in their closest (Andre Iguodala with the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat comes to mind). Let’s enjoy the ride through history.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Atlanta Hawks </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434664" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434664" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1082,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F462033064.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1082" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/462033064.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/462033064-768x519.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Atlanta Hawks: Elton Brand</h2> <p>Elton Brand was known for several different stops. He was the Rookie of the Year and played two seasons with the Chicago Bulls. He was a two-time All-Star with the LA Clippers and nearly pushed them to their first Conference Finals appearance. Then he ended up with the Philadelphia 76ers and made enough of an impact that he has been involved in the front office during his post-playing career. However, there was a two-year stint with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/atlanta-hawks/">Atlanta Hawks</a></p> <p>After spending a season with the Dallas Mavericks (also nearly impossible to remember), Brand played the final two seasons of his career prior to his first retirement in Atlanta. He signed two one-year contracts and wore two different numbers. Over 109 games, Brand averaged 4.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in just 17.4 minutes per game. He started just 19 games in those two seasons and was happy to call it a career, at least for six months before returning to the Sixers for one final stint. He only hit 20 points once with the Atlanta Hawks and in his final seasons never reached double digits.</p> <p>The highlight of this run came as the Hawks earned the best record in the Conference in his final season with the team. The Hawks would make it to the Conference Finals, allowing Brand to appear in a Conference Finals for the only time in his career.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Boston Celtics </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434665" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434665" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1232,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F85249741.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1232" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/85249741.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/85249741-768x591.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Boston Celtics – Stephon Marbury</h2> <p>The <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/boston-celtics/">Boston Celtics</a> have employed countess big-name players over the generations of championship contenders. During the run of the “Big 3” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, oftentimes veterans would latch on to the backend of the roster in an attempt to earn a ring. PJ Brown and Sam Cassell were successful in that endeavor. Shaquille O’Neal and Rasheed Wallace were not as lucky. Then, there was Stephon Marbury.</p> <p>In the season following their title win, the Celtics appeared primed to repeat as champions. They finished the regular season with the best record in the conference and in place of Sam Cassell as a veteran guard from Garnett’s past was Marbury.</p> <p>The mercurial guard was coming off a checkered tenure with the New York Knicks that saw him feud with one coach, testify against another in a sexual harassment trial and ultimately being banned from the facility after a feud with a third. After sitting out all his final season in New York he was bought out and joined the Celtics shortly thereafter. Marbury would play just 23 games for the Celtics over the stretch run of the season and was a regular contributor off the bench in the run to the Conference Finals. Overall, in Boston, he averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game. After being offered a minimum contract the following season, Marbury began his long adventure in the CBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Brooklyn Nets </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_426683" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-426683" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1146,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F2698872.jpeg" alt="Yao Ming, Houston Rockets" width="1600" height="1146" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2698872.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2698872-768x550.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Yao Ming, Houston Rockets. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Brooklyn Nets – Alonzo Mourning</h2> <p>Alonzo Mourning is often associated with the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets. Between the two teams, he would make seven All-Star appearances, two All-NBA teams, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and two blocking titles.</p> <p>Mourning would make the move in free agency to head to the New Jersey Nets on a four-year deal but retired from the game four months later due to issues with kidney disease. He would undergo a kidney transplant before returning to the court the next season. Over the next two seasons, he played 30 total games for the Nets in what would be the lowest point of his career. He agitated to be moved early in his third year with the team and was traded after averaging 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.</p> <p>Mourning was sent to the Toronto Raptors but never played for them. He was bought out and rejoined the Heat again. He was never quite the player he was prior to his retirement and surgery. However, he was able to be a meaningful contributor backing up Shaquille O’Neal on the way to the franchise’s first championship. Success quickly made the negative years in the middle an easily omittable part of the Hall of Famer’s legacy.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Charlotte Hornets </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434666" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434666" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1077948942.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1077948942.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1077948942-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Charlotte Hornets – Tony Parker</h2> <p>A trend that will continue for Hall of Fame players on this list is when they hang on a little too long and play for an extra team when the one they played their entire career for moves on. Tony Parker played 17 seasons for the San Antonio Spurs. He was a six-time All-Sar, four-time All-NBA player, four-time champion and a Finals MVP. He was the starter for the Spurs from the moment he came over until the final season with the team.</p> <p>James Borrego left the San Antonio Spurs after the 2017-2018 season to become the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets. Parker followed the assistant to help bridge the gap and reunite with French National teammate Nic Batum. He was unwilling to be a backup in San Antonio, though he quickly changed his tune when he went over to the Hornets.</p> <p>In 56 games, Parker started zero and averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 assists per game. He only notched double-digit assists once and scored 20 or more points five times. His final season in San Antonio and his lone season in Charlotte saw a player who was a shell of his former self. Someone who had once been a clutch playoff person ended his career inefficiently and retired after just one season away from the Spurs.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Chicago Bulls </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434667" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434667" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1111,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F160562765.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1111" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/160562765.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/160562765-768x533.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Chicago Bulls – Richard Hamilton</h2> <p>Richard Hamilton ended up being something of a journeyman. He is most known for his time with the Detroit Pistons. Hamilton played nine seasons in the Motor City, made three All-Star appearances and won an NBA Championship. He played his first three seasons in the league with the Washington Wizards before finding his way to Detroit. After the Goin’ to Work Pistons broke up, Hamilton found himself with their once bitter rivals, the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://allucanheat.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicago Bulls</a>.</p> <p>Hamilton’s ending in Detroit was messy, coming at a time when the team was rebelling against their head coach. John Kuester. He was far from the only one that bristled at the lead man, but as a veteran of the team and a leader, it was a terrible look. Following their final season together Kuester was fired and Rip Hamilton was bought out.</p> <p>In his first season with Chicago, the team was great. They finished with the best record in the conference, but Hamilton was limited to just 28 games due to injuries. The season was derailed by a first-round injury to Derrick Rose leading to the Bulls’ stunning elimination. He bounced back the following season, starting 45 of the 50 games that he played in and got one final taste of the postseason. Over two seasons the former star averaged 10.5 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Cleveland Cavaliers </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434668" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434668" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2119,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F82125168.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2119" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/82125168.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/82125168-768x509.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Cleveland Cavaliers – JJ Hickson</h2> <p>There are certainly better, forgettable players on the list than JJ Hickson. For most fans, the name will not ring any bells. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the choice time and again to keep him rather than trading him for a star player to pair with LeBron James. The most notable occasion was when they opted not to bring Amar’e Stoudemire in for a push for a championship. All of this was to keep Hickson, who Dan Gilbert and Danny Ferry thought was a core part of their championship future.</p> <p>Unfortunately, this never ended up being the case. Hickson played three seasons with the Cavaliers and averaged 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He had his best season with the team (and overall) the year after James left town. In this “breakout” season of sorts, Hickson posted a stat line of 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.</p> <p>After three seasons in the Land, Hickson was finally dealt. He was shipped to the Sacramento Kings for Omri Casspi and a protected first-round pick. This pick never came to be and Casspi was not much more. If the Cavaliers had pulled the trigger just two seasons prior, they could have netted an All-NBA talent. Hickson would go on to play for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards before heading overseas.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Dallas Mavericks </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434669" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434669" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1240,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F137242692.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1240" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/137242692.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/137242692-768x595.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Dallas Mavericks – Lamar Odom</h2> <p>One of the most decorated reserve players of the last generation, by the time Lamar Odom ended up with the Dallas Mavericks his best was truly behind him. For 12 straight seasons, he had averaged double figures in points and never less than 5.0 rebounds per game. He was a two-time champion and had recently won the Sixth Man of the Year award.</p> <p>Dallas was the beginning of the end for Odom. He was shipped to the Mavericks after a failed trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers. The trade falling through frayed the relationship and a trade was demanded. Odom would only appear in 50 games with Dallas and the stint correlated with his first public issues with mental health. He received Did Not Play – Coach’s Decisions and G-League assignments and only lasted one season in Texas.</p> <p>Over those 50 games, Odom averaged 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He got into a fight with owner Mark Cuban and ultimately parted ways with the team. He was traded to the LA Clippers to bring his career full circle. He would play overseas over the next few seasons while dealing with personal issues.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Denver Nuggets </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434671" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434671" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1181527956.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1181527956.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1181527956-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Denver Nuggets – Roy Hibbert</h2> <p>Over the last decade or so the Denver Nuggets have had a collection of big men. Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic spent sometime together early in their career before Nurkic was swapped out for Mason Plumlee. JaVale McGee came through last season for a short stint to secure their postseason rotation. Going back a little further, Roy Hibbert falls in a similar vein.</p> <p>Hibbert was a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers and helped usher in the term “verticality” as part of the basketball nomenclature. Once he was traded away from the Pacers in 2015, he saw his production almost immediately plummet. He spent just one season with the Los Angeles Lakers before heading to the Charlotte Hornets. As the calendar turned to February 2017 the big man was traded twice. First he was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks but did not play a game in the three weeks he was technically on the roster. Then he was shipped to the Denver Nuggets.</p> <p>The reason this stint was so forgettable was just how little he played for the team. Over the back end of the season Hibbert appeared in just six games and logged the following totals: four points, two rebounds, two blocks, one assist and 11 minutes. The following summer, after a year of not playing, Hibbert announced his retirement. After a year away from the game, Hibbert joined the staff for the Philadelphia 76ers.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Golden State Warriors </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434735" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-434735 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F08%2F1331679333.jpeg" alt="Gilbert Arenas" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1331679333.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1331679333-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Gilbert Arenas (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for BIG3)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Golden State Warriors – Gilbert Arenas</h2> <p>Known mostly for his time with the Washington Wizards, Gilbert Arenas started his career with the Golden State Warriors. While it is easy to forget that he spent time in the Bay, his two-year tenure was notable for the winning of an award and the change of a rule that would affect the league going forward.</p> <p>Arenas was selected with the 31st overall pick and immediately inserted the chip on his shoulder. He was solid as a rookie, averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. The next season saw him take a leap and win the Most Improved Player award. Arenas averaged 18.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Unfortunately for the Warriors, his status as a second-round pick at that time resulted in him being a restricted free agent after two seasons that the incumbent team could not go over the cap to match the offer sheet.</p> <p>If Arenas had been picked one pick earlier the team that drafted him could have happily gone over the salary cap to bring back the future three-time All-NBA performer. Instead, he was gone and the Warriors were at a loss. Soon after the CBA included the Gilbert Arenas rule, giving teams the same matching rights on second round picks as their first-round counterparts.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Houston Rockets </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434674" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434674" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2031,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F136720676.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2031" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/136720676.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/136720676-768x487.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Houston Rockets – Kyle Lowry</h2> <p>Kyle Lowry is going to be remembered for his career explosion upon getting to the Toronto Raptors. He went from bouncing around as a young player to finding his niche on a team that saw him eventually become an All-Star and a champion. It is sometimes hard to remember that he started his career with the Memphis Grizzlies and played there for two and a half years. Then he was shipped to the Houston Rockets, in what Daryl Morey has said was his favorite trade of his tenure.</p> <p>The Rockets made a move to bring Lowry into the fold (along with Brian Cook) in a three-team trade. Lowry helped push the Rockets into the postseason, marking his first taste of success. Lowry transitioned to backup to Aaron Brooks to starter three and a half season in Texas. He showed people around the league that he was willing to buy into a system and solidify a culture unto himself. Unfortunately, it was not meant to last.</p> <p>Following the completion of his second full season in Houston, the Rockets parted ways with Rick Adelman. In came Kevin McHale, who would fit awkwardly with quite a few players during his tenure. The relationship with Lowry never quite fit the same as it did with Adelman. After one season together, Lowry found himself on the move again to the Toronto Raptors and the rest is history.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Indiana Pacers </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_422289" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-422289" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1272,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F02%2F51613993.jpeg" alt="Indiana Pacers, Chris Mullin" width="1600" height="1272" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/02/51613993.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/02/51613993-768x611.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Indiana Pacers – Chris Mullin</h2> <p>Going back to the trend of Hall of Famers who most fans only remember in a singular jersey, Chris Mullin has such a connection to the Golden State Warriors. The Run TMC teams were some of the most enjoyable of their era and Mullin was a five-time All-Star during that time. He was a lethal scoring threat, at his peak leading the league in effective field foal percentage. However, there was a three-year period need the end where Mullin was an Indiana Pacer.</p> <p>After being an ironman for years (playing at least 78 games in five out of six seasons), Mullin’s body began to breakdown and the Warriors transitioned into a younger era. Mullin found himself on the Pacers, back competing at a high level. Over three seasons he found himself in a more supporting role, averaging 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The biggest dip came in his two-point shooting, going from 60.2 percent in his final season in the Bay to 49.3 percent over three seasons in the Midwest.</p> <p>Mullin was waived after three seasons and went back to the Warriors to play the final year of his professional career. He only played 20 games in his final season, but the impact Mullin made on the Warriors is everlasting.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> LA Clippers </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-392095" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1077,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F278453.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1077" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/278453.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/278453-768x517.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"></p> <h2>LA Clippers – Moses Malone</h2> <p>Plenty of players came and went for the LA Clippers as they struggled to find their identity as a franchise. While they were never truly established until the removal of Donald Sterling, there was no shortage of memorable names forgotten on their sideline. Moses Malone played everywhere, logging minutes 1,455 games for nine different organization between the NBA and ABA.</p> <p>Malone is remembered for his time with the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Bullets, where he made 11 of his 13 All-Star appearances. He started his career off in the ABA for the Utah Stars as an All-Star at 19 years of age then played a single season with the Spirits of Saint Louis. After two seasons in the upstart league, Malone came to the NBA as part of the merger.</p> <p>Malone was placed in the pool of players to be selected in a dispersal draft, being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers and then traded to the Buffalo Braves. This is the franchise that would eventually land in Los Angeles and become the Clippers. He would appear in just two games for the Braves, averaging a measly 3.0 minutes per game. Malone was traded to the Rockets for two future first round picks and began an historic run through the league.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Los Angeles Lakers </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_386003" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-386003" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1161,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1191301309.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1161" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1191301309.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1191301309-768x557.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Mike FIALA / AFP) (Photo by MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Los Angeles Lakers – Dennis Rodman</h2> <p>Like the Clippers, but with significantly more success, the Los Angeles Lakers have been home to many a big-name player. They often come along to join the crew as part of a quest to get a ring, a la Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Andre Drummond, Dennis Schroeder and countless others. Dennis Rodman came to the Lakers to rejoin his former coach from the Chicago Bulls as a chance to find success again after the dynasty frayed.</p> <p>By the time he got there, Rodman was already a five-time NBA Champion and was on a streak of leading the league in rebounding seven years running. His one season in Los Angeles left something to be desired. In just 23 games he averaged 2.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The rebounding still stands out but was a stark drop off from the previous season’s mark of 15.0.</p> <p>Rodman was released after one season in Los Angeles and played the final season of his career with the Dallas Mavericks. This stop was even uglier. He appeared in 12 games and averaged 14.3 rebounds per game. He also earned six technical fouls and a one game suspension before being released, effectively ending his career.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Memphis Grizzlies </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434736" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-434736 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F08%2F1323952795.jpeg" alt="Allen Iverson" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1323952795.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1323952795-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Allen Iverson (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Memphis Grizzlies – Allen Iverson</h2> <p>Allen Iverson is a man who needs no introduction. He is undoubtedly one of the most culturally impactful players to ever make an appearance in the NBA and changed the world for a generation of players. During his time with the Philadelphia 76ers he was an electric force of nature, carrying an entire city on his shoulders.</p> <p>Then he moved on to the Denver Nuggets and helped ease the burden on the face of the franchise, Carmelo Anthony. For many this was the end of his relevant playing days. His trade to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups did not yield any success. Then he went to the Memphis Grizzlies.</p> <p>When he joined the Grizzlies, Iverson said all the right things. He implied that this was the right place for him to truly cement his legacy and he was ready to play his role. Unfortunately, Iverson and management did not agree that his role was that of a bench player. When all was said and done Iverson appeared in three games for the Grizzlies and averaged 12. 3 points, 3.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game. Both sides agreed to part ways and Iverson would return to the Sixers for a final stint before his NBA days ended.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Miami Heat </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434676" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434676" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1035,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F524266646.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1035" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/524266646.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/524266646-768x497.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Miami Heat – Amar’e Stoudemire</h2> <p>The Miami Heat have sold their culture as something that is intriguing to star players looking to play for a professional organization. Amar’e Stoudemire came to South Florida as his final stop in the NBA. He had seen early success with the Phoenix Suns then moved on to the New York Knicks where his knees betrayed him too soon in his time there. After one season in Dallas, Stoudemire had one final chance.</p> <p>For the Heat, this was a chance to take a gamble on an elite talent in the post-LeBron James era to continue to compete with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in tow. While he may have been in great shape due to the required conditioning programs, greatness was not meant to be. Stoudemire appeared in 52 games for the Miami Heat, largely limited to the same knee issues that had plagued him over his last few years.</p> <p>Stoudemire posted career lows in points (5.8), rebounds (4.3) and minutes (14.7) per game. After his time with the Heat, STAT signed with the Knicks to retire from the NBA before heading overseas to continue playing basketball. He finally came back to the NBA for the most recent season, joining former running mate Steve Nash as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Milwaukee Bucks </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434677" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434677" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1135779301.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1135779301.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1135779301-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Milwaukee Bucks – Pau Gasol</h2> <p>In another example of cheating the list, Pau Gasol is the call for the Milwaukee Bucks simply since it felt like such a perfect signing when it happened. Gasol was the type of brilliant big man that makes every team he ever took the court for better and stood to push the promising young core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe. They were already the number one seed in the league so adding Gasol in a buyout situation coming off his time with the San Antonio Spurs felt like a masterstroke.</p> <p>Admittedly, this may have been wishful thinking. Gasol had been dealing with a stress fracture in his right foot earlier in the season and was clearly on the decline. He played in three games for the Bucks, totaling just four points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one block and 30 minutes. Gasol fractured his left ankle and missed the rest of the season, the playoffs and has yet to appear again on an NBA court.</p> <p>Since then, Gasol was signed by the Trail Blazers, only to be waived before appearing in a game. He has not yet given up on a comeback to the NBA and has continued his placing career with FC Barcelona in his home country, Spain.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Minnesota Timberwolves </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434678" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434678" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1073,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F155962718.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1073" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/155962718.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/155962718-768x515.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Minnesota Timberwolves – Brandon Roy</h2> <p>Brandon Roy is one of the forgotten stars of the previous generation. His career was like a shooting star. It burned brilliantly while he was able to stay healthy, make three All-Star appearances and two All-NBA teams in five seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately, he suffered from a degenerative knee condition that cut his career short.</p> <p>However, there was always a connection between Roy and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was originally drafted by the Timberwolves but was traded on draft night for the rights to Randy Foye. Throughout his short career, the Timberwolves were connected to Roy as an interested part, but the Blazers were able to lock Roy down on a max contract before he gave way to having no cartilage in either knee.</p> <p>After retiring for one season, Roy attempted to come back to the league. He joined the Minnesota Timberwolves, as he was not permitted to join the Blazers after being amnestied. Unable to ever catch a break, Roy suffered an injury in a preseason game and only managed to appear in five regular season games before undergoing season (and ultimately career) ending surgery. His career only lasted 326 games and he shared the court with the likes of Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and LaMarcus Aldridge. Roy will go down as one of the biggest what-ifs of the early 2000s NBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New Orleans Pelicans </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434679" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434679" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1970,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F53209852.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="1970" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/53209852.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/53209852-420x260.jpeg 420w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/53209852-768x473.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>New Orleans Pelicans – JR Smith</h2> <p>One of the stranger situations in recent NBA history came when the New Orleans Hornets (now the Pelicans) were temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina. When J.R. Smith joined the team the season before the team featured plenty of eclectic and intriguing young talent, including Baron Davis, David West and “Birdman” Chris Andersen. They struggled enough that they were able to add Chris Paul in the draft and Smith appeared to be set up for success.</p> <p>As a rookie, Smith impressed early. He was Conference Rookie of the Month three months in a row and started alongside Chris Paul as a second-year player to start the season. He was never able to click with head coach Byron Scott, who had a certain idea of what a professional basketball player was. That did not fit with much of the young talent on his roster and before long Smith found himself on the outside of the rotation looking in.</p> <p>Smith would take plenty of time to catch on but showed flashes of brilliance everywhere. He was a standout sixth man for the Denver Nuggets in his second stop and was the Sixth Man of the Year award winner with the New York Knicks when he followed Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. He would go on to find the ultimate success as a loveable, shirtless winner for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New York Knicks </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434738" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-434738 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F08%2F1195978513.jpeg" alt="Zach Randolph" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1195978513.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1195978513-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Zach Randolph (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>New York Knicks – Zach Randolph</h2> <p>Over much of the last two decades, the New York Knicks have been something of a waystation for famous names to come and underperform expectations in terms of winning. Zach Randolph, affectionately known as Z-Bo, was no different during his short tenure during the Big Apple. After a controversial run in the northwest, Randolph came to the Knicks in search of a new home.</p> <p>Randolph played six seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, an era of basketball colloquially referred to as the Jail Blazers. The big man showed the potential as a walking double double but the chemistry makeup of the locker room was untenable. In the summer of 2007 Randolph was sent to the Knicks on draft day (along with Dan Dickau, Fred Jones and draft compensation) for Channing Frye, Steven Francis and a future second round selection.</p> <p>In 80 games with the Knicks, Randolph averaged 18.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, but the team won just 29 games. Randolph was traded 11 games into his second season to the LA Clippers, which resulted and even more uneventful tenure. He would play just 39 games for the Clippers and while he was statistically dominant, he remained controversial. Most notably, he was suspended for punching Lou Amundson. Then came the move to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he finally found a home.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Oklahoma City Thunder </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434681" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434681" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F492785631.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/492785631.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/492785631-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Oklahoma City Thunder – Caron Butler</h2> <p>Even keeping the consideration to the days, the team moved on from Seattle, the Oklahoma City Thunder have had some large name role players in their short tenure. Affectionally known as Tuff Juice, Caron Butler did in fact suit up for the Thunder, albeit briefly on their way to a Conference Finals appearance. He had joined the Milwaukee Bucks before the season began in the trade that sent Eric Bledsoe to the Bucks. He was bought out after the trade deadline and latched on to the contending Thunder.</p> <p>Butler appeared in 22 games during the regular season and was a useful reserve off the bench. He would average 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Impressively, he knocked down a scorching 44.1 percent of his 4.6 3-point attempts per game. Butler added a dynamic to a Thunder team looking to return to the NBA Finals two years after falling to the Heat.</p> <p>This season would mark Butler’s final playoff appearance. He appeared in 18 postseason games for the Thunder and started two of them. His production drastically fell off and Butler was unable to help the team get back to the NBA Finals. He would leave in the offseason, heading to the Detroit Pistons.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Orlando Magic </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434682" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434682" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1380,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F51535922.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1380" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/51535922.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/51535922-768x662.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo credit should read TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Orlando Magic – Ben Wallace</h2> <p>Ben Wallace was an iconic player from the early 2000s, known for his generational defensive dominance and his signature afro. Even though he played for five franchises over the course of his career, fans can be forgiven for only thinking of him as a Detroit Pistons.</p> <p>His resume includes one championship, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, four All-Star appearances, five All-NBA teams, six All-Defensive teams, two rebounding titles and one blocking title. All those accolades, save for his lone appearances on the All-Defensive Second Team. However, before coming to the Pistons, Wallace played for the Washington Bullets/Wizards and the Orlando Magic.</p> <p>After three seasons as an undrafted pickup for the Bullets, Wallace had not made much of an impact. He was traded after the first season the team was renamed to the Wizards as part of a package to bring in Isaac Austin from Orlando. The move to the Magic was a positive one for Wallace. After three seasons of starting a combined 32 games he moved into a full-time starting role. He began to showcase the player he would soon become, averaging 4.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.  This was impressive enough for him to be one of the players included in the trade to bring in Grant Hill to try to move the Orlando Magic into the playoffs.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Philadelphia 76ers </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434683" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434683" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F142667439.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/142667439.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/142667439-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Philadelphia 76ers – Nikola Vucevic</h2> <p>Nikola Vucevic carved out a solid, if not silent, niche while with the Orlando Magic. They were always a solid young team that was never quite great but could perhaps take a win or two in the playoffs if things broke right. He had been with the franchise so long as the good soldier that it is easy to think of him as playing his entire career in Florida prior to being moved to the Bulls at this year’s deadline. However, after playing one year in the league, Vucevic was involved in one of the more complex trades in recent NBA history.</p> <p>Drafted 16th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Vucevic played his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He appeared in 51 games and started 15 of them. He averaged an unremarkable 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds for a team that snuck into the back end of the postseason in a lockout shortened year. While Vucevic only appeared briefly in one game during the run, this was the same Sixers team that benefitted from an unfortunate Derrick Rose knee injury and found themselves in the second round.</p> <p>Following that rookie season came the trade. Vucevic went to the Magic, along with Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Moe Harkless, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga and three future first round picks. The Sixers, for their part, brought back Andrew Bynum and Josh Richardson. Vucevic’s fellow Sixer, Andre Iguodala, was spun to the Denver Nuggets. Finally, Chris Duhon, Earl Clark and Dwight Howard were moved to the Los Angeles Lakers. Of all the players involved, the only one to make multiple All-Star appearances in their next stop was Nikola Vucevic.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Phoenix Suns </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434684" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434684" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1042,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1597894.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1042" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1597894.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1597894-768x500.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Phoenix Suns – Joe Johnson</h2> <p>Of all the names on this list, Joe Johnson being remembered on the Phoenix Suns is a matter of how long you have been an NBA fan and not necessarily was his run memorable. Johnson was traded to the Suns 48 games into his rookie season and quickly grew into one of the essential cogs on the teams led by Stephon Marbury and Steve Nash.</p> <p>By the time his second full season with the team came Johnson was a full-time starter and showing off some of the explosive scoring potential that would lead to him eventually signing a max contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Over his final two seasons in the Valley (one with Nash and one with Marbury), Johnson averaged 16.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Johnson transformed as a player next to Nash and the Suns won 62 games.</p> <p>Unfortunately, Johnson suffered an orbital bone fracture in the midst of the team’s playoff run. He would miss the next games, after scoring 20 or more in four of their first six playoff games. Johnson rejoined the Suns, who were down 2-0 against the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals, wearing a mask. While he still played quite well, operating at a deficit against the Spurs was a recipe for disaster. After the season, Johnson left as a restricted free agent after he balked at some of the contract offers made by the team.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Portland Trail Blazers </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434685" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434685" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1048,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F136724345.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1048" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/136724345.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/136724345-768x503.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Portland Trail Blazers – Gerald Wallace</h2> <p>In the realm of random stops leading to strokes of luck, Gerald Wallace fits the mold for the Portland Trail Blazers. He was coming off a run as one of the original Charlotte Bobcats where he was able to make an All-Star appearance and get the team into the postseason for the first time. The next season started off rather poorly, seeing head coach Larry Brown get off to a 9-19 start before being let go. Mere months later, Wallace found himself on the move. He was shipped to the Blazers for Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks and two draft picks.</p> <p>Wallace played 65 games over parts of two seasons for the Blazers. In the first season he helped solidify the playoff push for a team dealing with injuries. In his second season he dealt with plenty of his own before ultimately being traded again at the deadline. During his time with the Blazers, Wallace averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.6 assist sand 1.7 steals per game.</p> <p>His greatest impact for the team came in that trade away. Billy King, general manager of the New Jersey Nets, famously only put top three protection on the pick he sent to the Blazers to bring back Wallace. He did this stating aloud that he only believed there were three worthy players in the draft, ostensibly alluding to Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal. Unfortunately for King, Damian Lillard was the sixth pick in the draft.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Sacramento Kings </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_429035" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-429035" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1177,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F79933102.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1177" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/79933102.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/79933102-768x565.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Sacramento Kings – Metta World Peace</h2> <p>A man of many names and stories, during his time with the Sacramento Kings, Metta World Peace (now legally Metta Sandiford-Artest) was something of a forgotten man. With the Indiana Pacers, he was a blossoming All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA performer. The following season he was averaging 24.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game before the Malice at the Palace happened. He missed the entire rest of the season. After coming back briefly the following season he requested a trade and was left inactive until a suitable move (for the franchise at least) could be made.</p> <p>After much drama and mixed reports by the media, the man known at the time as Ron Artest was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Peja Stojakovic. Artest bonded quickly with coach Rick Adelman and helped push the Kings to their ninth straight (and to date most recent) postseason appearance.</p> <p>Unfortunately, after the season Adelman was let go by the team and the spiral downward for the Kings was underway. Artest saw his greatest individual success with the Kings, averaging 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game over the two and a half seasons he spent with the team. He would eventually be traded to the Houston Rockets to join forces with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> San Antonio Spurs </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_406121" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-406121 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1311,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2020%2F08%2F1199579573.jpeg" alt="Dominique Wilkins" width="1600" height="1311" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/08/1199579573.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2020/08/1199579573-768x629.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>San Antonio Spurs – Dominique Wilkins</h2> <p>Known as the historical face of the Atlanta Hawks franchise, it would come as a surprise to many that Dominque Wilkins bounced around to four team in his last four seasons in the NBA. Before landing with the Spurs, Wilkins was stunningly traded midseason to the LA Clippers. The Hawks chose youth and financial stability over their long-time star.</p> <p>Wilkins remained dynamic with the Clippers and left for the Boston Celtics at the end of the season. He spent one season in Boston before heading overseas to dominate the EuroLeague with the Greek team Panathinaikos.</p> <p>Wilkins came back for another run in the NBA, joining the San Antonio Spurs. Playing primarily as a reserve, Wilkins still played 30.9 minutes per game and posted a stat line of 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 19 assists per game. The Spurs were not a good team by any measure in that season, with David Robinson limited to just six games in Gregg Popovich’s first season as head coach.</p> <p>Wilkins would leave after one season to head over to Italy, making way for new number one pick Tim Duncan. After one more season overseas, Wilkins would come back for one final chance in the league, taking the court for the Orlando Magic.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Toronto Raptors </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434739" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-434739 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1353,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F08%2F1156021591.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1353" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1156021591.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/08/1156021591-768x649.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo credit should read JOHN RUTHROFF/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Toronto Raptors – Hakeem Olajuwon</h2> <p>Another all-time great who found himself wearing a uniform that fans simply cannot bring themselves to picture him in is Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon played for the Houston Rockets for an amazing 17 seasons and built an unbelievable resume. The Dream was a two-time NBA champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time rebounding champion, thee-time block champion, 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA performer and made nine All-Defensive teams. He even tacked on a league MVP and two Finals MVPs. Unfortunately, Father Time waits for no one.</p> <p>The Rockets were entering a rebuilding stage. Olajuwon turned down a deal to remain with the team and was shipped to the Toronto Raptors for draft compensation. He was able to lock down a deal more to his liking but was never able to reach the same heights again.</p> <p>Olajuwon appeared inn 61 games for the Raptors and started 37. He was a part of the postseason roster, getting a final taste of playoff action before calling it a career. Olajuwon would retire after one season due to a back injury. This was the perfect example of a player holding on just a touch longer emotionally than their body could. Olajuwon would leave the game (and remains) one of the greatest to ever play. As meaningless as the season with the Raptors was, nothing can take away from the Dream.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Utah Jazz </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434688" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434688" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F74162305.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/74162305.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/74162305-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Utah Jazz – Derek Fisher</h2> <p>In between stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher made some forgettable stops trying to make an impact. He spent the first eights seasons of his career with Los Angeles and then signed a six-year contract with the Golden State Warriors. After just two years the Warriors added another point guard and traded Fisher away, sending him to the Utah Jazz.</p> <p>In his lone season in Utah, Fisher was a trusted hand next to star Deron Williams and helped propel the team on a solid playoff run. In a bizarre scene in the second round, Fisher flew in for Game 2 after his daughter underwent surgery. He was given a police escort and went directly from flying into town to playing in the game. In true clutch Fisher fashion, late in the game Fisher hit a big 3-point shot to beat his former team, the Golden State Warriors.</p> <p>After losing in the Conference Finals, Fisher approached the Jazz about letting him out of his contract so he could relocate to a city that would be better suited to treat the issues his young daughter was facing. The team agreed, opening the door for Fisher to return to the Lakers for another set of title wins.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Washington Wizards </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_434689" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-434689" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1827,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F472781246.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="1827" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/472781246.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/472781246-768x438.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Washington Wizards – Paul Pierce</h2> <p>One of the greatest Boston Celtics of the recent generation, Paul Pierce traveled to a few teams over the last few seasons of his career trying to get the elusive second ring. After being sent to the Brooklyn Nets in one of the most talked about blockbuster trades in decades, Pierce only lasted one season with his new team. Then came a stop with the Washington Wizards.</p> <p>Pierce joined the Wizards to build another star team to contend with the Miami Heat. He became the veteran leader of a young core built around Bradley Beal, Otto Porter and John Wall. Pierce saw his overall production dip as essentially the third option, averaging 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.</p> <p>In the postseason, however, he got to shine one last team. The Wizards pulled off something of an upset in the first round by sweeping the Toronto Raptors before going on to face the Atlanta Hakws. In Game 3 of the second round, Pierce was entrusted with the closing shot. John Wall was sidelined due to injury and Pierce hoisted a shot over three defenders for the win. In iconic fashion, when asked during the postgame interview if he had called bank, Pierce responded. “I called game”.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA: Ranking every MVP winner in league history" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/21/nba-ranking-every-mvp-winner-league-history/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/21/nba-ranking-every-mvp-winner-league-history/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA: Ranking every MVP winner in league history </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">