It is laborious to seek out gamers within the NBA as of late that stick round with one franchise. Some swap groups to search for a greater state of affairs to assist them win a title. Some do it to get an even bigger contract. In the meantime, there are some who do not actually have a lot of a selection.
Surprisingly, 4 out of the 5 most traveled gamers really performed for 12 groups. Whether or not it was by selection or circumstance, let’s check out the 5 most-traveled journeymen in NBA historical past.
5. Garrett Temple: 12 groups in 15 seasons
As a participant identified for his defensive versatility and three-point capturing, it is simple to see why a whole lot of groups would give him a spot on a workforce’s roster. Temple’s NBA journey started in 2010 with the Houston Rockets and ended his first two seasons enjoying for 4 different groups: the San Antonio Spurs (twice), Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Charlotte Hornets.
The longest time Temple caught round with an NBA workforce was from 2012 to 2016 when he performed for the Washington Wizards. At the moment, Temple is in his second season with the Toronto Raptors principally serving as a veteran presence of their locker room as he is solely performed in 12 of their 39 video games averaging 4 minutes a recreation.
4. Joe Smith: 12 groups in 16 seasons
As a former primary choose by the Golden State Warriors in 1995, groups have been at all times prepared to offer him a spot on their roster to see what he had left within the tank. Sadly, he didn’t stay as much as the lofty expectations. Smith’s greatest season got here his sophomore 12 months when he averaged 18.7 factors and eight.5 rebounds. In reality, most individuals would possibly acknowledge Smith for his unlawful association with the Minnesota Timberwolves again in 1999 that finally value the Wolves 5 first spherical picks (their first spherical choose in 2003 was finally restored).
Over a 16-year profession, Smith had stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, and ended his profession with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011.
His standing as a former prime choose possible gave him extra probabilities than most, but it surely additionally cemented his place as one of many league’s most-traveled gamers.
3. Jim Jackson: 12 groups in 14 seasons
Jim Jackson’s profession as an NBA journeyman stands out for its sheer tempo. His profession began with the Dallas Mavericks in 1992. After 5 seasons with the workforce, Jackson discovered it laborious to discover a everlasting dwelling. Over the subsequent 9 seasons, Jackson would begin and finish the season on a special workforce a staggering 5 instances!
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Like Smith, Jackson ended his profession with the Los Angeles Lakers. Solely his retirement was 5 years earlier.
2. Chucky Brown: 12 groups in 13 seasons
Jackson and Brown have related profession paths. The one distinction is, Brown sometimes begins and ends the season on the identical workforce. The longest interval Brown was with the identical workforce was in the course of the begin of his profession, enjoying for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1989 to halfway via the 1991-1992 season. His profession may not have included All-Star appearances, but it surely did characteristic a championship ring with the Houston Rockets in 1995.
The final time Brown performed within the NBA was in 2002 when he performed for the Sacramento Kings for 18 video games.
1. Ish Smith: 13 groups in 14 seasons
Lastly, there’s Smith, who holds the NBA report for essentially the most groups performed with 13. Whereas some journeymen hop on totally different groups on goal to chase championships, Smith needed to wait until he was in his thirteenth season to win his first ring with the Denver Nuggets.
Smith’s profession started in 2010 with the Houston Rockets. Since then, he is suited up for a number of franchises which even embody stints the place he was both signed or traded again to the identical franchise. Smith final performed for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 earlier than retiring in 2024 to turn into a scout for the Washington Wizards.
With Temple as the one lively participant that is performed for 12 groups, Smith’s spot as essentially the most traveled journeyman in NBA historical past may not be set in stone in spite of everything.