Dying Breed / HOF retiring with their team

[rutzan]

Kobe / Dirk / Duncan

the Capt should have been in that group...

can't say it about shaq, lebron...

maybe wade, durant, rose...in 10 to 15 years...

think about that...

times have changed...sports have changed...it will be rare to see a HOF retire with their original team...which is a sad commentary...the original fabric of being fan and rooting for your home-team has probably changed forever...now...it's about $, tv, endorsements, etc...it's really a shame...

[lightspeed5]

id rather the captain win 1  with brooklyn or at least try

[D.o.s.]

Kobe / Dirk / Duncan

the Capt should have been in that group...

can't say it about shaq, lebron...

maybe wade, durant, rose...in 10 to 15 years...

think about that...

times have changed...sports have changed...it will be rare to see a HOF retire with their original team...which is a sad commentary...the original fabric of being fan and rooting for your home-team has probably changed forever...now...it's about $, tv, endorsements, etc...it's really a shame...

Q: How many basketball players have played for fifteen years in the NBA for just one team?

A: Stockton. Reggie Miller. Kobe. Havelicek. Duncan. Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer. Dirk. And until today, Pierce.

Fifteen years is a very long time to play in the NBA--Russell and Bird didn't play that long, neither did Baylor, West, Dumars or The Admiral. Or Magic. Or McHale.

And when you play that long, the likelihood that you'll get traded only goes up. Even if you're a Hall of Famer.

[LilRip]

I'm definitely sad to see pierce go but don't get it twisted. His trade had nothing to do with $, tv endorsement, etc. It was about 1) the Celtics rebuilding and angling for assets and a high draft pick next year and 2) the Nets going all in, hoping that adding KG and PP would put them over the top and win a ring. So while it's true that for most superstars, they move as free agents for the fame and glory, this deal was all about the future (for us) and winning a championship (for them).

[rutzan]

what's really changed is how the torched is passed...

think about left field at fenway...williams...yaz...rice...greenwall...manny...

there was a gap from 1986 to 2008...a lot bad years...but you still had red, russell, cousy, tommy, hondo,kc, etc around passing the torch...the torch will no longer be passed personally...it will just be pictures and stories...sad to say...one of the stories will be how the chain was broken with the Capt...

[rutzan]

I'm definitely sad to see pierce go but don't get it twisted. His trade had nothing to do with $, tv endorsement, etc. It was about 1) the Celtics rebuilding and angling for assets and a high draft pick next year and 2) the Nets going all in, hoping that adding KG and PP would put them over the top and win a ring. So while it's true that for most superstars, they move as free agents for the fame and glory, this deal was all about the future (for us) and winning a championship (for them).

i totally agree...that's what i meant...pierce and kg are different...nowadays...if you whine loud enough...you can break your contract and chase a ring...i don't think kg and the capt are chasing a ring like so many...i think they are making the best of situation...given their choice...i think they would have run it back...

[Yoki_IsTheName]

id rather the captain win 1  with brooklyn or at least try

Id rather have him play for us his entire career here, which is what he wanted.

[rutzan]

Kobe / Dirk / Duncan

the Capt should have been in that group...

can't say it about shaq, lebron...

maybe wade, durant, rose...in 10 to 15 years...

think about that...

times have changed...sports have changed...it will be rare to see a HOF retire with their original team...which is a sad commentary...the original fabric of being fan and rooting for your home-team has probably changed forever...now...it's about $, tv, endorsements, etc...it's really a shame...

Q: How many basketball players have played for fifteen years in the NBA for just one team?

A: Stockton. Reggie Miller. Kobe. Havelicek. Duncan. Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer. Dirk. And until today, Pierce.

Fifteen years is a very long time to play in the NBA--Russell and Bird didn't play that long, neither did Baylor, West, Dumars or The Admiral. Or Magic. Or McHale.

And when you play that long, the likelihood that you'll get traded only goes up. Even if you're a Hall of Famer.

bingo...that's exactly my point...it doesn't necessarily have to be 15 years...i'm talking about HOF retiring with their original team...

[D.o.s.]

Thing is though, the entire list is depressingly short:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_players_who_have_spent_their_entire_career_with_one_franchise