Which Team Did These NBA Legends Play Their Last Game With?
- by D_Lamoureux
- – on
- in Sports
In sports, the media and public often romanticize players who play for just one team for their entire careers. It’s the ideal situation for fans, the franchise, and even the player. Why wouldn’t you want to live in the same city, with the same people supporting you every day if you can? Whether it’s loyalty to the city, the fans, or just loyalty to the contract, it’s nice when players stick with one team for a long time. When that player is one of the stars of the league, you begin to associate the team with that player, and vice versa. Just look at Cleveland. For a while, that was LeBron’s team. But then he did the unexpected, like so many other players do. He left the team he started with to go seek championships. James did this a lot earlier in his career than other players, who sometimes wait until their last year to leave and chase a title. Rarely does it work out, and then they have to play their final game with a team that has little emotional connection. LeBron is in a different category than those players because he came back to the team he started with, like a few others in this quiz. Can you remember which team these star players played their last NBA game for? Some of these players are completely unrecognizable in the jerseys they played in at the ends of their careers. It’s going to be a tough one… scroll down to get started!
Which team did Michael Jordan play his final game for?
Michael Jeffrey Jordan spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Bulls. With the Bulls Jordan won six NBA Championships, six NBA Finals MVPs, five NBA Regular Season MVPs, Rookie of the Year, two Dunk Contests, and a lot of other awards. He helped turn Chicago into one of the strongest basketball dynasties of all-time. However, following his brief retirement and attempt at launching a professional baseball career, he didn’t rejoin the Bulls. Instead, he joined this NBA team for his final two NBA seasons.
Which team did Hakeem Olajuwon play his final game for?
Hakeem Olajuwon is best known for his time playing with two teams in Houston. The first is the team he played for in college, the University of Houston Cougars, where he won three NCAA Tournament Championships. The next would be the NBA’s Houston Rockets, where Olajuwon played 17 seasons, and winning an NBA Championship in 1995. Strangely, he wouldn’t play his last game in Houston. At age 39, he made an extremely forgettable move to this franchise, where he would average the worst numbers of his career.
Which team did Shaquille O’Neal play his final game for?
At his peak, Shaq very well might have been the most unstoppable player in NBA history. At the end of his career, you couldn’t stop the Big Diesel from moving to different franchises. After playing for just two teams for the first 12 years of his career, he’d play for four teams in the last seven. Those four teams include the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Do you know which of the four he played his last NBA game with?
Which team did Paul Pierce play his final game for?
Paul Pierce was part of the very beginnings of the “superteam” trend that took over the NBA in the past decade. A “superteam” now is defined by a team that uses free agency or trades to build a team with multiple established superstars, such as what happened when Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined the franchise that Pierce had been playing for his whole career. Pierce tried to replicate the success in Boston by moving with Garnett to another team in the East, and then to this team to join two other All-Stars while in the twilight of his career.
Which team did Allen Iverson play his final game for?
There’s no question that Allen Iverson had his best years with the Philadelphia 76ers. It was with Philly that AI made the NBA Finals, made seven All-Star Teams, and led the league in scoring four times. But Philadelphia wasn’t the only stop in Iverson’s Hall of Fame career. He played for three other NBA teams, and did another stint in the city of brotherly love before retiring from basketball as a member of Besiktas in Turkey. Do you know which team he played his last NBA game with?
Which team did Ray Allen play his final game for?
Ray Allen was in the spotlight a lot towards the end of his career because of how often the teams he played for went far into the NBA playoffs. At this point, he was one of the most deadly 3-point shooters the association had ever seen. But before he linked up with KG and Pierce, and then LeBron, he was the star of his own show in Milwaukee and Seattle. He was way more than a 3-point shooter, and it won’t be a question of if a team will retire his number, but how many teams will retire his number.
Which team did Charles Barkley play his final game for?
Charles Barkley played for three teams in his illustrious NBA career, but despite being a perennial All-Star, was never able to win an NBA championship with any of them. If he did, he might be able to beat Shaquille O’Neal in one of many bickering arguments they have on the TNT halftime show. Instead, Shaq holds his rings over Barkley’s head, and there’s not many rebuttals that can overcome that. The team that Barkley played his last few seasons with was also the team he posted the worst numbers with. Which team was it?
Which team did Kobe Bryant play his final game for?
Kobe recently had his “farewell tour” which in all honesty was a little strange. Every arena he went to he’d get a standing ovation, despite really not being a good enough player to be a team’s number one option. You could tell, because his team was awful, finishing 17-65 in that season. That said, nobody is going to remember that record. What people will remember, is that The Black Mamba dropped 60 points in his final game at the Staples Center. Which team was he a part of when this happened?
Which team did Amar'e Stoudemire play his final game for?
Amar'e Stoudemire didn’t dominate the NBA for very long, but his peak was very impressive. With Steve Nash at the point guard position for the majority of the time, Stoudemire averaged over 20 points per game in six out of eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns. In the six seasons after he left Phoenix, he would go on to play with three other teams, but accomplish that feat just once. Do you remember which team Amar’e played his last NBA game with?
Which team did Dennis Rodman play his final game for?
Dennis Rodman had quite the career, on and off the basketball court. On the court, he was a beast. He was one of the most versatile defenders the NBA has seen, and also one of the best rebounders. He wasn’t fantastic offensively, but given the players he played with, he didn’t need to be. Off the court, he was doing things like bungee jumping off cliffs in a wedding dress, and going to North Korea to meet Kim Jong-Un. Yeah, his life is kind of interesting.
Which team did Scottie Pippen play his final game for?
Scottie Pippen was well-known for being the second-best player on those Chicago Bulls teams that won all those championships in the 90s. Of course, the best player was Michael Jordan, so second-best isn’t a slight at Pippen at all. Pippen was great, even without Jordan. The year Jordan left to go pursue his baseball career, Pippen still led the Bulls to the playoffs. He played for two other teams in his career, but neither stop was as memorable as his time with Chicago. Who did he play his last game with?
Which team did Jason Kidd play his final game for?
Jason Kidd becoming an NBA head coach is really no surprise to anyone who watched him play. The 10-time All-Star selection led four different franchises to the playoffs over his 19-year career, including the season he won an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks. Kidd posted all types of stats while playing point guard, finishing second all-time in assists, second all-time in steals, and third all-time in 3-pointers made at the time of his retirement. Do you remember which franchise Kidd ended his Hall-of-Fame career with?
Which team did Kevin Garnett play his final game for?
KG’s career will be remembered for his time with Minnesota, and his time with the Celtics. For many years, Garnett was an All-Star with no real help from his teammates. In order to get the support he needed to win a title, he left for Boston to join Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. In his 13th NBA season, he and the Celtics won that elusive title. But KG wasn’t done there. He played another eight seasons in the NBA, although he was more of a coach in the last couple years. Which team did he play his last game with?
Which team did Dominique Wilkins play his final game for?
Dominique Wilkins was also known as the ‘Human Highlight Film’, which really tells you all you need to know about his style of play. Wilkins was a high-flying player who often finished his buckets with stylish dunks. He was one of the early kings of the Dunk Contest, winning twice, and is often one of the judges for recent Dunk Contests. Although Wilkins played for five NBA franchises, it’s weird to see him in anything other than a Hawks jersey. He played 12 seasons in Atlanta, but didn’t play more than one anywhere else.
Which team did Wilt Chamberlain play his final game for?
Wilt Chamberlain put up numbers that aren’t even believable by today’s standards. He once went an entire season with 50 points per game, and 25 rebounds per game. And even with that stated, most of his other numbers still look insane. Chamberlain did most of his work with two franchises, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Which of these teams did the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game end his career with?
Which team did Patrick Ewing play his final game for?
Patrick Ewing was so close to being one of the most legendary figures in all of New York sports, he just couldn’t get past Michael Jordan and the Bulls and win that title. Still, his career was quite fulfilling. In 15 seasons with the Knicks, Ewing averaged 22.8 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocks per game. Those are ideal numbers for a center. He played just two seasons after his stint with the Knicks, do you remember which team he played his last game with?
Which team did Bill Laimbeer play his final game for?
Bill Laimbeer is the prime example of an old-school that old basketball heads use when they say that the NBA today is softer than it used to be. Laimbeer patrolled the paint a little differently than players do in 2018. He is in everyone’s “Top 10 Dirtiest Players” list, and for good reason. He was one of the leaders of the ‘Bad Boy Pistons’ squad that troubled Michael Jordan at the beginning of his career. He only played for one other team than the Pistons, but was that at the start, or the end of Laimbeer’s career?
Which team did Gary Payton play his final game for?
Gary Payton is widely regarded as one of the better defensive point guards of all-time, but he was pretty effective at the offensive end as well. ‘The Glove’ was named to the All-NBA First Defensive Team nine times in his career, and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 when he led the league in steals. As for his offence, Payton topped the league in assists, and drilled more threes than anyone else in the ‘99-’00 season. That’s what you call a complete point guard.
Which team did Dikembe Mutombo play his final game for?
Dikembe Mutombo is another one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the NBA. At this point, if Mutombo has ever swatted away one of your shots and followed up with his finger-wag, you should feel honoured. That finger-wave is the stuff of legends, and there have been plenty of legends that have seen their shot attempts thwarted by the Congolese center. Mutombo was the primary rim protector for six NBA franchises. Do you know which was his last?
Which team did Alex English play his final game for?
Alex English’s Hall of Fame career spanned from 1976-1991. He didn’t begin his career with the Denver Nuggets, but that’s the place he had the most success. English averaged 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game in 11 seasons in Colorado. He also didn’t finish his career with the Nuggets. At age 37, he played his final season (where he averaged just nine points, three rebounds, and one assist) with this team, that closed out the season with just 28 wins. Which team was it?.
Which team did Shawn Kemp play his final game for?
If you weren’t old enough to watch Shawn Kemp play in his prime, you may recognize him from having several of the most disrespectful highlights in the NBA. I say this, because that’s what I remember Kemp by. He had some shockingly vicious dunks, and every time he crammed on someone he let them know about it. The best example is when he dunked on Golden State’s Alton Lister, then pointed at him with both hands before returning back to his side of the court. It’s worth a couple watches if you haven’t seen it.
Which team did Clyde Drexler play his final game for?
Clyde “The Glide” Drexler was one of the best NBA players of the 90s. It’s a real shame Chicago was such a dominant team, because if they weren’t, he would probably have more rings. The 10-time All-Star did eventually win one championship in 1995, his first year with his new team. During those playoffs he averaged 20.5 ppg, 7 rpg, and 5 apg. Both that team, and the team he played for first would end up retiring his number 22 jersey. Do you know which team Drexler played with last?
Which team did Shawn Marion play his final game for?
Shawn Marion is instantly recognizable because of his awkward shooting form. The best way of describing it in words is that he shoots the ball low, from his waist instead of up by his head or his shoulders. He kind of looks like like a bunny. It was effective enough for him, as Marion played on several playoff basketball teams, and won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. Do you know which team Marion played his final NBA game with?
Which team did John Stockton play his final game for?
John Stockton is a legendary NBA point guard, who made his name known as a member of the Utah Jazz. He and power forward Karl Malone formed one of the most dangerous duos in all of basketball in the 90s. However, he was another player who went through the 90s without winning a title largely because MJ and Chicago were busy winning it every year. Stockton played 19 seasons with Utah, do you know if he ever played for another franchise?
Which team did Karl Malone play his final game for?
Karl Malone is easily one of the top power forward to play in the NBA. In his 19 season career, The Mailman posted 25 points per game or more in 12 of those seasons, and failed to reach 20 points per game in just two seasons, his first and his last. Karl Malone was a member of the Utah Jazz for every single one of those years, except one: his last. Do you know which team Karl Malone played his final NBA season with?
Which team did Moses Malone play his final game for?
Moses Malone as a player was very comparable to Karl Malone, but his career trajectory was not. Malone played for seven NBA teams, and two ABA teams amassing a total of 21 seasons of professional basketball. Big Mo scored 20+ points per game in 11 of those seasons, and also registered the third most rebounds in professional basketball history. With all the moving around that he did as a player, can you remember the last NBA team that Moses Malone played on?
Which team did Rasheed Wallace play his final game for?
Rasheed Wallace was a lot things when he played in the NBA, but what I think of the most is that he was fun. From shooting threes before the game with both hands, at the same time, to yelling “BALL DON’T LIE” after an opponent’s missed free throw, or receiving a technical foul for that or something else, he was a constant source of entertainment, and a damn good basketball player to boot. ‘Sheed made four All-Star Games, and won a championship during his 16-year career. Which team did he play his final NBA game with?
Which team did Steve Nash play his final game for?
If I were to pick one point guard to lead my team, it would be Steve Nash. It’s not just because he’s Canadian, it’s just mostly because he’s Canadian. He is one of only seven players in NBA history to have a season shooting 50% from the floor, 40% from 3-pt range, and 90% from the free throw line. He did it four times, while Larry Bird is the only other player to do it twice. He might not be the best, but he’s my favourite. Which team did he end his career with?
Which team did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play his final game for?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time NBA leader in points scored, minutes played, made field goals, offensive, and total win shares. You don’t do that without a long career, and his was as long as anyone’s. Kareem played 20 seasons in the Association, receiving 19 All-Star Game selections (also an NBA record), with just two different teams, and I’ll just assume you know which teams those are. Do you remember which of the two he ended his storied NBA career with?
Which team did Walt Frazier play his final game for?
Walt Frazier was a huge part of the New York Knicks teams that won championships in the 70s. Yes, the Knicks used to win NBA championships. Frazier did everything you could ask for, he made the NBA All-Defensive First Team seven times, and the All-NBA First Team four times. He’s stayed in the Knicks family since retirement, bringing a lot of colour to his colour commentary job with the team. Looking at this picture among others, he might be taking this position a little too literally. Do you know which team he played his last game with?
Which team did Yao Ming play his final game for?
Yao Ming was everyone’s favourite player in the 2000s. Standing at a whopping 7’6”, he was a comically tall human being. He was one of those guys that forced the NBA 2K video games to raise the height of created players, which was an added bonus for basketball fans. He wasn’t all size, he had some skill too. Yao averaged over 22 points and 10 rebounds in two different seasons, and made eight All-Star Games. He may have been tall, but his his career was sadly cut short by injuries. Which team did Yao play his final NBA game for?
Which team did Larry Nance play his final game for?
Larry Nance and his son were the main focus of one of the feel-good moments of the 2017-18 season. When Larry Nance Jr. was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was an opportunity for him to not only play on a winning team with LeBron James, but also to play for a team that his dad played for. Both Nance Sr., and the Cavs agreed to unretire his number 22 so that his son could wear it. The Cavs weren’t the only team the elder Nance played for, but they were the only team to retire his jersey.
Which team did Adrian Dantley play his final game for?
Adrian Dantley was nothing short of a scoring machine in the early 1980s. Between 1980 and 1984, Dantley averaged 30+ points per game across each season. Even with Dantley’s scoring prowess, he couldn’t get his Utah Jazz into the NBA Finals. After leaving the Los Angeles for Utah the year before they started winning, that couldn’t have been fun. He finally reached the NBA’s peak with the Detroit Pistons in 1989, but that’s not where he finished his career. Do you know which team he played his last game for?
Which team did Kiki Vandeweghe play his final game for?
Kiki Vandeweghe was more than just one of the best names in basketball history. Kiki could play, too. Over a five season period from 1983 to 1987, the big German averaged 26 points per game on 54% shooting from the field, and 38% shooting from three. In today’s NBA, he would be shooting a lot more three-pointers, and probably scoring a lot more points. Vandeweghe starred for the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, and New York Knicks over his career. Which team did he play his last game with?
Which team did Tracy McGrady play his final game for?
Tracy McGrady wasn’t very happy living in the city that drafted him. However, he has said that if he could do it all again, he would have stayed in Canada with his cousin Vince Carter, because he believes they could have won a title together. That said, it’s not like his career was terrible the way it went. He made seven All-Star appearances, and earned a few MVP votes as one of the league’s top scorers. Changing teams frequently to better his chance at a title would have worked if it wasn’t for Ray Allen and LeBron James.