Question: who has been playing the longest in the nba
Answer: Bulls ( 1996 -- 1997 ) 21 Willis , Kevin Kevin Willis PF / C Atlanta Hawks ( 1984 -- 1995 , 2004 -- 2005 ) Miami Heat ( 1994 -- 1996 ) Golden State Warriors ( 1996 ) Houston Rockets ( 1996 -- 1998 , 2001 -- 2002 ) Toronto Raptors ( 1998 -- 2001 ) Denver Nuggets ( 2001 ) San Antonio Spurs ( 2002 -- 2004 ) Dallas Mavericks ( 2007 ) Garnett , Kevin Kevin Garnett PF / C Minnesota Timberwolves ( 1995 -- 2007 , 2015 -- 2016 ) Boston Celtics ( 2007 -- 2013 ) Brooklyn Nets ( 2013 -- 2015 ) Abdul - Jabbar , Kareem Kareem Abdul - Jabbar * Milwaukee Bucks ( 1969 -- 1975 ) Los Angeles Lakers ( 1975 -- 1989 ) 20 Bryant , Kobe Kobe Bryant SG Los Angeles Lakers ( 1996 -- 2016 ) Carter , Vince Vince Carter ^ SG / SF Toronto Raptors ( 1998 -- 2004 ) New Jersey Nets ( 2004 -- 2009 ) Orlando Magic ( 2009 -- 2010 ) Phoenix Suns ( 2010 -- 2011 ) Dallas Mavericks ( 2011 -- 2014 ) Memphis Grizzlies ( 2014 -- 2017 ) Sacramento Kings ( 2017 -- present ) Nowitzki , Dirk Dirk Nowitzki ^ PF Dallas Mavericks ( 1998 -- present ) 8 Malone , Moses Moses Malone