Editor’s note: List only includes players with a career spanning at least 10 seasons.

1) Nick Collison, Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder

There was some controversy in 2019, when the Thunder announced that their first ever retired jersey would be #4 for Collison, a career role player. But it’s telling that the franchise’s two biggest superstars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, were amongst the decision’s most vocal supporters. In fact Durant, who granted Collison his “Mr. Thunder” nickname, took a break from his third season with Golden State to attend the ceremony for his beloved former teammate. Part of the stacked draft class of 2003, Collison was the #12 overall pick of the then Seattle SuperSonics but suffered a dislocated shoulder before ever playing an NBA game. As that injury forced him to miss an entire season and hampered his athleticism, Collison shifted to a more complementary role and over 14 seasons with the Sonics/Thunder, became widely respected for his leadership and hustle. Collison took a role in the Thunder front office upon his 2018 retirement and earned a championship ring in 2025 as the franchise’s assistant general manager. Aaron Wiggins paid special tribute to Collison during the victory parade ceremony and Isaiah Hartenstein wore a shirt featuring Collison’s bloody visage.

2) Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat

There’s no doubt that Dwyane Wade is the biggest legend in Heat franchise history, but a strong case for second place could be made for a guy who was never an All-Star and only occasionally even a starter. For two full decades, from 2003 to 2023, Haslem was a consistent part of the Heat roster. Those 20 seasons with one franchise trails only Dirk Nowitzki’s 21 with the Mavericks for the all-time NBA record (tied with Kobe Bryant’s 20 Lakers seasons). After going undrafted in 2002, Haslem spent one season playing professionally in France before returning to his hometown of Miami to sign with the Heat. He was named 2nd-Team All-Rookie in ’03-’04, and two years later he was the starting power forward as the Heat won its championship in franchise history. Haslem was a cornerstone of the lineup early in his career, averaging 10.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game between ’04-’05 and ’09-’10, but shifted into full-on role player mode in 2009, with the arrival of Chris Bosh. Haslem’s playing time has slowly but surely waned from there, but he finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder, with three championship rings.

3) Allen Leavell, Houston Rockets

A mainstay with the franchise for an entire decade, Leavell was notably one of just two players (along with Robert Reid) on the roster for both the 1981 and 1986 Rockets NBA Finals runs. In both iterations, Leavell was a backup combo guard, averaging just 4.4 points per game in the 1981 postseason and 5.0 points per game in 1986. In between, when the Moses Malone trade triggered a rebuild, Leavell had a brief stint as the Rockets’ offensive catalyst. He took over as starting point guard in ’82-’83 and averaged team highs of 14.8 points and 6.7 assists per game, albeit for a team that fell to last place in the Western Conference. But the man lovingly nicknamed “The Little Sparkplug” was beloved by Rockets fans and at the time of his 1989 retirement, Leavell was eighth in franchise history in points, second in assists, and second blocks.

4) Al Bianchi, Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers

One of the last proponents of the two-handed set shot, Bianchi managed to last 10 seasons in the NBA with his archaic style thanks to his consistency and tenacity. Initially drafted by the Lakers in 1954 after an All-American career at Bowling Green, Bianchi delayed his NBA career to serve two years in the U.S. Army, and was traded in to the Nationals during that interregnum. Initially the starting point guard taking over for the aging Paul Seymour, Bianchi was eventually relegated to the bench when Syracuse traded for Larry Costello and stayed there for the rest of his career, moving to Philadelphia with the Nats when they became the 76ers in 1963. Though he never played in an NBA Finals, Bianchi was ultimately part of five Nationals/76ers teams that reached the Conference Finals. He was selected by the Bulls in the 1966 expansion draft, just as the 76ers were about to make a title run in ’66-’67, and opted to retire and become an assistant coach in Chicago under his former teammate, Red Kerr.

5) Satch Sanders, Boston Celtics

It may seem odd to include a Hall of Famer on a list of role players, but that speaks to the uniqueness of Sanders’ situation and career. Entering the NBA in 1960, he had the skill set to be an All-Star scorer for a lesser team like his hometown Knicks, but instead was drafted by the Celtics and Red Auerbach, who recognized a talent and intellect in Sanders that could be readily deployed as a defensive specialist at each forward position. Though defense was his forte, matching up expertly against the likes of Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry Lucas, Sanders could also add some scoring and rebounding, averaging 10+ points for nine straight seasons and seven-plus rebounds six times. He retired in 1973 as the Celtics’ third all-time leading rebounder, and still sits eighth in that category. His jersey #16 was retired by the franchise in 1973, rising to the rafters alongside his former star teammates Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Tom Heinsohn, and John Havlicek.

“So synonymous with Seattle basketball that he retains the nickname ‘Mr. Sonic’ to this day, McMillan played all 13 seasons of his career with the SuperSonics, and later coached them for five years for good measure”

6) Jeff Foster, Indiana Pacers

He was a full-time starter for really only one out of his 13 NBA seasons, and averaged just 4.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for his career, but Foster hung around long enough in Indiana to be labelled a “franchise legend” by some. Though his traditional stat lines were never terribly impressive, peaking at 7.0 points per game in ’04-’05 and 9.1 rebounds per game in ’05-’06, he was consistently among the league leaders in rebound percentage. Foster was in the top 10 in the league in that category six different times. He also led the NBA in offensive rebound percentage twice, and his 15.2% career mark is fourth in league history. Drafted 21st overall by the Warriors in 1999 out of Texas State, he was traded on draft day to the Pacers for the 26th pick, Vonteego Cummings, and a future first rounder. He barely played in his rookie season as a third-string center behind franchise legends Dale Davis and Rik Smits, and watched from the bench as the Pacers reached their first and still only NBA Finals. 12 years later, despite myriad back injuries that limited him to averaging just 59 games per season, Foster retired as a Pacers great himself. He is fourth all-time in franchise history in games played and rebounds, and lasted long enough to play for coaches Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Rick Carlisle, and with teammates Reggie Miller, Smits, Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal, and Paul George.

7) Tom Boerwinkle, Chicago Bulls

A hard-working big man with a nose for rebounds and a deft passing touch, Boerwinkle was a force in the paint for the Bulls for several seasons before a devastating knee injury forced him into a lesser bench role in the second half of his career. How adept was the seven-footer at passing? Well, his longtime teammate, Jerry Sloan, once called him the second most effective high post passer he’d ever seen, comparing him favorably to the man he coached for 20 years, John Stockton. Boerwinkle was also a terrific rebounder, averaging double-digit rebounds in each of his first four seasons, peaking at 13.8 per game in ’70-’71, and setting the franchise record with 37 rebounds in one game during the ’69-’70 season. After missing the majority of the ’72-’73 season after tearing up his knee, he came back but was never the same, and settled into a backup role behind Clifford Ray, then Nate Thurmond, and finally Artis Gilmore. Boerwinkle finally retired in 1978 as the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder, and has since been passed only by Michael Jordan (he is also still ninth all-time in Bulls history in assists).

8) Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers

Perhaps this is the biggest stretch of the idea of “role player” on this list, as Cooper, though never an All-Star, was Defensive Player of the Year in ’86-’87 and 1st-Team All-Defensive five times. But roles are relative, especially when you play on a team that features Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy as the top offensive weapons, not to mention All-Stars in Byron Scott, Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes, and A.C. Green. Cooper came to the Lakers before almost any of those star players, drafted by Los Angeles in the third round in 1978. He played only sparingly in his rookie season, but by year two Cooper had already settled into a role as a backcourt shut down defender, one so fierce that no less than Larry Bird called him the best he ever faced. After eight NBA Finals appearances, five titles in 12 seasons, Cooper retired as a Laker in 1990, never chasing a larger role with a lesser team like his fellow Showtime secondary players Kurt Rambis, Mike McGee, and Billy Thompson.

9) Al Attles, Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors

Not only did Attles spend his entire 11-year playing career with the Warriors, he has remained with the franchise in several capacities in the nearly five decades since, first as a coach, later as a general manager, and lately as a community ambassador. All in all it’s been an incredible 60+ year run for Attles, who was the starting point guard and second-leading scorer (with 17) in Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, played in two NBA Finals in 1964 and 1967, becoming the second black coach to win a championship in 1975, then watching from his usual seat at Oracle Arena as the Warriors won further titles in 2015, 2017, and 2018. He never averaged more than 11.3 points or 6.0 assists per game in a season, but Attles had his #16 jersey retired by the Warriors in 1977.

10) Nate McMillan, Seattle SuperSonics

So synonymous with Seattle basketball that he retains the nickname “Mr. Sonic” to this day, McMillan played all 13 seasons of his career with the SuperSonics, and later coached them for five years for good measure. His stats are far from impressive, averaging just 5.9 points and 6.1 assists per game while vacillating between the bench and starting lineup throughout his career, but McMillan was a constant fan favorite for his leadership, defensive intensity, and steady presence on the court. Able to play both guard positions effectively, McMillan was a key part of the Sonics teams that reached the Conference Finals in 1989 and 1993, and finally the NBA Finals in 1996. His jersey number 10 is one of six Sonics jerseys that have been retired and hang in limbo, waiting for a return of basketball to Seattle. 

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