For all the talk about constant star player movement across the NBA, it’s worth noting that the last three NBA champions were among the most organically built ones in recent league history, with their core players spending their entire careers with one team.
To assess how common it is for teams to build through the draft (like modern-day Celtics, Nuggets and Warriors did) and which ones have pursued this approach more extensively, we analyzed the minutes played by each player on every franchise this century, focusing on each team’s draftees.
Unsurprisingly, a small-market franchise tops the list for the largest share of minutes played by its own draftees. More surprisingly, another small-market club ranks last in the ranking.
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Most used drafted players: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Rashard Lewis, Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, Jeff Green, Luke Ridnour, Gary Payton, Vladimir Radmanovic
Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, Ben Gordon, Coby White, Tyson Chandler, Chris Duhon
D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Antawn Jamison, Adonal Foyle
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Dillon Brooks, OJ Mayo, Jaren Jackson Jr, Stromile Swift, Ja Morant
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Most used drafted players: Paul Pierce, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Rajon Rondo, Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley, Antoine Walker, Kendrick Perkins, Jared Sullinger, Eric Williams
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Andre Iguodala, Allen Iverson, Thaddeus Young, Samuel Dalembert, Joel Embiid, Louis Williams, Jrue Holiday, Ben Simmons, Willie Green, Kyle Korver
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Andrei Kirilenko, Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, Donovan Mitchell, Karl Malone, Jarron Collins, Alec Burks, CJ Miles
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Most used drafted players: Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Jeff Teague, Trae Young, Jason Terry, John Collins, Josh Childress, Dennis Schroeder, Kevin Huerter
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Most used drafted players: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Keldon Johnson, Dejounte Murray, Devin Vassell, David Robinson, Tiago Splitter, Derrick White
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Most used drafted players: Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, CJ McCollum, Nicolas Batum, Brandon Roy, Zach Randolph, Travis Outlaw, Anfernee Simons, Bonzi Wells, Martell Webster
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Most used drafted players: Kemba Walker, Raymond Felton, Emeka Okafor, Miles Bridges, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Gerald Henderson, Cody Zeller, PJ Washington, Bismack Biyombo, DJ Augustin
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Most used drafted players: Kevin Garnett, Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio, Wally Szczerbiak, Kevin Love, Gorgui Dieng, Anthony Edwards, Corey Brewer, Jaden McDaniels, Nikola Pekovic
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Most used drafted players: LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Kyrie Irving, Darius Garland, Cedi Osman, Daniel Gibson, Isaac Okoro, Collin Sexton
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Most used drafted players: Danny Granger, Myles Turner, Jeff Foster, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Reggie Miller, Jamaal Tinsley, Al Harrington, Lance Stephenson, Austin Croshere
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Shawn Marion, Steve Nash, Devin Booker, Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa, Mikal Bridges, Goran Dragic, Deandre Ayton, Markieff Morris, TJ Warren
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Tayshaun Prince, Andre Drummond, Rodney Stuckey, Greg Monroe, Jason Maxiell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Jonas Jerebko, Kyle Singler
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Nikola Jokic, Carmelo Anthony, Nenê, Jamal Murray, Ty Lawson, Gary Harris, Kenneth Faried, Michael Porter, Monte Morris, Linas Kleiza
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Bradley Beal, John Wall, Brendan Haywood, Otto Porter, Andray Blatche, Nick Young, Deni Avdija, Jared Jeffries, Corey Kispert, Jarvis Hayes
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Most used drafted players: De’Aaron Fox, DeMarcus Cousins, Predrag Stojakovic, Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evans, Ben McLemore, Omri Casspi, Willie Cauley-Stein
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Most used drafted players: DeMar DeRozan, Chris Bosh, Morris Peterson, Pascal Siakam, Andrea Bargnani, Jonas Valanciunas, OG Anunoby, Vince Carter, Terrence Ross, Scottie Barnes
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Most used drafted players: Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, Kyle Kuzma, Devean George, Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Farmar
Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, Ersan Ilyasova, Brandon Jennings, Luc Mbah a Moute, John Henson, Ray Allen, Dan Gadzuric, Jabari Parker
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Most used drafted players: Yao Ming, Cuttino Mobley, Steve Francis, Luis Scola, Clint Capela, Chandler Parsons, Jalen Green, Aaron Brooks, Luther Head, Alperen Sengun
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Aaron Gordon, JJ Redick, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony, Mike Miller, Keith Bogans
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman, Terance Mann, Eric Gordon, Quentin Richardson, Lamar Odom, Al Thornton, Michael Olowokandi, Eric Piatkowski
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Brook Lopez, Richard Jefferson, Jason Collins, Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Nicolas Claxton, Nenad Krstic, Jarrett Allen, Bojan Bogdanovic, Josh Boone
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Most used drafted players: Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic, Josh Howard, Devin Harris, Jason Kidd, Jalen Brunson, Josh Green, Eduardo Najera, Greg Buckner, Dennis Smith
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Most used drafted players: David Lee, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, Tim Hardaway Jr, Immanuel Quickley, Kristaps Porzingis, Iman Shumpert, Charlie Ward
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Most used drafted players: Dwyane Wade, Bam Adebayo, Mario Chalmers, Josh Richardson, Tyler Herro, Justise Winslow, Norris Cole, Michael Beasley, Caron Butler, Dorell Wright
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Most used drafted players: David West, Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, Darius Miller, Trey Murphy, Jaxson Hayes, Austin Rivers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
