5 NBA Players Who Played for a Record Number of Teams

by Jeremy Block - 12/16/2025

NBA players who played for a record number of teams Ish Smith

In the NBA, some players get the luxury of sticking with one franchise or playing for just a few throughout their entire careers. Then there are players who end up bouncing from team to team like they’re collecting frequent flyer miles. Whether they were simply needed to fill a roster spot, or had the skills to contribute when called upon, it’s clear that a little flexibility (and a lot of hustle) can go a long way in the league.

Of course, it’s not always about being a franchise’s gem or sticking with a single team. Sometimes, it’s about finding ways to stay relevant and be useful in a constantly changing environment. Having said that, here are five NBA players who played for a record number of teams.

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Ish Smith

If you need someone to run your offense in a pinch, you call Ish Smith. He might not have been a headline player, but over his 14-season career, he found a home on 12 different teams—never staying with any one for more than two seasons. Think about that: over a decade in the NBA, Smith was always in demand for his speed, playmaking, and leadership off the bench.

While Smith may have always received a phone call, his value didn’t come from piling on the points like most point guards in the modern NBA. Instead, it came from keeping the tempo high, facilitating the offense, and getting others going—essentially, the stuff you don’t see on the stat sheet. But as important as those things are, stats still matter, and unfortunately, Smith wasn’t the guy you’d rely on for big numbers, averaging just 7.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

Chucky Brown

Right alongside Ish Smith was none other than Chucky Brown. This is a name that, let’s be honest, probably doesn’t come to mind for most people—simply because he was barely noticeable in the league. Like Smith, Brown suited up for 12 different teams through the '90s and early 2000s. He wasn’t the guy you’d turn to for scoring or any highlight plays on the defensive end, but you could count on him to get his hands dirty, throw his body into the mix under the rim, and play within the offense.

Averaging just 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds, Brown played in an era when teams were looking for versatile players who could step in and fill multiple roles. And that’s exactly what Brown did—earning himself the reputation as a player who could be thrown into the fold and do a little bit of everything, no matter where he went.

Jim Jackson

Now, interestingly enough, while the first two players on this list barely showed up on the stat sheet as they hopped from team to team, Jim Jackson’s story is a bit different. For most players, you’d think putting up 20 points a game would guarantee a long career with one team. But for Jim Jackson, it was the opposite. Even with his ability to score from all over the court, Jackson ended up playing for 12 different teams over his 14-year NBA career.

Oddly enough, he was reliable on the offensive end, averaging over 15 points per game for the first eight seasons and shooting 42% from the floor for his career. But that wasn’t enough to keep him around with one team. Maybe it was because his role seemed to change every time he moved. Still, he managed to stick around for over a decade in the league, proving that even a consistent scorer isn’t always guaranteed a long-term contract or all the glam.

Tony Massenburg

If you thought we hit 'obsolete' on this list, you haven't seen anything yet, and that starts with Tony Massenburg. Over his 13-season career, he played for 13 teams—never was a star, never an influential role player, never averaging more than nine shots per game in his entire career, and finishing with just over 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. And yet, he found himself a home on a new team year after year, from 1990 all the way until his retirement in 2005.

Was Massenburg a waste of a roster spot? Definitely not. Keep in mind, his career wasn’t built on putting up 30 points a game—it was about stepping in when needed and doing whatever was asked. That kind of versatility alone allowed him to stick around for over a decade.

Joe Smith

Last but not least, we have Joe Smith. When you think of a No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, you probably picture a player who spends the next decade with one team, becomes the franchise’s centerpiece, and racks up All-Star appearances. For Joe Smith, that’s not exactly how it went. Despite being the No. 1 pick in 1995, Smith spent his 16-year career with 12 different teams, constantly trying to find a place where he could live up to the hype.

Smith had all the physical tools and skills needed to be a star—and even though he didn’t always get the big minutes, he still managed to average 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds over his career. But despite his solid numbers, he never quite lived up to the expectations that come with being the No. 1 pick. Labelled a ‘flop’ by most, Smith still managed to establish a role with nearly every team he played for, providing occasional scoring.

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Start:	December 16, 2025 @ 10:00 PM
Expert:	Nick Menken
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5 NBA Players Who Played for a Record Number of Teams

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