NBA PM: Who’s Reaching 10-Year Milestone?

Which Players Are Reaching 10-Year Career Milestone?

The years in a player’s career can fly by in the NBA. Sometimes it feels like players go from being a rookie to a veteran leader seemingly overnight since time goes by so quickly season to season. But it is a feat to make it to the double-digit season mark. Only 10 of the 60 players selected in the 2006 NBA Draft are currently on rosters for their 10th seasons.

Many have made early departures along the way. Third overall pick Adam Morrison was out of the league after only three seasons. The career of sixth pick Brandon Roy was cut short due to injuries. Only 25 players from the draft class competed in five or more seasons.

There are still those looking to join rosters for the 2015-16 campaign, such as free agent Ryan Hollins, who played for the Clippers last season and is entering his 10th year in the league.

Making it to the NBA is hard enough, staying in it for 10 seasons is even harder. Here are some players about to enter their 10th season:

No. 1 Pick: Andrea Bargnani

The Toronto Raptors selected the Italian big man first overall in 2006. He played his first seven seasons in Canada before being traded to the New York Knicks in 2013. This summer, he signed a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets. Bargnani will turn 30 years old in October.

No. 2 Pick: LaMarcus Aldridge

From the second pick to one of the most sought after free agents of this summer, Aldridge has stood out his entire career. The four-time All-Star wrapped up nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before hitting the market this summer. The San Antonio Spurs won the highly contested battle to land the 30-year-old power forward, who averaged 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season.

No. 7 pick: Randy Foye

Foye began his career being traded on draft night from the Boston Celtics to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has been on the move since then, playing for five teams over the years. The guard, who will turn 32 this month, is in the final season of his contract with the Denver Nuggets.

No. 8 pick: Rudy Gay

Gay has become a veteran leader on the Sacramento Kings after six-plus seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and a short stint with the Toronto Raptors. Now on the West Coast, the 29-year-old is one of the Kings’ leaders offensively (averaging a career-high 21.1 points last season) and in the locker room on a team with young talent.

No. 11 pick: J.J. Redick

At 31 years old, Redick is one of the older players from the draft class, but he isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Last season, he shot a career-best 43.7 percent from three-point range and averaged 16.4 points per game. He spent the first six and a half seasons of his career with the Orlando Magic, had a very short stint with Milwaukee Bucks and then joined the Los Angeles Clippers.

No. 13 pick: Thabo Sefolosha

After beginning his career with the Chicago Bulls, Sefolosha spent the majority of his time on the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, last summer he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, where he was a key component to their playoff push. Sefolosha, 31, is recovering from a broken leg and the Hawks will look for him to help fill the void left by DeMarre Carroll’s departure when healthy.

No. 21 pick: Rajon Rondo

The Boston Celtics saw long-term potential in Rondo as he fell through the first round in 2006. They acquired him on draft night from the Phoenix Suns, and he played the next eight-plus seasons in Boston. As his unrestricted free agency approached, the Celtics traded him last December to the Dallas Mavericks, a pairing that failed to work out. Rondo, 29, signed a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings this offseason.

No. 24 pick: Kyle Lowry

The point guard who dropped late into the first round developed into an All-Star last season. From the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets to the Toronto Raptors, Lowry has found a fit as a floor general on an Eastern Conference contender. The 29-year-old has channeled what he learned from former veteran teammates to offer the same kind of presence on the Raptors.

No. 32 pick: Steve Novak

Talk about always being on the go. Novak, 32, has played for eight organizations in nine seasons. He began his career on the Houston Rockets and currently has one year remaining on his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Novak has never played more than two seasons for the same team.

No. 47 pick: Paul Millsap

Millsap could be considered the steal of the 2006 NBA Draft. After averaging just 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a rookie, Millsap has become a franchise player with Atlanta (averaging 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season). The two-time All-Star inked a mega deal to remain with the Hawks, only the second team he has played for, this offseason. He will turn 31 this season.

2006 Draft Class Leaders

Games played: Paul Millsap (687)

Minutes played: Rudy Gay (23,423)

Points: LaMarcus Aldridge (12,562)

Rebounds: LaMarcus Aldridge (5,434)

Assists: Rajon Rondo (4,775)

Three-Point Percentage: Steve Novak (43.1 percent)

Free Throw Percentage: J.J. Redick (88.8 percent)