The History of the NBA Journeyman
Journeymen have been a common theme in the NBA for decades. Players who are just good enough to always have a spot on an NBA roster, but not great enough to be given many long-term contracts by NBA franchises. Essentially they are the saga of players that never found a home.
Prior to this season, there were four retired players who were tied for the most franchises played with. Jim Jackson, Joe Smith, Tony Massenburg, and Chucky Brown all played for 12 NBA teams. This season, however, Ish Smith became the sole leader for most NBA franchises played for at 13 teams. Looking back to the 2021-2022 All-NBA Journeyman Team, we have a few familiar faces and a few new players this years’ edition. This leads to the question; which players will join Ish Smith to be a part of the 2022-2023 All-NBA Journeyman team?
Point Guard: Ish Smith
Teams played for – 13 (HOU, MEM, GSW, ORL, MIL, PHO, OKC, PHI, NOP, DET, WAS, CHO, DEN)
Most seasons played before switching teams – 3 (2016-2019 with Detroit)
Career averages – 7.7 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.5 RPG on 42.9/32.2/67.5 shooting splits
Running point for our All-NBA Journeyman Team is the Journeyman King himself, Ish Smith. This offseason, Smith was a part of the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope trade that brought KCP and him both to the Denver Nuggets, marking his 13thteam. His journeyman career was started earlier than most players as he played for 9 different teams in his first 6 seasons, spending a full season with the same team just once (2013-2014 with Phoenix). As his career progressed he finally found multiple-season homes in Detroit and Washington, before joining the Hornets in 2021-2022 and then being traded for the 7th time to the Nuggets.
Shooting Guard: Garrett Temple
Teams played for – 11 (HOU, SAC, SAS, MIL, CHA, WAS, MEM, LAC, BRK, CHI, NOP)
Most seasons played before switching teams – 4 (2012-2016 with Washington)
Career averages – 6.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.7 APG on 40.2/34.4/74.0 shooting splits
Representing the same backcourt duo for the journeyman team as last year is 36-year-old, Garrett Temple. Temple did not have a traditional path to sticking in the NBA as long as he has. At LSU, he was SEC All-Defense twice, but was undrafted in 2009. Between 2009 and 2011, Temple jumped between the G-league and NBA and played in just 51 games for 6 different teams. After not getting much traction with an NBA team, Temple elected to play overseas in Italy for a season. He came back to the US in 2012-2013 and lit up the G-league, averaging 15 PPG, 6 APG, and 5 RPG leading him to a long-term deal with the Washington Wizards. Since then he has been a quality role player for five other teams, and currently plays with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Small Forward: Jeff Green
Teams played for – 11/12 (SEA/OKC, BOS, MEM, LAC, ORL, CLE, WAS, UTA, HOU, BRK, DEN)
Most seasons played before switching teams – 4 (2011-2015 with Boston)
Career averages – 12.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.5 APG on 44.9/33.9/80.5 shooting splits
Sliding from PF to SF in order to make room for our two new faces to the team this year, is 36-year-old Jeff Green. After being drafted 5th overall by Seattle in 2007, Green and Kevin Durant are the last two active players who wore a SuperSonics jersey. Referred to nowadays as “Uncle Jeff”, Green had a very promising future after winning 2007-2008 Rookie of the Year. He showed flashes of brilliance in OKC but was eventually traded to Boston. Shortly after, his heart condition was found, forcing him to miss the entire 2011-2012 season. With the Denver Nuggets this season, Uncle Jeff is enjoying his first multi-season home since 2014 when he was on the Celtics.
Power Forward: James Johnson
Teams played for – 10 (CHI, TOR, SAC, MEM, MIA, MIN, DAL, NOP, BRK, IND)
Most seasons played before switching teams – 3.5 (2016-2020 with Miami)
Career averages – 7.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.1 APG on 47.4/30.2/67.9 shooting splits
With Trevor Ariza now a free agent/unofficial retiree, a forward spot has opened up on the 2022-2023 All-Journeyman team and at PF, James Johnson will get the honor. Known for being an enforcer who can bring toughness to any team he is on; the former MMA fighter and kickboxer was the 16th overall pick in the 2009 draft. After being outshined during his first two seasons in Chicago by fellow draft-pick and beloved-Bull, Taj Gibson, however, he was traded to Toronto in 2010. He bounced around quite a lot after that, spending more than two seasons with the same franchise just once, when he was a key role player for Miami in 2016-2020. The now-35-year-old is clearly nearing the end as he has played just 3 games in 2022-2023 for the rebuilding Indiana Pacers.
Center: Robin Lopez
Teams played for – 9 (PHX, NOP, POR, NYK, CHI, MIL, WAS, ORL, CLE)
Most seasons played before switching teams – 4 (2008-2011 with Phoenix)
Career averages – 8.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.8 APG on 53.7/29.4/74.2 shooting splits
One-upping JaVale McGee from last years’ journeyman crew at the Center spot is Robin Lopez. If asked five seasons ago if Robin Lopez can even be considered a journeyman, the answer would have likely been no. Being drafted 15th overall in the 2008 NBA draft, Lopez spent his first four seasons in Phoenix and then also saw extended stays in Portland and Chicago. Unfortunately, These last five seasons tell a different story. Since the 2018-2019 season, he has not spent more than one season in a row with an NBA franchise. After departing from the Bulls, Lopez made pit stops in Milwaukee, Washington, Orlando, and now Cleveland for the 2022-2023 season. While his twin brother, Brook Lopez, has enjoyed playing for just three franchises in 14 years, Robin is now logging minutes for his 9th team in the same 14 years.
