Best NBA Journeymen Part 1

A lot of times there is a misconception that a journeymen player is usually someone who isn't good hence why they keep getting traded.....however that isn't always the case here's my list for best NBA Journeymen (min. 4 teams)

Moses Malone

The first player ever to make the leap from High School to the NBA in 1974, he's known for being one of the NBA's best rebounders. Throughout his career Malone played for 9 different teams between the ABA and NBA. In Addition to winning a championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 82'-83' season Malone became the second player in the history of sports to win back to back MVP's with two different teams a feat he accomplished while playing with the Houston Rockets and the 76ers in 81'-82' and 82'-83'. In 1994, he ended his career with the San Antonio Spurs. Malone holds a very impressive career average of 20.2 Points/gm and 12.2 Rebounds/gm

Chauncey Billups

The former 3rd overall pick of the 1997 NBA draft has played for 7 different teams. I don't know if it was because he was a valuable trade chip or what but Billups never seemed to find a home until his Detroit Piston days. He's played for the Celtics, Raptors, Nuggets (twice), Timbermolves, Pistons, Knicks and Clippers. Billups won a championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons winning NBA finals MVP in their upset of the Los Angeles Lakers. He holds career averages of 15.5 points/gm and 5.5 Assits/gm.

Tracy McGrady

One of the guys who often gets lost in the High School to NBA conversation, maybe because he came directly after Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Drafted 9th by the Toronto Raptors by way of Mt.Zion Christian Academy Tracy McGrady initially didn't show much promise it wasn't until his 3rd year in the league he started to show promise. His break out year in 99'-00' led to him being given a huge contract by the Orlando Magic where he and Grant Hill were suppose to bring them back amongst the east's elite. He avrage 28.1 ppg in his 4 seasons in Orlando. After a few yrs of trying to carry the Orlando Magic he was the headliner in a trade to Houston who sent Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to the Magic. After a 5 year run he went on to play for the Knicks, Pistons, and Hawks where his career pretty much fizzled out. T-Mac was definitely a prolific scorer in the playoffs holding an average of 25 ppg but he never got past the first round of the playoffs.

Shaquille O'Neal

This may come as a shock but Shaq although the most dominant force probably in the history of the NBA eventually became a journeymen. Drafted 1st by the Orlando Magic in 1992 Shaq dominated instantly and led them to the NBA finals in his 3rd season. He Signed a 7yr $121 Mil contract with the Lakers after the 95'-96 season. At first it was a struggle with the Lakers getting eliminated by the Jazz and spurs winning a total of 1 game. Eventually with the emergence of Kobe Bryant and the departures of Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel, the Lakers began their quest which led to a three-peat between 2000-2002. Due to friction with Kobe Bryant Shaq was eventually traded to the Miami Heat where he won a 4th NBA title alongside another elite wing Dwayne Wade. Shaq eventually would move on the Phoenix, Cleveland, and finally Boston where his number would decline. Shaq has 1 MVP, 3 finals MVP's, a career average of 23.7 ppg and 11 rpg to go with playoff numbers of 24.3 ppg and 11.6 rpg.

Vince Carter

The High Flying UNC standout brought excitement back instantly when he arrives in the league after being selected by Toronto with the 5th pick in the NBA draft in 1998. His high flying aerial attack definitely made him must see TV although it was hard to catch any Raptors games at the time. The 2000 NBA slam dunk contest was pretty much his coming out party with him putting on one of the best performances in the history of the contest. After a productive 6 1/2 seasons run with the Raptors averaging 22ppg in the regular season and then 23.3 ppg in the playoffs. Carter was traded to the Nets during 2004-2005 season where was productive and made it to the playoffs 3 times during his Nets tenure. Vince Carter's lone trip to the NBA finals came with the Orlando Magic his next stop after the Nets where he played 2 seasons. The last few years he's been moved to the Suns and Mavericks where he's been a mediocre player at best.