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How are NBA stars connected?

Two players are linked if they were teammates in the same season. These are the shortest chains between NBA legends from different eras, worked out over 5,087 basketball players from 1947 to 2025.

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The numbers

Among the 45 biggest stars in our NBA data, any two are on average 2.7 links apart, and no pair is more than 5 apart. The average hides a lot: stars who played for several teams and stayed long are the bridges, so the longest chains run between players from the very start of the league and the newest stars.

Chains between stars from different eras

  • Bob Cousy to Nikola Jokic: 5 links, 65 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bob Cousyteammates: Kings, 1969-70
    2. Norm Van Lierteammates: Bucks, 1978-79
    3. Ernie Grunfeldteammates: Knicks, 1985-86
    4. Patrick Ewingteammates: Magic, 2001-02
    5. Mike Millerteammates: Nuggets, 2015-17
    6. Nikola Jokic

  • Bob Cousy to Giannis Antetokounmpo: 5 links, 63 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bob Cousyteammates: Kings, 1969-70
    2. Herm Gilliamteammates: Trail Blazers, 1976-77
    3. Johnny Davisteammates: Hawks, 1985-86
    4. Kevin Willisteammates: Hawks, 2006-07
    5. Zaza Pachuliateammates: Bucks, 2013-15
    6. Giannis Antetokounmpo

  • Bill Russell to Nikola Jokic: 5 links, 59 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bill Russellteammates: Celtics, 1968-69
    2. Don Chaneyteammates: Celtics, 1979-80
    3. Larry Birdteammates: Celtics, 1990-92
    4. Dee Brownteammates: Magic, 2000-02
    5. Mike Millerteammates: Nuggets, 2015-17
    6. Nikola Jokic

  • Bill Russell to Giannis Antetokounmpo: 5 links, 57 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bill Russellteammates: Celtics, 1966-67
    2. Jim Barnettteammates: 76ers, 1976-77
    3. Caldwell Jonesteammates: Spurs, 1989-90
    4. Rod Stricklandteammates: Magic, 2003-04
    5. Zaza Pachuliateammates: Bucks, 2013-15
    6. Giannis Antetokounmpo

  • Stephen Curry to Wilt Chamberlain: 5 links, 50 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Stephen Curryteammates: Warriors, 2013-14
    2. Jermaine O'Nealteammates: Trail Blazers, 1999-00
    3. Scottie Pippenteammates: Bulls, 1987-89
    4. Dave Corzineteammates: Wizards, 1979-80
    5. Jim Cleamonsteammates: Lakers, 1971-72
    6. Wilt Chamberlain

  • Bob Pettit to Stephen Curry: 5 links, 55 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bob Pettitteammates: Hawks, 1962-65
    2. Zelmo Beatyteammates: Lakers, 1974-75
    3. Brian Wintersteammates: Bucks, 1981-83
    4. Alton Listerteammates: Trail Blazers, 1997-98
    5. Jermaine O'Nealteammates: Warriors, 2013-14
    6. Stephen Curry

  • Kevin Durant to Wilt Chamberlain: 5 links, 48 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Kevin Durantteammates: Warriors, 2016-18
    2. Zaza Pachuliateammates: Bucks, 2004-05
    3. Toni Kukočteammates: Bulls, 1993-94
    4. Bill Cartwrightteammates: Knicks, 1979-80
    5. Jim Cleamonsteammates: Lakers, 1971-72
    6. Wilt Chamberlain

  • Bob Pettit to Kevin Durant: 5 links, 53 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bob Pettitteammates: Hawks, 1960-65
    2. Lenny Wilkensteammates: Trail Blazers, 1974-75
    3. Bill Waltonteammates: Clippers, 1981-83
    4. Tom Chambersteammates: 76ers, 1997-98
    5. Joe Smithteammates: Thunder, 2008-09
    6. Kevin Durant

  • Jerry West to Kawhi Leonard: 5 links, 51 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Jerry Westteammates: Lakers, 1973-74
    2. Stan Loveteammates: Spurs, 1974-75
    3. George Gervinteammates: Bulls, 1985-86
    4. Charles Oakleyteammates: Raptors, 1998-00
    5. Tracy McGradyteammates: Spurs, 2013-14
    6. Kawhi Leonard

  • Kawhi Leonard to Oscar Robertson: 5 links, 51 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Kawhi Leonardteammates: Spurs, 2011-16
    2. Tim Duncanteammates: Spurs, 1997-03
    3. David Robinsonteammates: Spurs, 1994-95
    4. Moses Maloneteammates: Clippers, 1976-77
    5. Zaid Abdul-Azizteammates: Kings, 1968-69
    6. Oscar Robertson

  • LeBron James to Oscar Robertson: 4 links, 43 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. LeBron Jamesteammates: Cavaliers, 2009-10
    2. Shaquille O'Nealteammates: Lakers, 1996-97
    3. Byron Scottteammates: Lakers, 1983-89
    4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbarteammates: Bucks, 1970-74
    5. Oscar Robertson

  • Jerry West to LeBron James: 4 links, 43 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Jerry Westteammates: Lakers, 1973-74
    2. Kermit Washingtonteammates: Warriors, 1987-88
    3. Chris Mullinteammates: Warriors, 2000-01
    4. Larry Hughesteammates: Cavaliers, 2005-08
    5. LeBron James

  • Elgin Baylor to James Harden: 5 links, 51 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Elgin Baylorteammates: Lakers, 1965-68
    2. Gail Goodrichteammates: Lakers, 1975-76
    3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbarteammates: Lakers, 1983-89
    4. Byron Scottteammates: Lakers, 1996-97
    5. Derek Fisherteammates: Thunder, 2011-12
    6. James Harden

  • Elgin Baylor to Russell Westbrook: 5 links, 50 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Elgin Baylorteammates: Lakers, 1960-71
    2. Jerry Westteammates: Lakers, 1973-74
    3. Kermit Washingtonteammates: Warriors, 1987-88
    4. Chris Mullinteammates: Warriors, 1995-97
    5. Joe Smithteammates: Thunder, 2008-09
    6. Russell Westbrook

  • James Harden to John Havlicek: 4 links, 47 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. James Hardenteammates: Thunder, 2010-12
    2. Nazr Mohammedteammates: 76ers, 1998-99
    3. Benoit Benjaminteammates: Clippers, 1985-87
    4. Cedric Maxwellteammates: Celtics, 1977-78
    5. John Havlicek

  • John Havlicek to Russell Westbrook: 4 links, 46 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. John Havlicekteammates: Celtics, 1977-78
    2. Kermit Washingtonteammates: Warriors, 1987-88
    3. Chris Mullinteammates: Warriors, 1995-97
    4. Joe Smithteammates: Thunder, 2008-09
    5. Russell Westbrook

  • Chris Paul to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 4 links, 36 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Chris Paulteammates: Warriors, 2023-24
    2. Stephen Curryteammates: Warriors, 2009-10
    3. Devean Georgeteammates: Lakers, 1999-00
    4. A.C. Greenteammates: Lakers, 1985-89
    5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

  • Chris Paul to Rick Barry: 4 links, 40 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Chris Paulteammates: Clippers, 2015-17
    2. Paul Pierceteammates: Celtics, 2000-02
    3. Randy Brownteammates: Bulls, 1996-97
    4. Robert Parishteammates: Warriors, 1976-78
    5. Rick Barry

  • Dwight Howard to Rick Barry: 4 links, 39 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Dwight Howardteammates: Lakers, 2012-13
    2. Kobe Bryantteammates: Lakers, 2003-04
    3. Karl Maloneteammates: Jazz, 1985-88
    4. Rickey Greenteammates: Warriors, 1977-78
    5. Rick Barry

  • Dwyane Wade to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 3 links, 34 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Dwyane Wadeteammates: Heat, 2004-08
    2. Shaquille O'Nealteammates: Lakers, 1996-97
    3. Byron Scottteammates: Lakers, 1983-89
    4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

  • Dwyane Wade to Willis Reed: 4 links, 39 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Dwyane Wadeteammates: Heat, 2005-07
    2. Gary Paytonteammates: Thunder, 1994-95
    3. Bill Cartwrightteammates: Knicks, 1979-80
    4. Earl Monroeteammates: Knicks, 1971-74
    5. Willis Reed

  • Dwight Howard to Willis Reed: 4 links, 40 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Dwight Howardteammates: Magic, 2004-06
    2. Stacey Augmonteammates: Hawks, 1991-92
    3. Maurice Cheeksteammates: 76ers, 1978-80
    4. Henry Bibbyteammates: Knicks, 1972-74
    5. Willis Reed

  • Julius Erving to Tim Duncan: 3 links, 26 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Julius Ervingteammates: 76ers, 1982-86
    2. Moses Maloneteammates: Spurs, 1994-95
    3. David Robinsonteammates: Spurs, 1997-03
    4. Tim Duncan

  • Julius Erving to Kobe Bryant: 3 links, 25 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Julius Ervingteammates: 76ers, 1982-86
    2. Moses Maloneteammates: Spurs, 1994-95
    3. Dennis Rodmanteammates: Lakers, 1999-00
    4. Kobe Bryant

Questions

How many degrees of separation are there between NBA stars?

Among the 45 biggest NBA stars in our database, two players are on average 2.7 links apart through chains of teammates, and the longest shortest chain is 5 links. Counting every pair: 56 pairs are 1 links apart, 477 pairs are 2 links apart, 240 pairs are 3 links apart, 145 pairs are 4 links apart, 72 pairs are 5 links apart.

What counts as a link?

Two players are linked if they played for the same franchise in the same season. A team that moved or changed its name is one franchise.

Is there always a shorter chain?

These are the shortest chains in our database of 5,087 NBA players from 1947 to 2025. The database is not complete: some defunct clubs and some players are missing, so a shorter real chain can exist.

Can I try one myself?

Yes. Lockerlink gives you two players every day and asks you to build the shortest chain. It rotates through the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, and practice mode lets you pick the sport and the difficulty.

Rosters and seasons come from public sources, mostly Wikipedia, nflverse and the Lahman Baseball Database, matched and merged by us; the credits are on the Lockerlink page.