It seems the days of an NBA player—or least an NBA star—sticking with one franchise for his whole career are long gone. Sure, guys like Nick Collison and Udonis Haslem have done it in recent years, but they're anomalies.
The biggest names in the game, like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, have switched teams during their careers. It'd be surprising if Steph Curry spent his whole career with the Warriors or if Giannis Antetokounmpo never left the Bucks.
As Paul Pierce sees it, these players are changing the game—they're showing they're in control, not the owners. Pierce spent 15 of his 19 NBA seasons with Boston.
"There is no loyalty to a franchise anymore," Pierce said, according to Boston Sports Journal. "You are not going to see a player stay with one franchise for 10-15 years. That's the generation we live in. You have to brace for it. Guys want to play with certain teams, they want to play with certain guys they know, their friends. They're showing they have the power."
Pierce's answer came after he was asked whether he believes Kyrie Irving will stick with the Celtics.
"You know what? It's hard to really get a read on the players these days," Pierce told reporter Brian Robb. "There are so many changes being made. Who would have expected Kevin Durant to go to the Warriors? [DeMarcus] Cousins to the Warriors? LeBron [James] to Miami a few years ago? Players are just showing that they have the control and the power to do what they want."
Kyrie and Durant could both sign elsewhere next summer, as could big names like Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, and Klay Thompson. It will be fascinating to see how 2019 free agency shakes out.
