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Become the first player in the team history before you retire? You read that right, these five players in the NBA have done it

11:48pm, 14 May 2025Basketball

In the long history of the NBA, each team has its own first team history. They have become an indelible existence in the team's history with their outstanding data, brilliant honors, or deep influence on the team. Generally speaking, the selection of the first player in the team history is mostly carried out after the player retires. However, at present, five active players have already locked in the first player in the team history in advance. They write their own legendary chapters with extraordinary strength and unique value.

Giannis Antetokounmpo - The Bucks' top-up

The Milwaukee Bucks have experienced ups and downs since joining the NBA in 1968, and Jabbar, as an early legend in the team, occupies an important position in the hearts of many fans. But now, the emergence of Giannis Antetokounmpo has brought the Bucks to a new king. Antetokounmpo has shown amazing talent and potential since entering the league in 2013, and his arrival has injected strong competitiveness into the Bucks. In 2021, he led the Bucks to win the championship and won the FMVP, which is another peak moment for the team except for the Jabbar era. Unlike Jabbar, Antetokounmpo always maintains a harmonious relationship with the Bucks. He dedicated his peak years to Milwaukee, which also promoted the team's commercial value to continue to rise. The Bucks' market value increased significantly during his time. Antetokounmpo is not only impeccable in honor, but also has made outstanding contributions to team building and business development. The Bucks have regarded him as the number one person in the team history.

LeBron James - The uncrowned king of the Cavaliers

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are legendary. As the No. 1 pick for the Cavaliers, James showed dominant strength at the beginning of his career. He closely linked his personal growth with the development of the Cavaliers, making the Cavaliers jump from an unknown team to the focus of the league. During his years of playing for the Cavaliers, James created a series of remarkable achievements, especially in the 2016 Finals. In the desperate situation of the team being behind 1:3, he led the Cavaliers to reverse, defeating the Warriors at the peak of their lives, bringing Cleveland its first NBA championship, and fulfilling his promise to his hometown. James' influence has long surpassed basketball itself. He has become an iconic figure in Cleveland and is a strong driving force for the city's economy and sports culture. His contribution is irreplaceable and he is the well-deserved first in the Cavaliers' history.

Stephen Curry - The legendary creator of the Warriors

Golden State Warriors had glorious moments before Stephen Curry arrived, but they did not dominate the territory of modern basketball. However, Curry completely changed the fate of the Warriors with his unique playing style and excellent leadership, and opened up a dynasty era that belonged to the Warriors. Since entering the league in 2009, Curry has led the Warriors to the championship many times with his accurate three-point shooting and agile on-field command. Especially in the past decade, the Warriors have won four championships under the leadership of Curry and become a super strong team in the league. Curry not only brought the team the championship glory, but also attracted countless fans around the world with his extremely ornamental style, causing the Warriors' market value to grow geometrically, becoming one of the richest and most influential teams in the league. As the core figure of the team, Curry has devoted almost all the peak period of his career to the Warriors. His retirement tour, jersey retirement, and bronze statues are all strong evidence of his status as the first person in the team history.

Kyle Lowry - The Raptors' spiritual totem

Although Kyle Lowry has not reached the height of a superstar in the NBA journey, his contribution to the Toronto Raptors is indelible. In 2019, Lowry and Leonard joined hands to lead the Raptors to win the first championship trophy in team history, which laid a solid foundation for the development of the Raptors. As the team's backcourt core, Lowry has become an indispensable backbone force for the Raptors with his tenacious fighting spirit, precise shooting and excellent organizational skills. During his time with Lowry for the Raptors, the team's competitiveness has been significantly improved. He not only went all out on the field, but also actively integrated into the local Toronto community outside the field, becoming the pride of the city. The Raptors created bronze statues for him and set up "Lorry Day" are all high recognition of his status as the first person in the team history. Lowry used his loyalty and dedication to write a brilliant chapter in the history of the Raptors.

Nicola Jokic - The priceless treasure of the Nuggets

Although the Denver Nuggets have had many outstanding players in the past years, the appearance of Nikola Jokic has brought a qualitative leap to the team. Since entering the league as a second round pick in 2014, Jokic has quickly grown to the core of the team with his comprehensive skills, excellent basketball IQ and strong leadership. He led the Nuggets to win the NBA championship for the first time in 2023 and won the FMVP, an achievement that made him the first person in Nuggets history. Jokic redefined the role of center in modern basketball with his unique style of play and outstanding on-field awareness, and his presence makes the Nuggets a powerful force in the league. Jokic's talent and hard work have brought brilliant achievements to the team, and he is undoubtedly the most brilliant jewel in the history of the Nuggets.

Conclusion

Although these five active players are still active on the court, the achievements, glory they have created and the deep imprint they have left in their respective teams are enough to ensure that they can lock in the position of the number one player in the team in advance. They interpret their loyalty and love for the team in their own way, bringing endless glory and wealth to the team. Over time, their legendary stories will continue to continue and become an eternal classic in NBA history.

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