The NBA is the highest level of basketball in the world, with 30 teams competing each year, and only 16 teams can make it to the playoffs for championship glory. In such a competitive environment, being able to make the playoffs for many years in a row is a great achievement, and it requires consistent health, consistent performance and a great team. In NBA history, only 10 players have made the playoffs in 13 or more consecutive seasons:
Magic Johnson: 13 seasons, 5 championships, 3 MVPs, 3 FMVPs. He is the soul of the Lakers, known for his excellent passing and leadership, and is a representative of the "show time" era, known as the Big Three of the 80s along with Bird and Jordan.
Duncan: 19 seasons, 5 championships, 2 MVPs, 3 FMVPs. He is the core of the Spurs, known for his solid fundamentals and low-key style, and is the greatest power forward in league history, forming the "Silver and Black Trio" with Ginobili and Parker.
Ginobili: 16 seasons, 4 championships, 1 Sixth Man of the Year. He was an important member of the Spurs, known for his flexible change of direction and bold shooting, and was the banner of Argentine basketball, which together with Duncan and Parker forged the Spurs dynasty.
Russell: 13 seasons, 11 championships, 5 MVPs. He is a legend of the Celtics, known for his excellent defense and rebounding, and is the most successful player in NBA history, forming the ** generation of the 60s with Chamberlain, Oscar and others.
Horry: 16 seasons, 7 championships. He is one of the greatest role players in NBA history, known for his heroic performances in key moments, known as the "Big Heart" and "Finals Killer", and has played for three championship teams: the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs.
Malone: 19 seasons, 2 MVPs, 1 Finals MVP. He is the leader of the Suns, known for his quick break-through and passing, and is the core of the "seven-second offense" system, forming a Western powerhouse with Nash, Stoudemire and others.
Stockton: 19 seasons, NBA all-time assist and steal leader. He is a legend of the Jazz, known for his accurate passing and consistent shooting, and is one of the greatest point guards in league history, forming a "two-city combination" with Malone.
Drexler: 15 seasons, 1 championship. He is a famous member of the Rockets, known for his strong body and dunks, known as the "human highlight show", and formed the "Space City Big Three" with Olajuwon, Barkley and others.
McHale: 13 seasons, 3 championships, 2 Defensive Player of the Year. He is an important member of the Celtics, known for his all-round skills and tenacious fighting spirit, and is one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the league, forming the "Green Shirt Triumvirate" with Bird and Parish.
Harden: 14 seasons, 1 MVP, 3 scoring titles. He is the only active NBA player with a long enough career who has never missed the playoffs, and he has shown great individual ability and leadership qualities with the Thunder, Rockets and Nets to lead the team to a championship favorite. He is one of the best scorers in NBA history and one of the most influential stars in the league.
These players are all NBA legends, and they have created countless brilliance and miracles with their hard work and talent, and have also made great contributions to the game of basketball. Their achievements not only reflect their talent and skills, but also their perseverance and hard work, and they are a symbol of the basketball spirit, which is worthy of our admiration and learning.