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20 Athletes Who Played For Way Too Many Teams

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20 Athletes Who Played For Way Too Many Teams

HBO Luxury Lounge In Honor Of 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards - Day 2
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The longevity of some professional athletes is extremely impressive. To stay in the league long enough to play for several different teams is tough to do. These 20 players played for a ridiculous amount of teams in their given sports.

20. Julian Tavares

Julian Tavares
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20. Julian Tavares

Julian Tavares
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Teams Played For: 11

Tavares was the definition of a journeyman pitcher during his major-league career. He was nothing special, but he could fill a rotation spot and he did that for plenty of teams in the league during his long career.

19. Paul Bako

Oakland A's v Chicago Cubs
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19. Paul Bako

Oakland A's v Chicago Cubs
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Teams Played For: 11

Backup catchers switch teams all the time and Bako was no different. He was a very solid role player for the competitive teams that he played for and that made him valuable to several franchises.

18. Keith Bogans

Denver Nuggets v Boston Celtics
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18. Keith Bogans

Denver Nuggets v Boston Celtics
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Teams Played For: 8

As a shooting guard and three-point shooter, Bogans has proven useful to several teams. He's a borderline starting talent, but has been better for the many teams he's played for while coming off the bench.

17. Royce Clayton

Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays - April 7, 2007
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17. Royce Clayton

Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays - April 7, 2007
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Teams Played For: 11

Clayton was one of the best fielders of his generation, but could never put it all together at the plate. If he could've, he might have stuck with a single team for longer. Nonetheless, his valuable glove was utilized by teams throughout the league.

16. Dominic Moore

2014 NHL Awards - Inside
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16. Dominic Moore

2014 NHL Awards - Inside
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One of the truly inspiring stories in hockey last season, Moore has given a new definition to perseverance. Battling through injuries, inconsistency and his wife tragically dying, Moore has been an unlikely mainstay in the NHL.

15. Sebastian Telfair

Toronto Raptors v Milwaukee Bucks
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15. Sebastian Telfair

Toronto Raptors v Milwaukee Bucks
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Teams Played For: 7

Once upon a time, Telfair was the most sought after college recruit in the country. Now, still in his late 20s, he's played for seven different franchises in the NBA. If he can finally fit somewhere, maybe he can realize his once-great potential.

14. Ray Whitney

Anaheim Ducks v Dallas Stars - Game Four
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14. Ray Whitney

Anaheim Ducks v Dallas Stars - Game Four
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Teams Played For: 8

Playing for so many teams in the NHL is really tough. First of all, you have to survive that long. Second of all, you have to prove valuable to that many teams. Whitney has done both of those in his impressive pro career.

13. Joe Smith

Phoenix Suns v Milwaukee Bucks
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13. Joe Smith

Phoenix Suns v Milwaukee Bucks
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Teams Played For: 12

Smith, a one-time first overall pick in the NBA draft, didn't quite realize his potential while in the league. However, he was good enough to latch on to multiple teams and be a solid contributor.

12. Mike James

Los Angeles Clippers v Chicago Bulls
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12. Mike James

Los Angeles Clippers v Chicago Bulls
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Teams Played For: 11

James is used to playing on one-year contracts or less while trying to prove himself. Even though he never convinced a single team to trust in him, he was good enough for long enough to play for several different teams.

11. Matt Stairs

Colorado Rockies v Washington Nationals
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11. Matt Stairs

Colorado Rockies v Washington Nationals
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Teams Played For: 12 teams

Stairs was quite the slugger in his hey day and was one of the better pinch hitters of his generation. Plenty of teams knew they needed a solid bench bat and that led to him getting picked up by almost half the league over the course of his career.

10. Earl Boykins

Houston Rockets v Miami Heat
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10. Earl Boykins

Houston Rockets v Miami Heat
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Teams Played For: 10

One of the shortest players to ever play in the NBA, Boykins was a regular in the NBA for over a decade. During that time, he razzled and dazzled in several different uniforms.

9. Stephen Jackson

Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors
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9. Stephen Jackson

Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors
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Teams Played For: 7

Jackson has been a key piece on several different playoff teams and that's why he keeps getting chances on new teams. As he becomes older, his veteran presence could also be an asset for any playoff contender.

8. Henry Blanco

Minnesota Twins v Seattle Mariners
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8. Henry Blanco

Minnesota Twins v Seattle Mariners
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Teams Played For: 10

Another backup catcher who made his way around the league, Blanco was a very solid pice on many different teams. Even though he was never much more than a backup catcher, sometimes role players like that are the most important on a team.

7. Drew Gooden

Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards - Game Six
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7. Drew Gooden

Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards - Game Six
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Teams Played For: 9

Gooden isn't a great player, but he is a great role player. As a veteran, he knows his role on any given team and has proven over the years to be a valuable asset to many different teams.

6. Bruce Chen

Kansas City Royals v Chicago White Sox
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6. Bruce Chen

Kansas City Royals v Chicago White Sox
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Teams Played For: 10

Left-handed pitchers in major league baseball can make a living for themselves pretty easily if they stay healthy. South paws are always in demand and Chen has taken advantage of that, putting together a very long and successful career.

5. Moses Malone

Washington Wizards v Philadelphia 76ers
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5. Moses Malone

Washington Wizards v Philadelphia 76ers
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Teams Played For: 9

Malone is one of the best players to ever play for so many teams. As a basketball legend, there are several different fan bases that can brag about the time that he spent with their squad.

4. Kevin Ollie

NCAA Men's Final Four - Championship
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4. Kevin Ollie

NCAA Men's Final Four - Championship
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Teams Played For: 11

You may not have realized national championship UCONN coach Kevin Ollie played in the NBA, but he did. His career didn't end until 2010 and it involved him playing for over a third of the league's teams.

3. LaTroy Hawkins

Arizona Diamondbacks v Colorado Rockies
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3. LaTroy Hawkins

Arizona Diamondbacks v Colorado Rockies
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Teams Played For: 10

Hawkins has been a dependable bullpen arm for almost two decades now and that includes this past season. He closed games at points this season and appears like he could pitch for a couple more years into his 40s.

2. Octavio Dotel

World Baseball Classic - Championship - Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic
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2. Octavio Dotel

World Baseball Classic - Championship - Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic
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Teams Played For: 13

Dotel is the most well-traveled professional athlete in history. His arm out of the bullpen was valuable enough that nearly half of the teams in MLB took a chance on him and reaped the benefits of his services.

1. Kenny Lofton

1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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1. Kenny Lofton

1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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Teams Played For: 11

It seemed like every trade deadline, Lofton was on the move. That's because he was a valuable asset, providing defense and speed off the bench. In his prime, he was a well-above-average player and might be the best all-around athlete to play for so many different teams in his career.

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