While Jamal Crawford continues an unusually public contemplation of where to sign as a free agent, it is worth noting that he is coming off a seven-year contract that he signed in August of 2004.

Seven-year contracts? Those actually existed at one point?

The NBA and NBPA negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement less than a year after Crawford’s deal in June of 2005, where maximum contract length was shortened to six seasons. It is of course now five seasons following the NBA’s new CBA of 2011

Crawford went to the Knicks in 2004 in a sign-and-trade with the Bulls, agreeing to a seven-year, $56 million contract. Crawford’s was one of four seven-year contracts signed in 2004.

Erick Dampier agreed to a seven-year, $73 million contract in a sign-and-trade between the Mavericks and Warriors. But Dampier’s deal was non-guaranteed and Dallas traded him to the Bobcats for Tyson Chandler in 2010 and he was subsequently waived. Dampier then signed with the Heat for the veteran minimum.

Kobe Bryant signed a seven-year, $136 million contract with the Lakers in July of 2004. He signed a three-year, $84 million extension in 2010.

Finally, Kenyon Martin agreed to a seven-year, $92.5 million sign-and-trade from the Nets to Nuggets in 2004. Like Crawford, Martin became a free agent this offseason, but he signed a contract in China in September.

Crawford has the distinction of being the NBA’s final seven-year man.

In 2016, we will likely be acknowledging Joe Johnson, Brendan Haywood, David Lee as the final six-year contract men. All three signed six-year deals last summer.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh also signed six-year deals, but are likely to get new contracts before then.