Who is the Best NBA 6th Man of All-Time?
Who is the Best NBA 6th Man of All-Time?
By Edcel Panganiban March 15, 2024 00:47
Being a sixth man in the NBA is a huge role to play. The sixth man is usually the first player off the bench providing instant offense and energy to the team. There have been many great sixth men in NBA history, and to pick one that is the "best" out of all these players over time certainly creates a challenge. In this post, we will further explore the careers of some standout players who have made an impact as a sixth man in the NBA.
Manu Ginóbili
Ginobili is considered one of the best sixth men in NBA history. His acumen to ignite a scoring frenzy, distribute buckets like they were candy, and taunt opposing guards on defense was irreplaceable. The Spurs benefited a lot from his tenure during their glory days.
Ginóbili's presence was about more than stats. He is gusty and has a knack for coming up huge in critical moments. These were indispensable to the Spurs' championship efforts. The Argentinian is a four-time NBA champion and has two huge All-Star selections. On top of that, he is also the 2008 Sixth Man of The Year. He is one of the very best sixth men of all time and that is unquestioned.
Jamal Crawford
Crawford's ability to score at a relentless pace and come up big in the clutch gave him a spot in the heart of fans, especially since he was placed in his optimal role as a scorer off the bench for much of this decade.
His ability to find his spots and produce in clutch moments helped him capture three Sixth Man of the Year awards, a select group that includes only some of the league's most prolific bench scorers.
Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale is one of the most important contributors to the iconic 1980s Boston Celtics dynasty. He represented everything that a star on the bench could be.
He is known for his exceptional footwork and post moves. McHale brought a scoring punch as well as a defensive presence to the bench. He was a key contributor to the Celtics championships and won two Sixth Man of the Year awards throughout his career.
Jason Terry
At 6'4, he could morph into a competent backup with scoring prowess; three-point shooting, and leadership on both sides of the ball due to his height difference.
In 2009, Terry won the Sixth Man of the Year award for his bright play off the bench — a fitting honor that shows how much he meant to each game.
Lamar Odom
Odom was a ball-handler, scorer, and shooter inside and out who could make plays for others as well; he could also help on the boards. He won the 2011 Sixth Man of the Year award for his work off a bench, cementing himself as one of the additions to that hall-of-fame collective.
John Havlicek
Havlicek was the prototypical sixth man. He was an all-around presence alongside Bill Russell. Hondo greatly contributed in leading Boston to eight NBA titles in his 16-year career with the Celtics.
They became all the more dangerous coming off their bench because of his relentless motor, scoring ability, and defensive aptitude. Havlicek's presence coming off the bench was made known in Celtics championship appearances, establishing him as one of NBA greats.
Lou Williams
Williams has blossomed as a scorer and playmaker off the bench. Those scoring outbursts, along with his ability to deliver in the clutch by way of game-winners, have helped him capture three Sixth Man of the Year crowns and moved him into rarefied air.
Nicknamed the "Walking Bucket," Williams has been arguably in the sixth man of the year's discussion for about 10 years now between a few teams, demonstrating both his consistency and longevity amid an exceptional ability to flourish coming off of benches.
Ricky Pierce
Ricky Pierce, a two-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award while working as the top bench scorer in his NBA career. He provided teams with the skill to score in bunches and displayed his best work when it came to pressure. The context is provided by Pierce's list of honors as a sixth man and the totality that he brought to his craft.
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