A sixth man is one of the most underrated players on a basketball team. While the starting lineup is oftentimes in the spotlight, players who come off the bench play an important role in the team’s overall success. A sixth man can give his team a much-needed boost in the offense and momentarily shift the momentum of the entire game.
Many NBA teams have had notable sixth men in their lineups. So, in light of this, I’ll give you a top 10 list of the greatest NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winners in history.
Stay tuned, and take a look at the best basketball players from the bench!
#10 – Andre Iguodala
The top 10 list of the greatest sixth men of all time starts off with Andre Iguodala. He was mostly known for his superb athleticism, explosiveness, and great defensive skills during his career. He spent the better part of his career as a starter while playing for the Denver Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, he became a valuable player coming off the bench when he joined the Golden State Warriors. In his second season at the Warriors, 2014/15, Iguodala played a crucial role in the Finals, where he successfully guarded Lebron James. After the Warriors won the title that season, he was named the Finals MVP. Iguodala won three additional championships with the team from San Francisco.
Iguodala averaged 11.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 4.2 APG throughout his career. Although he never won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Iguodala was a team player who did everything in his power for his team to win games.
#9 – Jason Terry
One of the best sixth men in the game of basketball is Jason Terry. Whenever he came off the bench, he always performed well and provided a much-needed spark in the offense. Terry is one of the finest 3-point shooters in NBA history, as he ranks 3rd on the all-time career leaders list in 3 points made (2,282 threes). Terry wasn’t just an elite 3-point shooter. He was quite versatile, as he could also score efficiently from midrange.
In 19 seasons, while playing in the no.1 basketball league in the world, he averaged 13.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 3.8 APG. His best season was 2008/09, when he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 16.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 5.2 APG.
Terry played for numerous teams like the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, etc. While playing for the Dallas Mavericks, he was in his prime and even won an NBA championship with that team in 2011.
#8 – Ricky Pierce
Ricky Pierce is among the most underrated players in the history of the NBA. During the 80s, Pierce’s role was simple, and he was well aware of it. Which was to score quick points off the bench. Pierce was a pure shooter, and the numbers speak for themselves: 49.5% from the field, 32.2% from beyond the arc, as well as 87.5% from the charity stripe.
He won the Sixth Man of the Year award on two occasions, in 1987 and 1990, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. That 1989/90 season was the best of his career since he averaged 23.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 2.3 APG in just under 30 minutes of playing time per game.
Regarding his overall career statistics, Pierce put up 14.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 1.9 APG. Apart from playing for the Bucks, Ricky was also a part of the Detroit Pistons, Seattle Supersonics, Indiana Pacers, etc.
#7 – Detlef Schrempf
Detlef Schrempf holds the No. 7 spot on this list of top 10 sixth men of all time. Many NBA fans in the 90s thought of Schrempf as one of the best reserves in the game. He was an all-around player who was a solid rebounder and an exceptional shooter from the midrange and beyond the 3-point line.
Schrempf hit 49.1% of his shots from the field and 38.4% from the 3-point line. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in the 1990/91 and the 1991/92 season when he played for the Indiana Pacers. Detlef’s most efficient season was the 1992/93 season when he averaged 19.1 PPG and 9.5 RPG alongside 6.0 APG.
During 17 seasons in the NBA, Detlef averaged 13.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 3.4 APG. Apart from playing in Indianapolis, Schrempf also boasted the likes of the Dallas Mavericks, Seattle Supersonics, and the Portland Trail Blazers.
#6 – Toni Kukoc
The left-handed Croatian, Toni Kukoc, was one of the greatest players coming off the bench in NBA history. He was a European star player and the third-best scorer in the 90s Chicago Bulls team, behind MJ and Pippen. Apart from being known as a proficient scorer, his passing and rebounding abilities were more than solid.
Toni was a valuable player for the Bulls since he always gave his team an instant boost in offense every time he came from the bench. He helped the Bulls to win three consecutive NBA titles in the 90s.
In the 95/96 season, while playing for the Bulls, Kukoc won the Sixth Man Award while averaging 13.1. PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 3.5 APG. Across his NBA career, Toni averaged 11.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG.
Besides playing for the Bulls, he also spent his days in the NBA in teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2021, Kukoc became a Hall of Fame inductee.
#5 – Lou Williams
The explosive shooting guard, Lou Williams, fills the No. 5 spot on this list of the best scorers coming off the bench. No wonder Lou was a scoring machine since he learned the art of shooting thanks to his teammate from the 76ers, Allen Iverson.
His ability to make shots off the bench is unparalleled, and his tenacious playing style helped him greatly to become dangerous on the offense. Lou won the Sixth Man of the Year award three times (2015, 2018, and 2019). He and Jamal Crawford have the same amount of 6th Man awards in the history of the NBA.
Lou’s best season of his 17-year career was 2017/18, when he put up some impressive numbers: 22.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 5.3 APG. Regarding his overall numbers in the NBA, Williams averaged 13.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 3.4 APG. Williams is the no.1 player in NBA history in career points off the bench, with 13,396.
He played for many teams, such as the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, etc. Williams has cemented his legacy as one of the best reserves ever to play the game thanks to his scoring abilities and being an impactful player coming off the bench.
#4 – Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford is considered one of the best pure shooters coming off the bench, and his skill set made him a truly formidable force in the offense. His ball-handling skills and lightning-fast speed earned him the nickname “ J Crossover.” Jamal won three Sixth Man of the Year awards (2010, 2014, and 2016) thanks to having a tremendous ability to impact the game and putting up numerous clutch performances.
The numbers he averaged throughout his career back up the fact that he was an elite bench player. Jamal has averaged 14.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 3.4 APG across the 20 years he has played in the best basketball league in the world.
His best season by far was 2013/14 when he was a part of the LA Clippers. He put up these numbers: 18.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 3.2 APG. Crawford is also the 2nd player in history when it comes to scoring off the bench (11,279).
Jamal played for many teams during his time in the NBA, including the LA Clippers, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, etc.
He truly deserves to be a part of this list mainly because of his longevity and ability to perform on a high level throughout his entire NBA career.
#3 – Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili was one of the finest all-around players and an incredible sixth man. His unique move, the Eurostep, is used by many players in today’s basketball.
Ginobili’s one-of-a-kind ability to make shots and his clutch performances played a great role in the success of the San Antonio Spurs. He, Duncan, and Parker were a trio like no other, and they took the league by storm. Together they won four NBA championships (2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014). Ginobili wasn’t just a prolific scorer. He was a sensational defender known for relentlessness on both sides of the court.
Manu won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in the 2007/08 season, averaging 19.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 1.5 SPG. While playing for the Spurs his whole career, the Argentinian averaged 13.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.8 APG.
#2 – John Havlicek
John Havlicek, a Boston Celtics legend, takes the No. 2 spot on the list of the top 10 greatest NBA sixth men of the Year in history. Although he became a starter later in his career, Havlicek spent his first seven years in the NBA as a bench player.
His high basketball IQ and defensive prowess made him a crucial player for his team. Moreover, he possessed fascinating athleticism and was famous for his high level of hustle on the court. Havlicek was a top-tier defender who made the All-Defensive team 8 times.
With the Boston Celtics, John Havlicek won 8 NBA titles throughout his career. Also, he was the 1973/1974 Finals MVP when he averaged 26.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 4.7 APG. This Hall of Famer averaged 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 4.8 APG during his playing days in the NBA.
If there had been a Sixth Man award back in the 60s and 70s, Havlicek would’ve won it multiple times.
#1 – Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale is the greatest NBA sixth man of the Year in the history of NBA basketball. He was a dominant force as a bench player for the Boston Celtics in the 80s. Despite the fact that McHale was a starter at the beginning of his career, he later became a bench player who provided a much-needed spark in the offense.
His moves in the paint and incredible footwork made McHale a nightmare for opposing teams. He was a versatile player who was equally good on both sides of the court.
McHale won three NBA titles with Robert Parish, Larry Bird, and the rest of the incredible 80s Boston Celtics (1981, 1984, and 1986). McHale won the Sixth Man Award in 1984 and 1985.
Throughout his illustrious career, he averaged 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 1.7 APG.
McHale was one of the most impactful and influential sixth men of his era, who set the standard for many upcoming bench players.
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