Ranking the greatest 6th Men in NBA history: Legends who mastered the bench

The concept of a 6th man is a tactical term referring to a player who is not in the starting lineup but has an influence and contribution equivalent to, or even greater than, the starting players. Many 6th men are excellent scorers, capable of putting up a high number of points in a short time. Their key quality lies in their willingness to come off the bench and their readiness to make an immediate impact as soon as they step onto the court.

The NBA even has an award to honor this role, known as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In this article, basketscores.com reviews the best 6th Men in the NBA history.

The best 6th Men in the NBA history

This article is not a ranking; the names mentioned here are solely the personal opinions of the author.

5. John Havlicek

John Havlicek arguably redefined the concept of the Sixth Man. Before Havlicek, reserve players were often seen as not good enough to be starters. Under coach Red Auerbach’s guidance at the Boston Celtics, Havlicek proved otherwise. Even without starting, he often played more minutes than the regular starters and consistently finished games.

In recognition of his contributions to this role, starting in the 2022/23 season, the NBA officially named the Sixth Man of the Year award “The John Havlicek Trophy.” He was a key player in the Boston Celtics’ eight championship-winning teams, a 13-time All-Star, and scored over 26,000 points, making him the highest-scoring player in Celtics history.

4. Kevin McHale

After Havlicek, Kevin McHale is also one of the most famous 6th Man players. Between 1983 and 1985, McHale was the most effective bench player in the NBA. He didn’t just come on to maintain the pace but to dominate opposing bench units. He consistently recorded a field goal percentage above 60%, an extremely high number for a forward/center.

In terms of awards, he was the first player in history to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in consecutive seasons (1984, 1985). Despite starting his career as a bench player, McHale, along with Larry Bird and Robert Parish, formed one of the most iconic frontcourt trios in NBA history. His willingness to accept a reserve role early in his career helped the Celtics maintain strong squad depth, leading to championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986.

3. Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford possessed one of the most creative ball-handling styles in basketball history. His signature move, the “Shake and Bake,” could easily unbalance even the best defenders. In addition, Crawford holds the NBA record for the most successful 4-point plays, with over 50 in his career.

Crawford is one of the few players to score over 50 points in a single game for four different teams (Bulls, Knicks, Warriors, Suns). At age 39, in the final game of the 2018/19 season, he scored 51 points off the bench, becoming the oldest player to achieve this feat. He seemed completely comfortable in a bench role, even stating that coming on later allowed him to read the opponent’s defense and quickly exploit weaknesses.

2. Lou Williams

Lou Williams holds the record for the most points scored off the bench in NBA history, with over 13,000 points. He also scored 50 points in a win against the Golden State Warriors in 2018. Along with Jamal Crawford, he is one of only two players to have won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award three times (2015, 2018, 2019).

At the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and especially the LA Clippers, Lou Williams was not only a scorer but also a game-changer. His partnership with Montrezl Harrell at the Clippers formed one of the most effective pick-and-roll duos in the league. He even averaged over 15 points per game for seven consecutive seasons despite primarily coming off the bench.

1. Manu Ginóbili

Under coach Gregg Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs, Ginóbili possessed the quality of a superstar starter on almost any other team. However, he accepted a bench role to optimize the team’s rotation, ensuring the Spurs always had a creative playmaker on the floor even when Tim Duncan or Tony Parker were resting. His unpredictable style against opposing second units often created unstoppable scoring runs.

In terms of achievements, Manu is one of the few players to complete a “Triple Crown” in world basketball. He won four NBA championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014), an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2004, and the EuroLeague title (2001). Individually, he won the Sixth Man of the Year award (2008), was a two-time All-Star, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

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