Being a sixth-man in the NBA is often a thankless job. With a few notable exceptions, sixth men are often extremely talented individuals who are relegated to bench duty due to inconsistency or one-dimensional games.
Lately, though, we’ve seen teams stash studs on the bench in order to enhance scoring from their second unit. Guys like Manu Ginobili and James Harden have used their super-sub statuses to propel themselves into stardom. Ginobili has kept his sixth-man status over the years, but Harden has leapt into the land of the starting five, thus leaving his top spot open.
Here are the five players looking to claim his crown at sixth-man sovereignty.
5. J.J. Redick – Milwaukee Bucks (14.9 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.3 apg).
J.J. Redick joined the Bucks mid-season and hasn’t missed a beat. With Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis there to do most of the heavy lifting in terms of ball-handling duties, Redick’s job is simple. Enter the game and knock down shots. The 6’4” 2-guard must be counting his blessings after escaping the cellar-dwelling Orlando Magic to the playoff-bound Bucks. The former Duke sharpshooter’s jumper is pure cane sugar and his skill set makes him an ideal sixth man for any team.
4. J. R. Smith – New York Knicks (16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 apg).
Streaky is as streaky does. J.R. Smith drop 30 points one night and just 5 the next. The man who once scored 60 points off the bench during a game in China has never seen a shot he didn’t like. Playing alongside Carmelo Anthony in New York, chances are slim-to-none that the Knicks will see many 24 second violations with either player on the court. When Smith’s outside shot is on, he can be one the most deadly shooters in the league. Unfortunately when he’s off, he can almost single-handedly shoot his team out of a game. For the Knicks to have a chance to emerge from the East, they will need Smith to hit one of his hot streaks come playoff time. His lack of a shooting conscious is the type of player that Knicks fans will love and hate down the stretch, but he’s the X-factor they need to be successful.
3. Kevin Martin – Oklahoma City Thunder (14.3 ppg, 1.3 ast, 1.0 st).
After being shipped to OKC in a package deal for the extremely popular and dynamic James Harden, Martin had plenty to live up to this season. Not that Martin was intimidated considering he’s averaged more than 20 points per game in five separate seasons during his NBA career. His scoring numbers are unsurprisingly down playing with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook but his efficiency has shot up. Martin’s career three-point percentage (mainly as a starter) is .384. In his first season in OKC, he’s knocking down his outside shots at a .429 clip.
Even though Martin lacks the explosiveness of Harden, his shooting touch has ensured that the defending Western Conference champs haven’t missed a beat. His downtown and mid-range game are the perfect complement to Westbrook’s attacking style. If the Thunder intent to upend the Heat for the championship hardware this season, Martin will have to play a big role.
2. Ryan Anderson – New Orleans Hornets (16.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, .394 3P%).
Ryan Anderson is often overlooked in the conversation of best sixth man because he plays for the lowly New Orleans Hornets (22-42), who generally spend their evenings as getting thumped by playoff contenders. While his team is subpar, the 6’10” power forwards shooting touch is magnificent. Anderson is currently second in the NBA in three-pointers made but unlike some sweet-shooting big men, he doesn’t mind attacking the boards when he’s not planted on the three-point line. It’s not uncommon to see him posting double-doubles off the pine. Anderson is only 24 years old, so expect to see him topping this list in the near future.
1. Jamal Crawford – Los Angeles Clippers (17.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 rpg).
If Jamal Crawford had a business card, it would simply read “I Get Buckets.” Crawford is the true definition of instant offense. The 6’5” shooting guard has bounced around the league, having suited up for the Bulls, Knicks, Warriors, Hawks, Trail Blazers and now the Clippers. Now it seems he’s finally found a home. With its uber-athletic, high-flying, “Lob City” offense, Crawford provides the perfect balance coming off the bench. With teams doubling down on Blake Griffin or Chris Paul, Crawford is given the green light to rain jumpers whenever he pleases.
Though he’s coming off the bench, it’s not uncommon to see him chuck 15-20 shot attempts in any given game. Unsurprisingly, he leads the league in scoring off the bench. He’s a big part of the Clippers massive turnaround which has them currently sitting #1 in the Pacific Division. Plus his sick, between-the-legs alley oop to Blake Griffin shows he’s as good a showman as he is a shooter. The 2010 Sixth Man of the Year is the odds on favorite to walk away with the title once again.
(Honorable mentions: Gordon Heyward, Jarrett Jack, Jeff Green, Manu Ginobili, Vince Carter.)
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