Items17The creator’s order
  1. 1Frank Ramsey (basketball)Frank Ramsey (basketball)Born 13 Jul 1931Red Auerbach is said to have invented the modern sixth man role for Ramsey in the 1950s Celtics: bring a starter-quality scorer on once opponents were tiring, so the drop-off never came. Ramsey won seven titles in that role and made the Hall of Fame. Everything else on this list starts from his…0i
  2. 2John HavlicekJohn HavlicekBorn 8 Apr 1940Havlicek took over Ramsey's role in Boston in the 1960s and was so good off the bench that he regularly played starter's minutes, with his tireless running wearing down opponents. His steal against Philadelphia in the 1965 Eastern final is one of the most famous plays in NBA history. He later…0i
  3. 3Kevin McHale (basketball)Kevin McHale (basketball)McHale won the Sixth Man award in 1984 and 1985 while coming off the bench behind Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell, and his post footwork was already among the best in the league. Boston won the 1984 title with him as the first big off the bench. He then started on the 1986 team often called one of…0i
  4. 4Vinnie JohnsonVinnie JohnsonBorn 1 Sept 1956The Microwave heated up fast: Vinnie Johnson was Detroit's instant-scoring guard off the bench for the Bad Boys, and his jumper with 0.7 seconds left won Game 5 of the 1990 Finals and the title. His bursts let the Pistons rest Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars without losing scoring. The nickname tells…0
  5. 5Bill WaltonBill WaltonBorn 5 Nov 1952After injuries had wrecked his body, the former MVP joined Boston in 1985-86 and won the Sixth Man award as Robert Parish's back-up, playing a career-high 80 games. His passing from the high post and rebounding helped that team to the title. Walton's year is the best case of a fading star…0i
  6. 6Detlef SchrempfDetlef SchrempfBorn 21 Jan 1963The German forward won the Sixth Man award twice with Indiana, in 1991 and 1992, as a 6ft 10in player who could handle, pass and shoot. Coaches used him to change the size and spacing of a line-up in one substitution. He later became an All-Star starter in Seattle, but his Indiana years are when…0i
  7. 7Toni KukočToni KukočBorn 18 Sept 1968Already a European champion with Jugoplastika Split, Kukoč joined Chicago and won the 1996 Sixth Man award on the 72-10 Bulls, a 6ft 10in forward who could run the offence. He gave Phil Jackson a playmaker on the second unit and won three titles. His passing out of the triangle is the reason to…0i
  8. 8Manu GinóbiliManu GinóbiliBorn 28 Jul 1977Ginóbili accepted a bench role for most of his career even though he was good enough to start for anyone, and San Antonio won four titles with him finishing games. His Euro-step, now copied everywhere, and his left-handed passes made the second unit the Spurs' most unpredictable. He won Sixth Man…0i
  9. 9Jason TerryJason TerryBorn 15 Sept 1977The Jet was Dallas's sixth man and closer, winning the 2009 award and then scoring 27 points in the clinching Game 6 of the 2011 Finals against Miami. His pick-and-roll with Dirk Nowitzki was Dallas's late-game play. Terry is a great example of a bench guard trusted to finish games, not only to…0i
  10. 10Lamar OdomLamar OdomOdom was the Lakers' versatile sixth man during their 2009 and 2010 titles and won the award in 2011: a 6ft 10in forward who could handle in transition, defend several positions and rebound. He let Phil Jackson play big or small without changing the offence. His bench role gave the Lakers a third…0i