Top 10 Sixth Man of All Time: Spark Plugs, Scorers, and Game-Changers Off the Bench
The starters may set the tone—but the sixth man flips the switch. The best sixth men didn’t just fill minutes—they shifted momentum, closed games, and wrecked scouting reports. These guys came off the bench with something to prove—and proved it every single night.
When you break down the Top 10 Sixth Man of All Time, you’re looking at microwave scorers, crafty playmakers, and versatile defenders who brought instant energy the moment they checked in. Whether it was Manu slicing through starters, Lou Will dropping 20 in 20 minutes, or McHale owning the block off the pine, these hoopers changed the outcome without ever needing their name in the opening five.
It takes a different kind of greatness to shine without the spotlight. These guys? They made the bench look like a weapon.
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Let’s run through the Top 10 Sixth Man of All Time—and give the bench mob their flowers.
#10. Detlef Schrempf
Height/Weight: 6’10”, 235 lbs
Position: Forward
Teams: Dallas Mavericks (1985–1989), Indiana Pacers (1989–1993), Seattle SuperSonics (1993–1999), Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2001)
Detlef Schrempf was a matchup nightmare off the bench—a 6’10” forward who could pass, shoot, rebound, and play anywhere from the 2 to the 4. In Indiana, he won back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year awards and led the league in offensive efficiency, spacing the floor long before stretch fours were in style.
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With his high basketball IQ and smooth jumper, Schrempf made a career of impacting games without forcing shots. Whether it was running point-forward sets or knocking down clutch buckets, he brought value everywhere on the floor.
Accolades:
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2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1991, 1992)
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3× NBA All-Star
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Career Averages (as 6th Man): 16.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.9 APG
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NBA All-Rookie First Team (1986)
#9. Ricky Pierce
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 215 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Teams: Detroit Pistons (1982), San Diego Clippers (1982–1983), Seattle SuperSonics (1983–1984, 1991–1994), Milwaukee Bucks (1984–1991), Golden State Warriors (1994–1995), Indiana Pacers (1995–1996), Denver Nuggets (1996–1997), Charlotte Hornets (1997–1998)
Ricky Pierce was the definition of a walking bucket. He wasn’t flashy—he just got buckets, and a lot of them. Known for his ultra-efficient scoring, he came off the bench and immediately went to work with pull-ups, midrange jumpers, and physical drives.
Pierce didn’t need a rhythm. Didn’t need warmup shots. Just a check-in and a green light. In 1990, he dropped nearly 24 points per game without starting a single game—a ridiculous level of sixth man production that still turns heads.
Accolades:
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NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1987, 1990)
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NBA All-Star (1991)
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Career High: 23.0 PPG (1990)
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Career Averages (as 6th Man): 16.7 PPG on 49.3% shooting
#8. Lamar Odom
Height/Weight: 6’10”, 220 lbs
Position: Forward
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers (1999–2003, 2012–2013), Miami Heat (2003–2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2004–2011), Dallas Mavericks (2011–2012)
Lamar Odom was the ultimate utility weapon off the bench. At 6’10” with guard skills, he could handle the ball, run the offense, crash the boards, and guard four positions. With the Lakers, Odom thrived next to Kobe and Pau, bringing length, IQ, and versatility to a dynasty that won back-to-back rings.
His 2011 Sixth Man of the Year season was his finest—averaging 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game while shooting a career-best from the field. Odom was a matchup problem and a momentum shifter every time he checked in.
Accolades:
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2× NBA Champion (2009, 2010)
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NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2011)
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Career Averages: 13.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.7 APG
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NBA All-Rookie First Team (2000)
#7. Jason Terry
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 180 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1999–2004), Dallas Mavericks (2004–2012), Boston Celtics (2012–2013), Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014), Houston Rockets (2014–2016), Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2018)
Jason Terry, known as “The Jet,” was a certified big-game shot maker and one of the most reliable sixth men of his era. He could heat up in a hurry, stretch the floor, and close games with ice in his veins. In Dallas, he was Dirk’s co-pilot—and in 2011, he torched the Miami Heat’s Big 3 to help secure the Mavs’ first-ever championship.
Terry’s fearless scoring and clutch shooting made him a go-to guy off the bench for over a decade. He finished his career with over 2,000 made threes, many of them with the game on the line.
Accolades:
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NBA Champion (2011)
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NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2009)
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Career Averages: 13.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 38% 3PT
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7th All-Time in 3-Pointers Made
#6. Lou Williams
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 175 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (2005–2012), Atlanta Hawks (2012–2014, 2020–2022), Toronto Raptors (2014–2015), Los Angeles Lakers (2015–2017), Houston Rockets (2017), Los Angeles Clippers (2017–2021)
Lou Williams was the purest scorer off the bench of his era. He could hit you with floaters, pull-ups, step-backs—didn’t matter if he was guarded or cold, he was cooking. Lou Will never needed to start to take over a game, and that’s what made him elite.
He won three Sixth Man of the Year awards, tied for the most in NBA history, and finished his career with over 15,000 bench points, making him the all-time leading bench scorer. With his smooth game and fearless mentality, Lou was a bucket the moment he checked in.
Accolades:
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3× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019)
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All-Time Leader in Bench Points
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Career Averages: 13.9 PPG, 3.4 APG
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NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2006)
#5. Toni Kukoc
Height/Weight: 6’10”, 192 lbs
Position: Forward
Teams: Chicago Bulls (1993–2000), Philadelphia 76ers (2000–2002), Atlanta Hawks (2002–2003), Milwaukee Bucks (2003–2006)
Toni Kukoc was ahead of his time—a 6’10” point forward with elite court vision, smooth scoring, and championship composure. In Chicago, he was the X-factor behind MJ and Scottie, often closing games and making the right play in clutch moments.
He won Sixth Man of the Year in 1996 and played a vital role in three straight championships during the Bulls’ second three-peat. Kukoc could handle, shoot, pass, and adapt to any role—a rare weapon in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense.
Accolades:
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3× NBA Champion (1996–1998)
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NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1996)
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EuroLeague Champion (3×)
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Hall of Fame Inductee (2021)
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Career Averages: 11.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG
#4. John Havlicek
Height/Weight: 6’5”, 203 lbs
Position: Guard / Forward
Teams: Boston Celtics (1962–1978)
John Havlicek was the original sixth man prototype—before the role even had a name. He came off the bench early in his career and still dominated games with non-stop energy, elite defense, and clutch scoring. Hondo was every coach’s dream—a two-way player who could fit into any lineup and make winning plays.
He eventually became a full-time starter, but those early years off the bench helped the Celtics extend their dynasty into the ’70s. With 8 rings, Finals heroics, and one of the most famous steals in NBA history, Havlicek made sixth man greatness a thing before anyone even realized it.
Accolades:
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8× NBA Champion
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13× NBA All-Star
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NBA Finals MVP (1974)
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11× All-NBA Selection
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8× All-Defensive Team
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Hall of Fame Inductee (1984)
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NBA 75th Anniversary Team
#3. Jamal Crawford
Height/Weight: 6’5”, 175 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Teams: Chicago Bulls (2000–2004), New York Knicks (2004–2008), Golden State Warriors (2008–2009), Atlanta Hawks (2009–2011), Portland Trail Blazers (2011–2012), Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2017), Minnesota Timberwolves (2017–2018), Phoenix Suns (2018–2019), Brooklyn Nets (2020)
Jamal Crawford was the definition of instant offense—a walking highlight reel with the smoothest handle the league’s ever seen. He could create space out of nowhere, launch from deep, and embarrass defenders with crossovers straight out of a mixtape. And the crazy part? He got better with age.
Crawford won three Sixth Man of the Year awards (tied for the most ever) and dropped 50-point games with four different franchises, including one at age 39. He embraced the bench role, and every team he joined trusted him to close games.
Accolades:
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3× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2010, 2014, 2016)
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50-point games with four different teams
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Career Averages: 14.6 PPG, 3.4 APG
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2nd All-Time in Bench Points Scored
#2. Kevin McHale
Height/Weight: 6’10”, 210 lbs
Position: Power Forward
Teams: Boston Celtics (1980–1993)
Kevin McHale was a monster in the post and a key to one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. He spent the early part of his career coming off the bench behind frontcourt legends like Cedric Maxwell and Robert Parish, and instead of complaining, he feasted.
Armed with the best low-post footwork the league had ever seen, McHale punished backups and starters alike, and by the time he became a full-time starter, he was already a two-time Sixth Man of the Year and a core part of three Celtics championships.
He was a mismatch every time he touched the floor and a defensive anchor on the other end. McHale made the sixth man role cool, lethal, and championship-worthy.
Accolades:
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3× NBA Champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
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2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
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7× NBA All-Star
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6× All-Defensive Team
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Hall of Fame Inductee (1999)
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NBA 75th Anniversary Team
#1. Manu Ginóbili
Height/Weight: 6’6”, 205 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Teams: San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018)
Manu Ginóbili is the greatest sixth man of all time—not just for his production, but for the way he redefined what the role could be on a championship team. He could’ve started anywhere, but he came off the bench to keep the Spurs system lethal, bringing energy, creativity, and sheer brilliance every night.
Manu played like a wild card—Euro-steps, no-look passes, transition daggers, chase-down blocks—and somehow made it all look natural. He was a clutch killer, a fearless defender, and one of the smartest players of his generation. In the playoffs? Even more dangerous.
He helped the Spurs win four titles, won Olympic gold with Argentina, and gave basketball fans the most unorthodox greatness they’ve ever seen.
Accolades:
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4× NBA Champion
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NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2008)
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2× NBA All-Star
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All-NBA Third Team (2×)
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Olympic Gold Medalist (2004)
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Hall of Fame Inductee (2022)
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NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Still craving all-time greatness? Check out the Top 10 NBA Players of All Time to see who ran the league at every position, or lock in with the Top 10 NBA Centers of All Time to see the true giants of the game.
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