NBA Power Rankings: The 10 Best 6th Man Award Winners

Sure, all the top players to ever play the game get all the recognition they rightfully deserve. 

But sometimes we forget those players who were not necessarily in the top players shadows, figuratively speaking.

Nonetheless, these players are known as the 6th man. The best player coming off the their teams respected benches.

All these players are talented players, and at one point in their career they were starters. But at the point they won this award, they were their teams 6th man.

So here is a list compiling the 10 best players to ever win this award.

10. Bobby Jones, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers (1983)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 9.0

Rebounds Per Game: 4.6 

Assists Per Game: 1.9 

Blocks Per Game: 1.2

Steals Per Game: 1.1

 

Bobby Jones was one of the nicest and honest people in to ever play the game. So honest, that once he actually told the ref to change a player foul to himself, since it was him that made the foul.

Jones was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the No. 5 overall pick way back in 1974. He played two seasons in the ABA, before making the transition to the NBA in the 1976-77 season.

He played played two more season in Denver, averaging around 13 points and 8 rebounds a game, before being traded to the 76ers. Where he became a great role player coming off the bench for the 76ers.

Jones played a key role in the 76ers Championship winning season that year in 1983. With the addition of MVP Moses Malone. Jones came in off the bench and helped the world champions with great a defensive presence on the court.

Jones as well was the recipient of the first ever player to win this award.

 

9. Toni Kukoc, Forward, Chicago Bulls (1996)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 13.1

Rebounds Per Game: 4.0

Assists Per Game: 3.5

Blocks Per Game: 0.8

Steals Per Game: 0.3

Toni Kukoc was the ultimate teammate for the Bulls. Him alongside Jordan, Rodman, and Pippen created one of the most scary foursomes to play the game. Jordan...was well Jordan, Rodman just grabbed board after board and took out a few players, fans and cameramen in the process. Pippen was the perfect Robin to Jordan. Then there was Kukoc who cam in and brought instance offense for the Bulls.

Kukoc could shoot the three very well, 36% for his entire career. He used his height, soft hands, and great foot work down low to score over and around defenders.

He was at times a liabilty on defense. But Kukoc was able to make up for it on the offensive side with his strong abilites to shoot the three over the smaller defenders.

8. Danny Manning, Forward, Phoenix Suns (1998)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 13.5

Rebounds Per Game: 5.6

Assists Per Game: 2.0 

Blocks Per Game: 0.7

Steals Per Game: 1.0

Danny Manning had a great year at Kansas and could make a name as one of the best College Basketball Players in the game. (Check out my article http://bleacherreport.com/articles/415905-the-50-greatest-college-basketball-players-of-all-tim)

But Manning's game did not translate to the pros as good as many had hoped it would be, due to knee injuries.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying he had a bad career at all. To be honest be had a very good career in deed. Averaged over 20 points a season twice.

Manning made two all-star appearances in 1993 and 1994. But his career was just as never as good as what maybe it could have been based on his terrible knees.

7. Dell Curry, Guard/Forward, Charlotte Hornets (1994)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 16.3

Rebounds Per Game: 3.2 

Assists Per Game: 2.7

Blocks Per Game: 1.2

Steals Per Game: 0.3

Dell Curry, the best pure shooter this game has ever seen, besides maybe Reggie Miller. 

He was known for just camping in the corner, and launching the three any chance that he could get. (Sounds just like his son Stephen Curry).

Curry was a great player, and a terrific shooter throuhgout his whole career. Though his best days were when he was in a Charlotte Hornets team.

The 1993-94 season was Curry's best season as a player. He shot nearly 400 threes and hit just above 40% of those threes.

Curry was also a underrated defender. He did get all the accolades as a great three point shooter, but he could also play some defense.

6. Clifford Robinson, Forward/Center, Portland Trail Blazers (1993)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 19.1 

Rebounds Per Game: 6.6 

Assists Per Game: 2.2 

Blocks Per Game: 2.0

Steals Per Game: 1.2

Robinson reached his prime when this season hit. Robinson would go on to have a few more great season as a Blazer, before his career went a bit down low.

Robinson was an enforcer, to say the least. If you were in his way when he drove down the key, he would knock you over. He would not care if he was Kobe Bryant or Allen Iverson. He would knock all of them to their feet if they stood toe-to-toe with Robinson. 

Robinson was also a savvy veteran that was great on the defensive side of the ball, but his main strengths were on the offensive side. He was a 6'10 power forward that could step back and hit the three with the best in the league during his era.

5. Jason Terry, Guard, Dallas Mavericks (2009)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 19.6 

Rebounds Per Game: 2.4 

Assists Per Game: 3.4 

Blocks Per Game: 0.3

Steals Per Game: 1.1

Terry is another example of a great scorer in this league. Like Crawford, if Terry was on most other teams he could be a starter.

But some odd reason coming off the bench, Terry has been at his best. Averaging 12-19 points every season since becoming a role player off the bench.

Terry will take a more reduced role next season with the breaking through performances of Rodrique Beaubois and additions of Butler and rookie Jones.

4. Jamal Crawford, Guard, Atlanta Hawks (2010)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 18.0

Rebounds Per Game: 2.5 

Assists Per Game: 3.0

Blocks Per Game: 0.2

Steals Per Game: 0.8

Crawford as turned into an elite scorer in this league. He is simply a pure scorer. One of the bes the NBA has to offer.

He could easily be starting any 20+ others teams in the league. 

But when you play the same position as a player by the name of Joe Johnson, it is tough to crack the starting line-up.

Nonetheless this is why Crawford is the reigning 6th Man of the Year winner. And is arguably the front runner to repeat the award come next season.

3. Detlef Schrempf, Forward, Indiana Pacers (1991,1992)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 16.1, 17.3

Rebounds Per Game: 8.0, 9.6

Assists Per Game: 3.7, 3.9

Blocks Per Game: 0.3, 0.5

Steals Per Game: 0.7, 0.8

Detlef Schremf is a very underrated player in the league. He was a crafty big man that played multiple positions because if his size and athleticism as a bigger player.

Schremf was also a very good three point shooter, shooting roughly 38% for three for his career. And in the 1994-95 season he hit 51% of his threes, helping his team to the NBA Championship, where they lost to the Bulls.

He was also a three time all-star, and Schremf along with Dirk Nowitzki are the only two Germans to ever reach the NBA Finals. 

2. Manu Ginobili, Guard, San Antonio Spurs (2008)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 19.5

Rebounds Per Game: 4.8

Assists Per Game: 4.5

Blocks Per Game: 0.4

Steals Per Game: 1.5

Ginboli is one of the better role players this game has ever seen. He could easily start for the Spurs. But he was given the bench role, and took it better then most players would ever.

Ginobili won the the award back in 2008. But has helped the Spurs to three NBA Championships in his eight year career.

Manu is a slick player that can score with the best of them. He is a great driver to the basket with the wicked left hand of his.

The year he won the 6th man award he averaged career highs in points, rebounds and three point shooting percentage. Shooting 40% from beyond the three point line.

1. Kevin McHale, Forward/Center, Boston Celtics (1984,1985)

Stats of the Year the Player Won the Award

Points Per Game: 18.4, 19.8

Rebounds Per Game: 7.4, 9.0

Assists Per Game: 1.3, 1.8

Blocks Per Game: 1.5, 1.5

Steals Per Game: 0.3, 0.4

Go figure! Kevin McHale, one of the greatest power forwards, and Boston Celtic to ever play the game started less than half the games he played in? McHale played in 971 career games and only started 400 of those games!

McHale was a beast down low. With his 7'7 wingspan. He used every inch of that to his advantage. He was not the quickest or fastest player on the court. But he combined his length, with his high basketball IQ, to play great defense, and use those soft hands to score around the basket.

McHale coming off the bench played a key role along with all-time great, Larry Bird in the teams championship run in the 1984 season. 

As you can see in the headline, McHale won this award twice in back-to-back seasons.

Though, in the 1984-85 season McHale did start 30 games near the end of the season after a knee injury to Cedric Maxwell.

McHale is the the top player to ever win this award for many reason. He made all-stars, lead the Celtics to championships. And did most of this coming off of the bench.