The All-NBA Role Player Team

While superstars are important in helping put a team in an opportunity to win a championship, having great role players is the key to actually winning one; just ask the Los Angles Lakers.

The reason the Celtics won the NBA Championship last year was not because of how either team's big three played, but was because the Celtics' role players outperformed the Lakers' role players.

The key for someone to be great role player is to for them to know their role and not try to be the star. Great role players can have an impact on the game without putting up great statistics. 

Great role players play hard defense, hustle, take charges, dive for loose balls, find the open man, and hit those open and occasional clutch shots when asked upon.

Great role players aren’t generally the most athletic guys, but they have great basketball IQ’s. What goes unnoticed about great role players is that they are also generally unselfish quality human beings who tend to have great chemistry with their teammates as well.

This list is for those role players, who although will probably never get the credit they deserve, our instrumental in helping their team win.

The All NBA Role Player Team

Captain PG

Derek Fisher- Three-time NBA champion

Derek Fisher is a typical role player.  He runs the Laker's offense efficiently, plays hard defense, and hits that open three when needed to. Derek Fisher is that silent assassin who everyone fears. He’s the type of player that will hit that three pointer that quiets the crowd.

There is one game that sums up Fisher's career for me.  

In the 2007 NBA playoffs, in the second round against the Golden state warriors, Fisher was forced to miss the first half of the second game because his 11-month old daughter required an emergency three-hour surgery and chemotherapy at New York's Presbyterian Hospital.

Prior to Game Two, Fisher had asked head coach Jerry Sloan to leave him on the active list, but could not guarantee he would make it in time to play. After his daughter’s surgery, he and his family flew back to Utah.

After landing in Utah with Game Two already in progress, Fisher was notified that teammate and starting point guard Deron Williams was in foul trouble and his backup for the game, Dee Brown, had been seriously hurt.

Fisher arrived at the arena in the middle of the third quarter, suited up, and made his way to the court. He was immediately called upon by Sloan to enter the game, and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

With little time remaining, Fisher made a critical defensive stop on Baron Davis that helped send the game into overtime.

In the final minutes of overtime, the Jazz held a narrow three-point lead when Deron Williams found a wide-open Fisher for a three-pointer that sealed the victory.

SG

Bruce Bowen- Four-time NBA champion

He might be the best perimeter defender to play in this decade. He always guards the opposing teams best offensive perimeter player and he was a key contributor on all of the Spurs Championship runs. He is a career .392 three point shooter and is has been known to hit that open three pointer when called upon.

SF

James Posey- Two-time NBA champion

He is currently known as the best role player in the NBA. He is very similar to Fisher in that he is known for hitting that clutch three pointer that derails the opposing team’s momentum.  

He epitomizes what role players do as he is notorious for taking charges and diving for loose balls. Shaquille O'Neal once said that the Miami Heat would not have won their NBA championship without James Posey. 

In the offseason, the New Orleans Hornets made signing him their priority. He received one of the biggest contracts a role player has ever gotten.

After nine years of being a great role player, he has finally gotten the recognition he deserves. Coming this June, I would not be surprised to see if he is the missing piece that helps takes the Hornets over their hump into the NBA Finals.

PF

Udonis Haslem- One-time NBA Champion

He is another great role player who plays his role so well. He is solid rebounder, solid defender, and he’ll hit that open 15-foot jump shot all day. He was a key contributor to the Heat’s 2005 NBA championship.

C

Kendrick Perkins- One-time NBA Champion

He is the perfect starting center to play with the three all stars the Celtics have. He is an excellent defender, rebounder, and solid finisher that fits perfectly into the Celtics game plan. In last year’s playoffs, he contributed some vital plays that helped the Celtics win the NBA championship.

Sixth man

Shane Battier- He could possibly be the second best role player in the NBA. This Rockets swing-man is almost an exact carbon copy of James Posey. However, I could only start one small forward, and Posey got the notch ahead of him because of his two NBA rings.

Backup-SG

Raja Bell- He is similar to Bowen in that he is known for being a great defender as he generally guards the Sun's opposing teams best perimeter player. Just like Bowen, he can also hit that open three when called upon.

Backup-PF

Paul Millsap- This former second-round pick is a very solid player for the Jazz whose always hustling and seemingly does everything well.

Backup-Center

Kurt Thomas- He is almost a replica of Udonis Haslem. Or should I say Haslem is almost a replica copy of Thomas. If this list was made a few years ago, Thomas would definitely be a starter. He has gotten older and is no longer the same force he once was. 

But when he is put in the game for the Spurs, he still plays great defense and can hit that open 15-foot jump shot.

Backup-SF

Grant Hill- It can be hard for a former all Star to accept the fact that he is a role player. But Hill has done a great job of transitioning into one. Due to injuries, he lost his athletic ability that had made him a star and was forced to become a solid defender and jump shooter. He is currently a great role player that the Suns are lucky to have.

Honorable Mentions

Robert Horry: Seven-time NBA champion

He is arguably the greatest role player to ever play in the NBA. He has never put up great numbers, but has been so valuable to his teams. He is one of the most clutch players in NBA history and he would be on this list, but he isn’t currently on an NBA roster.

However, later in the year I wouldn’t be surprised to see him suiting up for a contender.

P.J Brown: One-time NBA champion

He has been known as a great role player his entire 15 year career. He was signed in late February last year and proved to be a vital signing for the Celtics. He hit some key shots and played some valuable minutes for the Celtics especially when Perkins was injured to help the Celtics win the NBA championship.  

He is not on this list because he also isn’t currently on an NBA Roster either. But later in the year I wouldn’t be surprised to see him suiting up for the Celtics once again.