The Sixth Man of the Year award in the NBA is given to the best player coming off the bench. All season long, these individuals provided extra spark and were considered as the extension of the starting unit's firepower.
While that has been the case for years, these Sixth Man of the Year winners also deserve to be ranked according to their respective skills and impact on the game. That said, we have come up with our own NBA All-time 6th Man of the Year starting 5.
J-Crawford
Jamal Crawford wasn't only famous for enjoying a remarkable NBA career that spanned two decades. On top of that, JC made a name for himself in the league for being a dynamic combo guard with smooth handles and a knack for scoring.
Despite his incredible arsenal, Crawford was often viewed as an off-the-bench player for the better part of his NBA career. In the process, he won the Sixth Man of the Year award three times.
Even though JC never earned a single All-Star selection to his name, many believe that he is one of the greatest, if not, the greatest Sixth Man of the Year in NBA history.
Manu
Hailing from Argentina, Manu Ginobili worked his way into the NBA. Throughout his illustrious career, "Gino" was able to showcase his versatility, scoring prowess, and basketball IQ despite mostly coming off the bench for the better part of his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
Ginobili played the best basketball of his NBA career in the 2007-08 season, in which he averaged 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game as an off-the-bench player. True to form, he won the Sixth Man of the Year award that season.
Lamar
Lamar Odom may have been known to some for being Khloe Kardashian's ex but in the basketball world, L.O. is considered as one of the greatest role players in NBA history. Odom's ability to score, rebound, and assist made him a valuable asset to any team he played for, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Odom had been a solid starting stretch four until the Lakers made him an off-the-bench player to make way for Pau Gasol. Despite being demoted, Lamar played his guts out, ultimately becoming a consistent Sixth Man of the Year candidate for three years in a row.
In 2011, Odom finally won the Sixth Man of the Year award after averaging 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in 82 games.
McHale
The Boston Celtics were unsurprisingly stacked when they drafted Kevin McHale as their 3rd overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft. That said, "Black Hole" had to prove himself worthy of a spot on the starting lineup as an off-the-bench power forward.
McHale's progress as a player was swift. In the 1983-84 season, he never missed a game and averaged 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game to win his first Sixth Man of the Year honor. The following season, Kevin picked up where he left off and logged 20 points, nine rebounds, and 1.5 assists per outing. He was hailed as the league's Sixth Man of the Year for the second time in a row.
In NBA history, only McHale, Lou Williams, and Detlef Schrempf have won the Sixth Man of the Year award in two consecutive seasons. It's also worth noting that Kevin was promoted as a starter for the C's during the team's glory days in the '80s. His remarkable contributions and impact on the team made him one of the greatest Celtics of all time.
'Big Red'
Despite being once plagued by injuries, Bill Walton still displayed perseverance and love for the game during his time with the Celtics towards the tail-end of his Hall of Fame career. Walton proved that determination and skill could overcome any obstacle by bringing in a wealth of experience and some added depth to the team.
Bill never had an issue about being an off-the-bench player for the Celtics and his humility allowed him to significantly contribute to the team whenever they needed him. In his debut season in Boston, "Red Baron" did not really put up incredible numbers, having finished the campaign with 7.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 80 games. However, Bill's impact on the team was profound, ultimately making him the Sixth Man of the Year in 1986.
In that season, Walton also won a championship with the Celtics. In retrospect, Bill capping off his legendary career by winning a Sixth Man of the Year award and NBA title was quite a story to tell, considering he already won a Finals and a league MVP award in the past.
In conclusion, these players were recognized for being crucial contributors coming off the bench. However, they undeniably approach each game with the mindset of a starter.
Related: Lou Williams claims the Sixth Man of the Year award should have been named after either him or Jamal Crawford: “We transcended it”
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