Who provides the most off the bench?
The idea of the Sixth Man revolves around being a player who is good enough to start, but is instead the first man off the bench. Selecting the Top 5 sixth men of the Lottery is therefore difficult because teams that don’t make the playoffs do not often have starter quality players on their benches. This is just the nature of lottery teams. Still, there are some of note, of whom provide the scoring punch and versatility to be the first sub into the game. I chose my “lottery teams” based on last year’s lottery, as I’m not ready to speculate who will and will not be a lottery team this year. So, without further ado…
1. Ryan Anderson- New Orleans Pelicans
Not many sixth men are stretch 4’s but Anderson has consistently been the first man off the bench for a New Orleans squad that at times lacked frontcourt scoring all together. He rebounds well for a stretch 4 and can absolutely pour it in from just about anywhere on the court. Anderson averaged 16.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and shot 38% from behind the arc while only starting when “the Brow” was missing from the lineup. He spreads the floor and gives improved spacing to a frontcourt that normally packed it in.
2. Jarrett Jack- Cleveland Cavaliers
Another combo guard who played both guard positions last year, Jack gave a scoring punch and ballhandling to a Warriors team that was guard heavy to begin with. Now in Cleveland, Jack figures to be the first man of the bench, either for or beside Kyrie Irving. Jack is one of those guys who has probably always been more of a super-sub, but he is only just now realizing this as he matures as a player and person. Accepting this role has increased his efficiency and usefulness to NBA squads. Jack averaged 12.9 PPG, 5.6 APG, and shot 40% from three last season, and will help a Cleveland team- who lacked depth last season- compete for a playoff spot.
3. Ramon Sessions- Charlotte Bobcats
Sessions is a combo guard who provides ball handling, scoring, and versatility to the Bobcat’s second unit. He averaged 14.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.8 RPG, and 27 minutes per game last season while starting 0 games. Sessions seems perfectly happy coming off the bench and playing close to home, which combined with his ability makes him an ideal sixth man. Sessions played off ball with starting point Kemba Walker last year, or handled point duties when Walker wasn’t in the game, and excelled in keeping the pressure on the defense.
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