NBA's Best Sixth Men

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 21, 2007

NBA's Best Sixth Men

Manu Ginobili

There hasn't been a better candidate in a long time -- assuming he meets the eligibility requirements of coming off the bench in more games than he starts. Ginobili, who started 36 of the first 59 games in which he appeared, needs to play almost exclusively as a reserve over the final month of the season to qualify for the award.

Leandro Barbosa

The Brazilian Blur feasts on Steve Nash's dishes or, when Nash sits, sets the table himself. Barbosa, perhaps the quickest player in the league, is among the NBA leaders in three-point shooting and averages nearly 18 points.

Jerry Stackhouse

Stackhouse, a high-scoring starter for most of his career before coming to Dallas in 2004, has adjusted well to a full-time reserve role. His competitive drive and fear-no-shot mentality have boosted the league's top team.

David Lee

With his boundless energy, the 6-foot-9, second-year forward puts on one of the best shows the Garden has seen in years, averaging a double-double in 30 minutes a game. Lately, however, he's been sidelined with a stress reaction in his right leg.

Kyle Korver

The long-range bomber has embraced the role, and that's half the battle. Korver is also on pace to become the first Sixer to lead the NBA in free throw percentage since Larry Costello in 1964-65.

Anderson Varejao

The 6-10 Brazilian gives the Cavs 24 energy-filled minutes a game -- and spends a good chunk of that time drawing offensive fouls. The 2004 second-round pick figures to attract considerable interest as a free agent this summer.

Andrea Bargnani

After a slow start -- he averaged only 16 minutes through the first month of the season -- the top pick in the 2006 draft has emerged to anchor a productive Raptors bench that also includes promising point guard Jose Calderon and recently acquired guard Juan Dixon. Bargnani won Rookie of the Month honors in February after averaging 14.3 points on 50.8 percent shooting in 12 games. He had an appendectomy on March 21 and is out indefinitely.

Matt Harpring

Harpring not only provides the hustle that coaches seek when they go to the bench, but he's also capable of instant offense. He averages 11 points in 25 minutes for the soon-to-be Northwest Division champions.