The contributions of the bench players have become more critical with every passing game in the NBA, and the ongoing 2023-24 season has seen consistent performances from some star players who have played their part in key performances. Whether it's Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings or Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers, there are always players who can make an impact even when they're not in the starting lineup.
Over the years, the world has witnessed rare games, and even Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird has become the player with the most points off the bench. The three-time NBA champion is the team's sixth-man option. As the NBA's 2023-24 season is in full swing, let's take a look at the top five players who have scored as many points off the bench in league history.
Ranking of the 5 players with the most points from the bench in NBA history.
5th place: Rich Pierce - 9513 points
In his 16 seasons, Rich Pearce made 700 appearances and scored a staggering 9,513 points, averaging 13 in about 22 minutes per game6 points.
He is an expert in the league, having played for the San Diego Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks. He was a two-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and an All-Star.
Fourth place: Eddie Johnson - 9569 points
The Sacramento Kings (formerly known as the Kansas City Kings) selected Eddie Johnson with the 29th pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. The prolific shooter proved himself to be one of the deadliest scorers on the NBA bench.
An illustrious 18-year career saw him a two-time All-Star. Of the 10,163 points in his career, Johnson had 9,689 points off the bench.
Third place: Dale Curry - 11,147 points
Dale Curry is the father of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, and he is a well-known face in the NBA. In his 16-year career, he started just 99 times and played 1,083 games. He scored 11,147 points off the bench for a career total of 12,670.
He's a three-point wizard, and when he's off the bench, 40 percent of his shots come from beyond the three-point line. He traded for the Bucks, Hornets, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.
2nd place: Jamal Crawford - 11279 points
Jamal Crawford is considered one of the iconic sixth men in league history. He is one of only two players to have won the Sixth Man of the Year three times, scoring 11,279 points in 894 appearances off the bench.
Crawford played in 1,327 games in his NBA career, starting 433 games. He has been coming off the bench since 2009. He averaged 25 games per game3 minutes to get 126 points. He won the sixth man twice with the Los Angeles Clippers and once with the Atlanta Hawks.
1st place: Lou Williams - 13396 points
Since his third season in the NBA, Lou Williams has been a relentless offensive machine. He equalled Jamal Crawford's record of three Sixth Man of the Year awards in the 2018-19 season.
In 2019, he surpassed Dell Curry's bench scoring and now has 13,396 points. He announced his retirement after 16 seasons in the league, and his record remains the highest in NBA history.
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