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Throughout the course of NBA history, some of the best NBA role players ever have become fan favorites for their contributions to multiple championships. While some of them might not make it to the Hall of Fame, the way they helped some of the most iconic players allowed them to achieve their legendary status.
Best NBA Role Players Ever
It takes a lot to win an NBA championship, and while everybody always talks about the stars — and rightfully so — this is still a team sport. Owners might not always want to over the luxury tax to play for guys who don’t score 25 points per game, but they can also be major factors in winning titles.
With that in mind, we’re going to dig deep into NBA history to share our list of the five best NBA role players ever.
Derek Fisher
Believe it or not, Derek Fisher is one of just four point guards to have won five championships, joining the likes of Bob Cousy, K.C. Jones, and Magic Johnson. He was an instrumental part of Phil Jackson‘s triangle offense, logging 231 three-pointers in the playoffs on .402 from beyond the arc, including more than one game-winning shot.
Fisher was instrumental alongside Kobe Bryant in all of his five championships. By the time he retired, he had the most playoff games played (257), a record that has since been topped by LeBron James. His lack of size was outweighed by his toughness and timely shot-making.
Michael Cooper
The Showtime Lakers were possible, in great part, thanks to Michael Cooper. He was alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson in all five championships, being their defensive anchor and the ultimate prototype for today’s 3-and-D role player.
Cooper was named Defensive Player of the Year and made it to an All-Defensive team eight years in a row. He played both guard spots and sometimes small forward. He was often tasked with defending the opposition’s best and most physical player.
Danny Ainge
The Boston Celtics were one of the most dominant teams of the 80s. Everybody remembers Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Larry Bird, but it’s not like Danny Ainge didn’t do his part. Through eight seasons, he filled up the stat sheet with more than 11 points, 4 assists, and 2 rebounds per game.
On top of that, he was one of the peskiest defenders on the team and in the game during his prime. He won a couple of rings with the Celtics, and then went on to help Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns make it to the NBA Finals, where he lost to Michael Jordan.
Dennis Rodman
One could argue that Dennis Rodman wasn’t a role player, and there’s a case to be made for that. However, we’re talking about someone who never even intended to look at the rim on offense, and who left it all on the floor for one purpose and one purpose only: Dominating the glass.
Rodman helped the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls win championships and he retired with five of them. Despite being undersized, he was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who led the league in rebounding in seven seasons. He’s arguably the greatest rebounder of all time.
Robert Horry
Robert Horry is, without a doubt, the single greatest among the greatest role players in NBA history. He’s the only player to win multiple titles with three different teams, helping the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers take care of business.
Known for his defensive prowess and timely shot-making, ‘Big Shot Bob’ is a seven-time NBA champion. He knocked down several buzzer-beaters and is one of just five players with at least 250 triples in the playoffs. He’s the only player with at least seven rings that didn’t play with Bill Russell and the Celtics.
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