NBA History: 25 best sidekicks of all time

NBA superstars are usually called to the front of the congregation. From there, fans and media pundits heap enormous amounts of praise on their shoulders.</p> <p>Most of it is warranted. When teams win big, the best player is given the lion’s share of the credit. When they fall short, they receive the lion’s share of the blame. It may not seem fair but that’s just how it goes.</p> <p>The big shots, game-winning passes, and defensive stops are all important but it isn’t solely up to a team’s best player to get the job done. More times than not, the teams second best player, or in this case, the sidekick is just as important to winning as anyone else on the team. The only problem is, they oftentimes fall deep into the shadows and are forgotten.</p> <p>Well, not anymore. With secondary players receiving little to no love, we’ve decided to place the spotlight squarely on them as we dive into the 25 best sidekicks in NBA history. To qualify a player must have been in a sidekick role for at least three seasons.</p> <p>Admittedly, there are a ton of them but we believe we have narrowed them down to the best of the best. And while you may think you know who checks in at number one on our list, you might be in for a surprise.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 25. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_391160" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-391160 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1142055801.jpeg" alt="Klay Thompson" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1142055801.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1142055801-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Klay Thompson (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 25. Klay Thompson</h2> <p>A <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/golden-state-warriors/">Golden State Warrior</a> team without Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on it seem a bit weird. The two simply go hand and hand with one another.</p> <p>As the greatest shooting duo in NBA history, both players have a pocket full of rings and a long list of All-Star Games. But, in the NBA, two players can’t reign supreme at the top of the food chain.</p> <p>Thompson has played Robin to Steph Curry’s Batman for three seasons. In his first two years in the league, Thompson wasn’t quite as good as former All-Star David Lee. Similarly, from the 2016-17 season to 2018-19, Thompson was the Warriors third-best player behind Kevin Durant and Curry.</p> <p>In those three seasons where Thompson played second banana, he was terrific. He averaged over 21 points per game on two occasions, was a two-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA player.</p> <p>There will always be questions surrounding whether or not Thompson could lead his own team or not. Regardless of those questions, he was a great secondary star for a championship level team.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 24. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_388156" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-388156 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1997,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F168306354.jpeg" alt="Kevin Garnett" width="3200" height="1997" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/168306354.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/168306354-768x479.jpeg 768w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/168306354-1440x900.jpeg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Kevin Garnett (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 24. Kevin Garnett</h2> <p>Kevin Garnett enjoyed beating his chest almost as much as he did beating down the opposition.</p> <p>Heading into a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves meant two things. One, the opposition was going to have to scratch and claw for a win. Two, while the opposing team was always going to have a difficult time, more times than not, they left with the win anyway.</p> <p>With 14 years of mediocre results as the best player on the team, Garnett found what he was looking for once he moved to the Boston Celtics and took a backseat to Paul Pierce. Garnett and his 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds were just what the doctor ordered as the Celtics went on to win an NBA title in 2008, Garnett’s first season.</p> <p>Since Pierce was on the Celtics for nine seasons before the organization brought him some help, there was simply nothing Garnett could do to usurp him as the team’s best player.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 23. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_403294" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-403294 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F912287370.jpeg" alt="Blake Griffin" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/912287370.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/912287370-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Blake Griffin (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 23. Blake Griffin</h2> <p>Scoring the most points on your team doesn’t make you its best player. While playing alongside Chris Paul, Blake Griffin was a rockstar. He routinely made appearances on Sports Center highlight reels and his sole mission in life was to dunk on everyone. And for the most part, he pulled it off.</p> <p>In six seasons with Paul, Blake averaged over 20 points a game in five of them. He also crashed the glass, averaging over eight boards a night in five of those six years. At one point, Griffin got his averages as high as 24.1 points and 12.1 boards.</p> <p>Early on, it was all about jumping out of the gym for Griffin but as defenses made it more and more difficult for him in the playoffs, Griffin began adding more to his arsenal. The multiple-time All-Star went from averaging 3.2 assists in 2012 to 5.3 in 2015.</p> <p>In spite of his terrific numbers, Griffin was never cut out to be the best player on a championship level team but Chris Paul was. The moment the future Hall of Famer landed with the Clippers, they turned into instant title contenders. Griffin, while incredibly talented, wasn’t a go-to guy but he was the perfect player to add to an already established star.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 22. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_328966" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-328966 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F143900415.jpeg" alt="Jason Terry" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/143900415.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/143900415-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Jason Terry, Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 22. Jason Terry</h2> <p>Admittedly, Jason Terry’s career has long since been forgotten. He never averaged more than 19.7 points per game in a given season, was never considered an All-Star caliber player and Terry was never even a full-time starter no matter where he went.</p> <p>But just because Terry’s career didn’t contain the glitz and glamor of other names that will appear on this list, it doesn’t mean he didn’t carve out one helluva career, especially as the sidekick of Dirk Nowitzki.</p> <p>We all knew what the big German was going to give us. About 25-30 points a night, close to double-digit rebounds, and efficient shooting nights. Everyone else around him was pretty much a question mark. All except Terry.</p> <p>The former 2009 Sixth Man of the Year dropped at least 15.1 points per game in seven of his eight seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. When the lights turned on, and Dallas needed a big shot outside of Nowitzki, Terry always delivered. During the 2011 NBA Finals, Terry never backed down from LeBron James and his studded big three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.</p> <p>In fact, many believed it was a mismatch. Boy did everyone eat their words when Terry actually outplayed James in the Finals. Terry would average 18 points on 49.4% from the field and 39.3% from distance. James, on the other hand, only managed to drop 17.8 points on 47.8% from the field and a measly 32.1% from behind the arc.</p> <p>Terry didn’t grab any All-Star nods and he certainly won’t make the Hall of Fame but Dirk Nowitzki could count on him every night.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 21. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436596" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436596 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1243,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F892051002.jpeg" alt="Dwight Howard" width="1600" height="1243" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/892051002.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/892051002-768x597.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Dwight Howard (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 21. Dwight Howard</h2> <p>Dwight Howard loved the spotlight. He soaked in it, bathed in it, and welcomed it with open arms. With the pressure of being the number one overall pick in the 2004 draft squarely on his broad shoulders, Howard lived up to those expectations and even surpassed them.</p> <p>When Howard was smack dab in the middle of his prime, he was the best big man that the league had to offer. During a five year stretch from 2008-2012, Howard averaged 20.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. To go even further into his dominance, Howard was an eight-time All-Star, five-time rebounding champ, and twice led the league in blocks. Not to mention he brought home three Defensive Player of the Year awards and led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009.</p> <p>For as great as he was, Howard was forced to take a backseat once he began moving around. His progress to the second spot in the pecking order began in 2012 when Howard was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. No one was going to usurp Kobe Bryant for the lead dog spot but Howard played his role nicely. He averaged 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.</p> <p>Howard would then sign with the Houston Rockets where he was the co-star next to James Harden. In three seasons Howard’s average dipped lower and lower from 18.3 points to 15.8 to 13.7 points per game. He would play one more season as a team’s second star when he was a member of the Charlotte Hornets during the 2017-18 season. Howard would average 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds.</p> <p>Since then, Howard has jumped from team to team but he’s nothing more than a bench player at this point.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 20. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436595" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436595 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1140677567.jpeg" alt="Oscar Robertson" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1140677567.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1140677567-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Oscar Robertson (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 20. Oscar Robertson</h2> <p>When discussing the greatest players to ever lace em up, Oscar Robertson doesn’t get the credit that he rightfully deserves.</p> <p>Before players such as Russell Westbrook and LeBron James made it look incredibly easy to rack triple-doubles on a nightly basis, Robertson had that stat on lock. The Hall of Fame point guard was the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. He did so during the 1961-62 season when he averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 boards, and 11.4 assists.</p> <p>In six of Robertson’s first seven seasons, he finished the year averaging over 30 points a night. But as he got older, he wasn’t able to dominate a game like he once could. So, for the latter portion of his career, Robertson wasn’t the best player on his team. That distinction fell squarely on the shoulders of a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.</p> <p>From 1971-74, Abdul-Jabbar carried the Milwaukee Bucks by averaging 30.9 points per game and 15.8 rebounds. Robertson during those four years was a very good player as well, having made two All-Star teams but he wasn’t as prolific as he once was. Still, as their second-best player, Robertson averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 assists.</p> <p>Had Robertson joined the Bucks when he was in his prime, there’s a good chance Abdul-Jabbar would’ve been the sidekick instead.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 19. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436594" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436594 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F510300384.jpeg" alt="Pau Gasol" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/510300384.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/510300384-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Pau Gasol (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 19. Pau Gasol</h2> <p>Pau Gasol was miscast as a number one option for the Memphis Grizzlies for years. That’s not to say that he wasn’t a very good player because he was. He just wasn’t a great one.</p> <p>In seven seasons, Gasol dropped 18.8 points a night to go along with 8.6 boards and 3.1 assists. In the playoffs, he took his game up a notch as he upped his points per game to 20. But, that said, the Grizzlies never won a single postseason game with Gasol onboard. Simply put, he wasn’t cut out to be their best player.</p> <p>As an unexpected trade sent Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2007-08 season, he finally found his groove playing second fiddle to Kobe Bryant.</p> <p>Not much needs to be said about Bryant, he was named to the All-Star and made All-NBA squads just about every year. He was considered the best player in the league and destroyed the competition. But Gasol was pretty awesome as Bryant’s sidekick.</p> <p>The big Spaniard made three All-Star squads, after averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 boards. Without him, it’s highly unlikely that the Lakers would’ve made three straight NBA Finals appearances. It’s even more unlikely that they would’ve pocketed two championship rings in the process.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 18. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436592" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436592 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F901007930.jpeg" alt="Kyrie Irving" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/901007930.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/901007930-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Kyrie Irving (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 18. Kyrie Irving</h2> <p>Kyrie Irving has had a number of Pit Stops during his career. All along, he’s either been the best player or he’s been forced to settle for third best. During his early days in Cleveland, Kyrie was the number one option. During his two years in Boston, despite having a young Jayson Tatum there, Irving was clearly the better player.</p> <p>Even now, as Irving is a member of the Brooklyn Nets, he isn’t the best or second-best player, as he’s firmly behind both James Harden and Kevin Durant. But, during a three stretch in Cleveland, Irving was the second option.</p> <p>After LeBron James left the sunny skies of Miami and headed home to Cleveland, Irving reluctantly accepted his role as second banana. He may have wanted to be the one to lead the Cavaliers to the promised land but after three years of finishing amongst the league’s worst, that simply wasn’t in the cards.</p> <p>For as much as Irving hated playing second fiddle, he excelled. He was named to two All-Star Games in those three seasons and one All-NBA team. Even with James and Kevin Love demanding the ball, Irving’s point per game average got up as high as 25.2 during the 2016-17 season.</p> <p>Overall, Irving was terrific. During the 2016 NBA Finals, in particular, he was unstoppable. He essentially destroyed the Golden State Warriors as he averaged 27.1 points per game and hit one of the most clutch shots in Finals history to seal the deal. Irving was great but James clearly overshadowed him by averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks during those Finals. There was simply no way Irving could ever steal the number one spot from James.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 17. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436593" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436593 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1128,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F77958229.jpeg" alt="Shaquille O’Neal" width="1600" height="1128" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/77958229.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/77958229-768x541.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Shaquille O’Neal (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 17. Shaquille O’Neal</h2> <p>Is Shaquille O’Neal’s name plastered next to the word dominant in the dictionary? No, but it should be.</p> <p>No one could take over a game and wreck an opposing team’s game plan like Shaq. Not Michael Jordan, not Kobe Bryant, not LeBron James, no one was like Shaq. His prime years, however, spanned from the 1993-94 season to 2002-03. From there, the big diesel fell off.</p> <p>After being the clear-cut best player in Orlando and Los Angeles, he simply wasn’t the same by the time he got to the Miami Heat before the 2004-05 season. The numbers he put up in four seasons with Miami were All-Star worthy but they weren’t the usual Shaq-type stats that everyone was accustomed to. After averaging 27 points in LA and 27.2 in Orlando, Shaq dropped a solid 19.6 points per game and 9.1 boards in Miami.</p> <p>At the age of 32, and being notoriously known for not taking the best care of himself in the offseason, the Miami Heat belonged to Dwyane Wade. By the time Shaq arrived, Wade officially took over. He averaged no less than 24.1 points per game with the big man by his side.</p> <p>To prove that the Heat was truly his team, look no further than the 2006 NBA Finals. Shaq held his own, dropping 13.7 points a night and grabbing 10.2 boards but Wade was next level as he averaged 34.7 points per game.</p> <p>If there were any doubts about who’s team it was, Wade ended them with that series.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 16. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436598" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436598 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1085,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F920303444.jpeg" alt="Russell Westbrook" width="1600" height="1085" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/920303444.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/920303444-768x521.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Russell Westbrook (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 16. Russell Westbrook</h2> <p>Before the MVP award, before claiming the top spot for the most triple-doubles in a career and well before averaging one in four out of five seasons, Russell Westbrook was known for being the second-best player on the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p> <p>It takes a special player to move Westbrook to the number two spot. But with Kevin Durant serving as his teammate for the first eight years of his career, Westbrook had no choice but to take a backseat, sort of.</p> <p>You see, traditionally, players know where they fall in the pecking order on their respective teams. In the case of Westbrook and Durant, things seemed clear. Durant was a seven-time All-Star in those eight years with Westbrook, made numerous trips to All-NBA teams, took home a league MVP award, and outpaced Westbrook in nearly every department including points, rebounds, and field goal percentage.</p> <p>As a pair, they made six straight playoff appearances including the 2012 NBA Finals. But no matter how great Durant was, Westbrook never appeared comfortable playing second fiddle. As a second option, at no point should said player put the ball up more than the best player on the team, yet, Westbrook did it twice.</p> <p>Following the 2015-16 season, Durant opted to pick up his basketball and play elsewhere. Considering that Westbrook went on to average a triple-double in four seasons, it’s hard to find fault in him believing he was the better player, although he clearly wasn’t.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 15. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436601" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436601 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2206,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F875126318.jpeg" alt="John Starks" width="3200" height="2206" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/875126318.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/875126318-768x529.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">John Starks (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 15. John Starks</h2> <p>Not every NBA sidekick needs to be a notable name or borderline star. Yet, more times than not, that’s exactly the case.</p> <p>We can all remember names such as Scottie Pippen and Kyrie Irving in their secondary roles. But, if given more opportunities, they could’ve had even more success from an individual standpoint. Now while that doesn’t necessarily mean that they would’ve won championships as the lead guy, Pippen ultimately carved out a Hall of Fame career and Irving is destined to join him in the Hall once he hangs up his shorts for good.</p> <p>When it came to John Starks, he was never going to be mistaken for some great player that could have his own team. Nor was he a high-scoring baller who could drop 25 in high sleep. Although those superlative traits were seldom used to describe him, Starks was ridiculously important to the New York Knicks.</p> <p>Patrick Ewing was clearly the headliner, dropping roughly 25 points a night and double-digit boards but it was Starks who often pushed them over the top. In eight seasons with the Knicks, Starks averaged 14.1 points per game and four assists. The Knicks never missed the playoffs with Starks onboard and came within just a few plays of winning the title in 1994.</p> <p>Starks did it all, he closed the show late, took on the best challenges on the defensive side of the ball and has <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCTfxOrX4k8%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">possibly the most iconic dunk in Knicks history</a>. He was the perfect sidekick.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 14. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_193319" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-193319 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1477,w_1934/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F51659185-orlando-magic-guard-1-anfernee-hardaway-drives-p.jpg" alt="Penny Hardaway" width="1934" height="1477" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/51659185-orlando-magic-guard-1-anfernee-hardaway-drives-p.jpg 1934w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2016/04/51659185-orlando-magic-guard-1-anfernee-hardaway-drives-p-768x587.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1934px) 100vw, 1934px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1934px;">Penny Hardaway (Photo credit should read TONY RANZE/AFP/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 14. Penny Hardaway</h2> <p>It didn’t really matter who was Shaquille O’Neal’s teammate, he was always going to go down as one of the best players of all time. In his rookie season, the one and only year without a true star on his team, Shaq balled out. He poured in 23.4 points per game, grabbed 13.9 boards, and sent 3.5 shots into the stands a night.</p> <p>Shaq was an instant star but his game went to a whole other level once Penny Hardaway took the court. The ridiculously talented point guard was taken with the third overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. In his first season, he was already the team’s second-best player. Hardaway dropped a cool 16 points a night to go along with 5.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.</p> <p>As a result, Shaq’s numbers went through the roof. He averaged 29.3 points and 13.2 boards with his new sidekick. Penny may have been the team’s second-best player, but he was good enough to lead his own ship. In the following two seasons, Penny was selected to back-to-back All-Star squads while averaging over 21 points per game and a shade over seven assists.</p> <p>The Magic would make a Finals appearance along the way, but we’re dealt with by the Houston Rockets.</p> <p>Unlike most players on this list who are given a chance to be a team’s first option, we’ll never know how good Penny would’ve been in that role as injuries robbed him of his prime.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 13. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_423119" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-423119" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1212,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1129208251.jpeg" alt="David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs" width="1600" height="1212" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1129208251.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1129208251-768x582.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs. PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 13. David Robinson</h2> <p>David Robinson looked exactly the way you would expect an NBA superstar to look. He towered over the competition standing at 7’1. He also weighed a trim 235 pounds when he was in his athletic prime. In terms of workout warriors, Robinson was all of that and more. For eight seasons, Robinson did his very best to lead the San Antonio Spurs to an NBA title. But, no matter how hard he tried and regardless of his nightly gaudy numbers, Robinson was never able to lead them over the championship hump.</p> <p>It wasn’t until Tim Duncan made his way to the franchise in 1998, where they began enjoying success on another level. The days of Robinson averaging nearly 30 points per game were long gone but he was still a valuable contributor to the Spurs while playing as the primary sidekick to Duncan.</p> <p>Outside of his final season where he averaged a below-average 8.5 points per game, Robinson dropped 16.3 points per game, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. In three of their shared seasons together, Robinson was selected to the All-Star Game. More importantly, the Spurs took home two NBA titles. Granted, Duncan was the biggest contributor to those championship squads but Robinson played a huge role as well.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 12. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436588" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436588 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1141813976.jpeg" alt="Dwyane Wade" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1141813976.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1141813976-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Dwyane Wade (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 12. Dwyane Wade</h2> <p>Don’t listen to the narratives surrounding the early portion of Dwyane Wade’s career. He was not, I repeat, was not the sidekick to Shaquille O’Neal. The three played more than three seasons together and while Shaq was the bigger name, it was Wade who had the better game.</p> <p>During his time on the Miami Heat, Shaq averaged 19.6 points, 9.1 boards, and 1.9 blocks. Very good numbers without question but Wade was on another level. The near Heat lifer dropped 25.8 points a game to go along with just a shade under seven assists during his time with Shaq.</p> <p>Wade was simply the man when Shaq was around but he took a clear step back once the Heat got their hands on LeBron James. In their first year together in 2011, we still consider Wade the better player. James was brand new to the team and didn’t want to step on any toes. If you believe James was the better of the two in year one, just take a look at their NBA Finals numbers in 2011 against the Dallas Mavericks.</p> <p><strong>James averages: 17.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 6.8 apg, 47.8%, </strong><br> <strong>Wades</strong> <strong>averages: 26.5 ppg, 7 rpg, 5.2 apg, 54.6%</strong></p> <p>Yet, after losing those Finals, Wade publicly admitted that James was the better player. From there, Wade fell into his role as the number two man. He was no longer a player capable of dropping 30 a night. Instead, he went on to average 20.7 points per game in their final three seasons together. The end result was a positive one as Wade and James led the Heat to back-to-back titles.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 11. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_411512" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-411512" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_699,w_1022/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1155758904.jpeg" alt="Clyde Drexler" width="1022" height="699" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1155758904.jpeg 1022w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1155758904-768x525.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1022px;">Clyde Drexler(Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 11. Clyde Drexler</h2> <p>Believe it or not, but there was actually a point in time where comparing Clyde Drexler to Michael Jordan was deemed not only acceptable but feasible.</p> <p>To be fair, Drexler was terrific during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. During the late 1980s, he routinely poured in over 27 points a night and made numerous All-Star trips in the process.</p> <p>With the world wanting to know who was better between the two, the pair met in the 1992 NBA Finals. That said, Jordan utterly embarrassed Drexler, outscoring his man 35.8 to 24.8.</p> <p>For the next few years, Drexler still scored at a high clip and made consistent appearances at All-Star Games but he never pushed the Blazers over the championship edge. Drexler’s one and only ring would come during his years as a sidekick.</p> <p>At the age of 32, the Blazers pushed Drexler out the back door and sent him to the Houston Rockets to pair up with Hakeem Olajuwon. The all-world big man was still dominant, averaging over 23 points a game during three of his four seasons with Drexler. The former high flyer, on the other hand, didn’t have the same game but he was still incredibly effective.</p> <p>Drexler would go on to drop 19.2 points a night and over five assists. He wasn’t quite capable of taking over games anymore but as a second option, Drexler made a seamless fit next to Olajuwon.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 10. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436599" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436599 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_988,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1228222706.jpeg" alt="John Stockton and Karl Malone" width="1600" height="988" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1228222706.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1228222706-420x260.jpeg 420w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1228222706-768x474.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">John Stockton and Karl Malone (Photo by DANIEL LIPPITT/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 10. John Stockton</h2> <p>Throughout NBA history, no two players were joined at the hip quite like John Stockton and Karl Malone. The pair were inseparable and nearly indomitable on the court.</p> <p>As a duo, they truly began wrecking the league together from the 1987-88 season up until the 2002-03 league year. The stats they were able to rack up as a pairing seem nearly impossible.</p> <p>For instance, let’s take a look at Stockton, for nine consecutive seasons he led the NBA in assists and never averaged less than 11.2 during that stretch. He wasn’t an aggressive scorer but that doesn’t mean Stockton didn’t get busy on that side of the court either. Stockton averaged no less than 14.7 points during that nine-year run and recorded three straight seasons of at least 17 points per game.</p> <p>While Stockton was the brains of the operation, Malone was the muscle. From 1988-1998, Malone averaged at least 25.2 points per game. He was also a beast on the glass, racking up over 11 per game during a five-year span.</p> <p>Stockton and Malone made numerous All-Star trips, All-NBA appearances and pushed the Utah Jazz to the promised land in 1997 and 1998. However, no matter how great they were, they’ll always be linked to their NBA Finals battles against the Chicago Bulls in those back-to-back years where they came up just short.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 9. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_435645" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-435645 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_977,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F158381263.jpeg" alt="Kevin McHale" width="1600" height="977" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/158381263.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/158381263-768x469.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Kevin McHale, Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 9. Kevin McHale</h2> <p>The Boston Celtics of the 1980s were defined by the trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Bird, of course, was the unquestioned leader and best player on the team. McHale and Parish battled it out for the second spot. And while we love what Parish brought to the table on a nightly basis, McHale was the better player and Bird’s most reliable second option.</p> <p>From the moment McHale stepped into the league in 1980, he was a dominant low post baller who punished teams on the block. McHale knew exactly how to play his role. He never complained about settling into a secondary role on the bench. Nor did he voice his displeasure when he played around 25 minutes a night some seasons. He simply went out there, did his job and the results showed.</p> <p>With Bird, McHale and of course, Parish – the Celtics were on the receiving end of three NBA titles. During his 13 years with the franchise, McHale was named to seven All-Star Games and took home two Sixth Man of the Year Awards. For as much as we love Parish, he just wasn’t as good as McHale on most nights.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 8. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436600" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436600 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1336948443.jpeg" alt="Julius Erving" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1336948443.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1336948443-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Julius Erving (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 8. Julius Erving</h2> <p>Before there was Michael Jordan, there was Julius Erving.</p> <p>There was nothing quite like Erving when he played in the ABA. He soared through the air, waited about 15 minutes, made a few calls, checked his email, and after he was done doing all of that, he’d remember that he was in the middle of a basketball game and would flush it down.</p> <p>During his time there, Erving led the league in scoring on three separate occasions and won two titles. Yet, by the time he arrived in the NBA in 1976, he wasn’t as prolific and struggled to get the Philadelphia 76ers over the championship hump.</p> <p>Erving appeared to be destined to join his fellow great players who failed to win it all in the NBA. However, for the first time in possibly his entire ball-playing career, Erving went from the center of attention to second fiddle.</p> <p>From 1983-86, Moses Malone was the unquestioned best player on the 76ers. The Hall of Fame big man took home league MVP honors in 1983 as well as Finals MVP in that same year. For the next four seasons, while a teammate of Malone, Erving went on to average 20.4 points per game. His numbers would ultimately drop in the playoffs, falling to 17.8 during those four years. Simply put, Erving wasn’t that guy anymore.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 7. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_316439" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-316439" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F483686216.jpeg" alt="Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons" width="3200" height="2160" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/483686216.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/483686216-768x518.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 7. Joe Dumars</h2> <p>He never complained about getting little to no spotlight. Considering how good Joe Dumars was, he very well could have.</p> <p>Despite making four All-Star Games, numerous All-NBA and All-Defensive squads, as well as taking home Finals MVP in 1989, the Detroit Pistons were always going to belong to Isiah Thomas. It isn’t just because Thomas got there four years prior but it’s also because he was simply the better player and one of the best point guards in the league.</p> <p>Thomas was the engine that kept the ship going. He doubled Dumars in All-Star selections, 8-4, and finished his career with 9.3 assists per game, good for fifth all-time. Dumars isn’t ranked particularly high on any of the all-time lists in any category. That said, he was a great defender and made the life of Thomas much easier with his ability to hit shot after shot.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 6. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436602" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436602 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2408,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F909476302.jpeg" alt="Tony Parker" width="3200" height="2408" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/909476302.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/909476302-768x578.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Tony Parker (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 6. Tony Parker</h2> <p>Tim Duncan has been fortunate enough to play with several great players. From David Robinson and Manu Ginobili to Kawhi Leonard towards the end of his career. All of those ballplayers were great but another name stands out to us as the best sidekick Duncan has ever had.</p> <p>Tony Parker.</p> <p>From 2002-2016, Duncan and Parker were practically unstoppable. But to be fair, Parker wasn’t a sidekick during their entire run together. The Frenchman’s time as Duncan’s second in command officially ended during the 2008-09 season but let’s not focus on that. We’re here to talk about Parker’s life as the second banana.</p> <p>For six years, Parker was a reliable point guard for the San Antonio Spurs. He’ll never be mistaken as a sharpshooter but he practically lived in the paint and constantly churned out productive season after productive season. Parker never averaged less than 14.7 points during those six seasons and from 2006-2008, Parker averaged 18.9, 18.6, and 18.8 points per game.</p> <p>In addition to two All-Star Games, Parker was also named Finals MVP in 2007, making him the perfect player next to Duncan.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 5. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_426686" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-426686 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1270,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1301565618.jpeg" alt="James Worthy" width="1600" height="1270" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301565618.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301565618-768x610.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">James Worthy, Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 5. James Worthy</h2> <p>We all know that Magic Johnson was the Los Angeles Lakers best player for just over a decade. For most of his time there, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played second fiddle.</p> <p>But while the NBA scoring leader played a huge secondary role, by the time he got to his late 30s and early 40s, he was usurped in the pecking order by James Worthy.</p> <p>After spending the first few years of his career finding his footing in the league, Worthy not only became a star but he also became Lakers second-best player. From 1987-91, Worthy poured in 20.4 points per game to go along with 5.4 boards. The former number one overall pick made consecutive All-Star Games during that stretch as well.</p> <p>If there were any doubts that Worthy was the Lakers second best player during that run, Worthy immediately proved himself during the 1988 NBA Finals. With the Lakers and Pistons tied at three games apiece, Worthy took over in Game 7. Even with Abdul-Jabbar, Magic, Isiah Thomas, and Joe Dumars on the court, Worthy was head and shoulders above them all. He casually dropped a game-high 36 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists to take home Finals MVP.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436591" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436591 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2326,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1145368737.jpeg" alt="Stephen Curry" width="3200" height="2326" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1145368737.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1145368737-768x558.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Stephen Curry (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 4. Stephen Curry</h2> <p>Whether it’s in Oklahoma City, the Bay Area, or currently, in Brooklyn, New York – if Kevin Durant is on the team, he’s going to be the best player.</p> <p>Even with Stephen Curry winning two league MVP awards, one unanimously, a scoring title, an NBA title, as well receiving several All-NBA and All-Star Game selections, he simply had no choice but to cede the reins of the Warriors to Durant once he came along at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.</p> <p>Curry wasn’t your traditional secondary star. As previously stated, he had a truckload of awards well before Durant arrived. Even with the “Slim Reaper” on the squad, Curry actually averaged more points: 26.3 to 25.8. But make no mistake about it, Curry was certainly the secondary option.</p> <p>Outside of shooting, Durant was the better overall player. With his arrival, the Warriors won back-to-back titles and Durant was named Finals MVPs in both years.</p> <p>Despite the overwhelming level of success that the Warriors would ultimately have due to Durant – Curry will always be Golden State’s favorite homegrown son.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_425291" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-425291 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2357,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1214991534.jpeg" alt="Kareem Abdul-Jabbar" width="3200" height="2357" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1214991534.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1214991534-768x566.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images).</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</h2> <p>Magic Johnson knew it, even though he had too much respect for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to say it. Everyone on the Los Angeles Lakers knew it, even the front office. Heck, even Abdul-Jabbar himself knew it. Once the Lakers selected Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, the Lakers were officially his team.</p> <p>Johnson may have been a rookie but he was selected to the All-Star team in his first year. More importantly, after Abdul-Jabbar went down in the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Johnson jumped at center and dropped a cool 42 points, grabbed 15 boards, and dished out seven assists.</p> <p>The all-time leader in total points had plenty of great seasons with the Lakers. From 1980-1986, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 23.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds a night. Great numbers overall, but Johnson was simply on another level, dishing out 10.6 assists, grabbing 7.7 boards, and scoring at a healthy clip of 18.5 a game. Abdul-Jabbar was the man for the vast majority of his career but once Magic arrived at the doorstep of the Lakers, no one could usurp him.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436589" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436589 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1356,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1129023287.jpeg" alt="Scottie Pippen" width="1600" height="1356" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1129023287.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1129023287-768x651.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Scottie Pippen (Photo credit should read VINCE BUCCI/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 2. Scottie Pippen</h2> <p>It was as though someone took Scottie Pippen into a lab and decided to create the ultimate sidekick.</p> <p>There was essentially nothing Pippen couldn’t do. He was long and tall standing at 6’7 with a 7’3′ wingspan. He was a capable 3-point shooter, butter from mid-range, and at least once a game, he was putting a defender on a poster.</p> <p>The only problem with Pippen was that he was the perfect sidekick but never good enough to be a team’s leading man. With Michael Jordan far and away the better of the two, Pippen sat back and watched arguably the game’s greatest player receive most of the praise and adulation.</p> <p>Don’t let Pippen’s critics fool you though, he was very much a terrific player. Pippen was a multiple-time All-Star and was considered as the best on ball defender in the 90s. Without Pippen, Jordan won only one playoff game and didn’t come close to contending for a championship. With him, the Chicago Bulls took home six NBA titles.</p> <p>Pippen clearly wasn’t on the level of Jordan but without him, we’re confident Jordan wouldn’t have won as much as he did.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_436590" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-436590 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1220,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F10%2F1196669945.jpeg" alt="Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal" width="1600" height="1220" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1196669945.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/10/1196669945-768x586.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal (Photo by MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 1. Kobe Bryant</h2> <p>We remember Kobe Bryant and all of his greatness. From blowing by defenders and putting big men on posters during the early 2000s to backing down the opposition and hitting fadeaways in the mid-2010s.</p> <p>Bryant was impossibly great. He racked up seasons of over 30 points per game, won a league MVP, was named to 18 All-Star Games, won four All-Star Game MVPs, made 15 All-NBA teams, took home five NBA titles, and much more.</p> <p>But, before Bryant was considered the best player in the world during his peak, he took a clear backseat to Shaquille O’Neal. For eight seasons, Bryant brought the ball down the court, and before he looked for his own shot, he fed the ball to Shaq in the post.</p> <p>It was obligatory at that point as Shaq was the most unstoppable player on the planet. Simply put, not giving him the ball early and often would’ve been considered a travesty. Still, while Bryant was the team’s second star, he wasn’t your typical second option. Bryant averaged over 22 points per game in five of their shared seasons, over 25 a game three times, and once dropped 30 a night during the 2002-03 season.</p> <p>Bryant was ready to carry a team long before he received his chance in year nine. But, like anyone else who played with Shaq when he was in his prime, Bryant had no choice but to take the co-main spot.</p> <p>Simply put, no second star has ever been better than Kobe Bryant.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Predicting the stat leaders for every NBA team" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/19/predicting-the-stat-leaders-for-every-team/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/nba-history-25-best-sidekicks-of-all-time/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/19/predicting-the-stat-leaders-for-every-team/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Predicting the stat leaders for every NBA team </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">