The best ever

Sporting News, The, April 10, 1995 by Jackie Krentzman

The five best finishers in NBA history had one quality in common: They were all winners. Four of the five played on championship, and the fifth, Ricky Pierce, played on winning teams. Very few championship teams lacked a high-profile reserve, and most had that one special player who was good enough to start on just about any team in the league. here are the fab five finishers:

John Havlicek. He wasn't the first significant sixth man, but he was the best. Hondo was the prototype for the energetic, versatile finishers that followed him, as he played shooting guard and small forward as well as anyone in the league. Celtics Coach Red Auerbach made Havlicek his sixth man when he joined the team in 1962; Sam Jones and Tommy Heinsohn were playing ahead of him. Havlicek spent most of his first 10 seasons coming off the bench, but he was always on the floor at the end of the game. His career averages of nearly 37 minutes and 220.8 points per game - and don't forget the eight championships - demonstrate that he was as integral to the Celtic's success as any starter.

Players often got hung up on being the sixth m an because they wanted to start," Havlicek says. "But it never mattered to me whether I started or not, because minutes and finishing were the most important things."

Havlicek retired the Sixth Man Award was instituted in 1982, but considering that Havlicek is the NBA's sixth-leading career scorer, the league should name it the John Havlicek Award.

Kevin McHale. many consider McHale a starter and forget that he was the Celtics' sixth man his first five seasons in the league, winning the Sixth Man Award in 1984 and 1985. McHale played all three frontline positions. In addition to his scoring (17.9 ppg). McHale was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times and Second Team another three times.

"As a rookie (1980-81), I was coming to a team that had won 60 games the year before," McHale says. "There was no reason to mess with the mix. And it worked out great for me. Playing against tired starters or weaker bench players, I really had a chance to learn and have an immediate impact on the game."

McHale was a seven-time All-Star and played on the three championship teams.

Ricky Pierce. He is the best pure shooter among the league's finishers. Known for his 15-foot jumper and his foul-shooting accuracy. Pierce, who has been on the Warriors' injury list most of the season, won the Sixth Man Award in 1987 and 1990. Although he doesn't have the versatility or defensive prowess of a Havlicek or McHale, he still could play shooting guard or small forward.

Yet what defines Pierce, is his professionalism. Every person interviewed puts Pierce among the great ones; and current top finishers, such as Dell Curry and Roy Tarpley, call Pierce the sixth man they admire the most.

"The trend may be toward versatile, defensive-oriented sixth men," Tarpley says. "But I believe you will always need scoring off the bench. I love the way Ricky can come in and always be ready to put up the big numbers."

Bobby Jones. Jones was the prototype for the defensive-minded, scrappy sixth man. A starter early in his career, Jones was the 76ers' sixth man in the early '80s and was known as one of the most unselfish players to play the game. He won the first Sixth Man Award in 1983, the year the 76ers won the NBA title.

A 6-foot-9 forward, Jones never averaged named to the league's All-Defensive First Team eight times.

"Bobby Jones was so mentally prepared. that after just one or two times down the court, he was already perspining," Michael Cooper says.

Michael Cooper. He could do everything well. He played all three small positions, led the Lakers in 3-point shooting five times, served as Magic Johnson's backup at point guard and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 1986-87 (as well as being chosen to the All-Defensive First or Second Team eight consecutive years). He won five championship rings and was usually on the floor at the end of tight games.

Honorable mention. Dennis Rodman, Frank Ramsey, Detlef Schrempf, Vinnie Johnson, Junior Bridgeman and Billy Cunningham.