With some of the greatest sixth men in NBA history, the LA Clippers are home to those who enjoy, or have no issue, coming off the bench. The notable finalists and winners in LA have been Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford, and they showed that age is meaningless for second-string production.
But, for them to attain the status of history's best, it took a strong sense of embracement. In fact, Williams preferred the bench, as he saw it as an advantage to use his signature left-sided mid-range jumper over weaker defenders.
Thus, Williams won the prestigious award three times, twice in back-to-back seasons. He likely would have three-peated had Montrezl Harrell not been a finalist with the veteran guard in 2020. Yet, that goes to show how the last decade for LA has been loaded with exquisite bench performers.
After Williams was Norman Powell, who some Clippers fans are still debating that he should have been a finalist the year Naz Reid heard his name called in 2024. But it is still worth noting that Powell finished fourth in award voting for two seasons in a row.
Last season was one of the first in which the Clippers did not have a competent sixth man. Bogdan Bogdanovic dominated in 26 games in LA's second string, but 10.8 points on the season, shooting below 43% from the floor, was not close enough to make it in the top ten voting.
Additionally, times are getting tougher for the Serbian star as he could miss months next season with the hamstring he hurt in the EuroBasket, which opens up space for franchise legend Chris Paul to swoop in and take a new pair of keys.
Chris Paul could run for Sixth Man of the Year for the first time in his 21 seasons
Aside from 40 games played off the bench for the Golden State Warriors, behind Stephen Curry, Chris Paul has started in every game of his career. Paul had to make the switch in the Bay with Steve Kerr, but in general, his name has never been seen in a Sixth Man of the Year campaign.
This should change next season, and along with a ring, Paul must write his goal of winning the award on a whiteboard, in order to manifest his dreams to reality.
Lou Williams was the world's best bench player at age 33, Jamal Crawford did it at age 35, so age is not an excuse that should hold Paul back, as claiming the crown at 40 is possible, and would make him the oldest in history to take the hardware home.