The greatest role players in NBA history

What made Robert Horry’s NBA career so remarkable, besides the fact that he won an incredible seven championships, was how he helped his teams win those rings. “Big Shot Bob” made a career of stepping up and hitting crucial shots in the playoffs, including several game winners that directly translated into his teams winning titles. Horry began his career wining two titles in the 90’s with the Rockets, won three more with Phil Jackson’s Lakers, and won his final two in San Antonio alongside Tim Duncan before retiring in 2008.

One of the most accurate shooters in NBA history, Steve Kerr was never the biggest, strongest, or fastest guard on the floor, but he was usually the most reliable guard on the court. Kerr was a key rotation player for the second of the Chicago Bulls three-peat in the 90s, and was also a member of the San Antonio Spurs when they won their first two NBA titles in franchise history.

Playing in the back-court alongside Michael Jordan, Paxson won three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s.  By far his most memorable moment as pro came in Game Six of the 1993 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, where Paxson made the game-winning three pointer that would give Chicago its third straight title.

An all-time Lakers fan favorite, Derek Fisher helped the Lakers win five NBA championships in his 18 year career. “D-Fish” was a player who coach Phil Jackson could always rely upon in the playoffs, and without him it’s almost certain Kobe Bryant has a few less rings on his fingers. His most memorable moment with the Lakers came in game five of the 2004 Western Conference Finals, where he hit the infamous buzzer-beating “0.4” shot against the San Antonio Spurs.

As part of the “Bad Boy” era Detroit Pistons, Rick Mahorn played with a level of mental and physical toughness few players in NBA history have ever been able to match. His tenacity helped coach Chuck Daly create the culture the Pistons needed to win back-to-back NBA titles.

The Boston Celtics of the 1980s were spearheaded by the Bird-McHale-Parrish front-court, but in the backcourt was a timely guard by the name of Danny Ainge. With his sharpshooting and outstanding passing abilities, Ainge was a key player in the Celtics '84 and '86 championship runs.

Although he was a 20-plus-point scorer in the first half of his career, it wasn’t until Ron Harper joined the Chicago Bulls to play point-guard alongside Michael Jordan that he began to sniff postseason success. His length and tenacity on the defensive side of the floor helped the Bulls nab their second three-peat of the 90s. Harper then followed coach Phil Jackson to Los Angeles where he finished his career winning two more titles with he Lakers.

Despite never quite living up to the potential he had as the number one pick of the 1978 NBA Draft, Mychal Thompson proved to be a key role player for the Los Angeles Lakers '87 and '88 back-to-back title teams. With an aging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the team, Thompson was consistently relied upon to guard opposing foes top front-court players in the playoffs, and he delivered.

In his 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, Don Nelson proved to be key player in helping the Celts win five titles in the 60s and 70s. An extremely efficient shooter, Nelson was as steady a small-forward as the NBA has ever seen.

Known best for his NBA record streak of 1,192 straight games played, A.C. Green won two titles with the Los Angeles Lakers in two different eras. The first two came in the late 80s with Magic Johnson’s Showtime Lakers, and the third came in 2000 with Shaq and Kobe leading the way.

Although he entered the NBA as a scorer, it wasn’t until the tail end of his career that Bill Cartwright would know the thrill of winning an NBA title. As part of the Bulls first three-peat, Cartwright was the rock in the middle of the paint the that Jordan and the Bulls needed to be the best.

Bruce Bowen knew how to do two things on a basketball court: lay great defense, and stand in the corner and hit a three pointer. It might not sound like much, but without Bowen the San Antonio Spurs are likely not NBA champions in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Bowen is the epitome of a championship role player.

Despite never making a single All-Star team, Frank Ramsey was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981. Considered by legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach to be first “sixth-man” in NBA history, Ramsey was a key rotation player on seven different Celtics championship runs. Ramsey likely would have been a star on any other team, but instead he chose to sublimate some of his game for the sake of winning rings, making him one of the greatest role players off all-time.

One of the most fundamentally sound players ever, Shane Battier was consistently praised by coaches and teammates alike for what he brought to the teams he played for during his 10 year career. Never afraid to take a big shot while also boasting a high basketball IQ, Battier won back-to-back titles with LeBron James and the Miami Heat just a few seasons ago.

During his playing days Brian Shaw was always a key rotation player for championship contending teams. Shaw played 127 playoff games in his 11 year career, and won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s.

If it weren’t for a player by the name of Michael Jordan, Byron Russell would be more widely remembered as an indispensable part of the great Utah Jazz teams of the late 90s. Playing in the shadows of Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Jeff Hornacek, Russell was consistently asked by coach Jerry Sloan to guard the best perimeter player on the floor, while still finding ways to contribute on offense.

Widely considered the greatest coach in NBA history, many fans forget that Phil Jackson had a successful career as a player as well. As part of the 1970 and 1973 championship New York Knicks’, “The Zen Master” consistently provided the Knicks with scoring and rebounding off the bench.

Another player best known for what they did after their playing career, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Pat Riley was part of the title-winning 1972 Lakers. A combo guard/forward, Riley was typically the first man off of the bench for the Lakers, and helped the team set an NBA record 33-game winning streak that same season.

An undrafted free agent out of Florida, Udonis Haslem has quietly carved out a remarkable NBA career. While not a flashy player, Haslem has been a key rotation player in all three of the Miami Heat championship runs. His ability to consistently guard quality low-post players, box out, and hit a mid-range jumper makes him one of the greatest role players ever.

Nicknamed "The Spider” John Salley won four NBA titles with three different teams in his nine-year NBA career. The lengthy big-man from Brooklyn could always be relied upon by his teams to grab much needed rebounds or make a crucial defensive play in crunch time.

While he was one of the streakiest shooters in the NBA during his career, when it mattered most, Rick Fox was there. The small forward was a key perimeter defender for the Los Angeles Lakers during their three-peat run in the early 2000s. Fox played a total of 111 playoff games in his nine-year career.

While he might be best remembered for the glasses he wore on the court, Kurt Rambis was also a fierce basketball player. Giving the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s much needed energy and points off the bench, Rambis helped the Lakers win four titles during his tenure with the team.

A lengthy small forward out of Xavier University, James Posey proved to be pivotal role player for two different championship squads. Posey’s ability to guard players bigger than him and stretch the floor by hitting three pointers were indispensable tools in helping the Heat and Celtics win titles in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

What Mario Elie lacked in size and quickness, he made up for with cold-blooded shooting. Elie, who largely played shooting-guard finished his career with an effective field goal percentage of 53.7%, and was a part three championship winning teams; two in the mid 90s with Houston and then again in 1999 with San Antonio.

Despite being the target of much criticism, there is no denying the crucial role Kendrick Perkins played in Celtics most recent Finals runs. Perkins toughness in the paint made life for opposing big men hell at times, and if doesn’t get injured in game six of the 2010 NBA Finals, there’s an excellent chance the Celtics would have beaten the Lakers in Game 7 that year.

Another individual best known for what he’s done since his playing days ended, Mitch Kupchak won NBA titles with the Washington Bullets and Lakers in 1978 and 1985 respectively. Always a reliable big man in the low post, Kupchak played 68 playoff games in his nine-year career.

In his 16-year NBA career, Sam Perkins played in 167 playoff games and made three Finals appearances with three different teams. Despite never winning a title, 'Big Smooth' was as steady and consistent a basketball player a coach could ever ask for.

At 6’7’’ Malik Rose was always a tremendously undersized front-court player; but to Rose however, it didn’t matter. Despite his small stature, Rose would regularly guard top opposing low-post players for Coach Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. Rose won two titles with the Spurs in 1999 and 2003.

In his 12 year career, Lucious Harris was never the most talented of skilled basketball player on the court. For what he lacked in raw ability however, Harris made up for with toughness, versatility, and a high basketball IQ. Harris appeared in the two NBA Finals with New Jersey Nets in 2002 and 2003, but never won a championship.

An excellent perimeter defender who could also spot up and hit threes with the best of them, Raja Bell was quietly one of the NBA’s premier role players in 2000s. Playing his best years with Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns, the only time Bell saw time in the NBA Finals came in his first year as a pro with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001.