The 25 most influential non-stars in NBA history

Horry was a role player on seven championship teams, but he also more than carried his weight on a consistent basis. In fact, he became so known for coming through in clutch postseason moments that he earned the nickname "Big Shot Bob." Horry was never an All-Star, but he impacted winning on the biggest stages more than a lot of All-Stars ever have.

After playing international ball and bouncing around the NBA in the '90s, Bowen found his longest NBA home with the Spurs in the 2000s. His elite 3-and-D play helped San Antonio win three titles during the decade. While he was a complementary piece on offense, he was a star on defense, making eight consecutive All-Defense teams from 2001 to 2008, the last five of those being on the first team.

Battier's numbers don't look like much, but box scores undersell his value; he's been called the "No-Stats All-Star" for a reason. He was an efficient long-range shooter, but more critically, he was an intelligent All-NBA defender. Battier remained valuable late in his career, helping Miami win titles in 2012 and 2013.

It could be argued that Crawford is the most skilled offensive player to never be named an All-Star; He had four 50-point games in his career, the most for a player who was never an All-Star. "J-Crossover" was the ultimate microwave scorer, with his otherworldly ball-handling abilities playing a large role in that distinction.

Williams was a lot like Crawford in that he was one of the most prolific bench scorers in NBA history. He was named Sixth Man Of The Year three times and finished in the top three in voting an additional three times. Two of those winning seasons came in a late-career run with the Clippers, when he averaged over 20 points a night each year primarily off the bench.

Allen was a fan-favorite in Boston, but he resonated even more in Memphis. His offense came and went, but on the defensive end, he was an All-NBA stopper. The Grizzlies organization valued his contributions so much that they retired his jersey quickly after his retirement from the NBA.

Lin had perhaps the NBA's best underdog story of the 2010s: On the verge of being out of the NBA altogether, Lin had an incredible breakout month for the Knicks in 2012. Defined by unexpected offensive output, the sensation was dubbed "Linsanity" and it grabbed the world's attention. While he later found himself in supporting roles going forward, Linsanity was pivotal in ensuring he even had an NBA future.

Until his recent retirement, Green was the quintessential 3-and-D role player in the NBA. He regularly found himself contributing to championship teams: the Spurs in 2014, the Raptors in 2019, and the Lakers in 2020. He's come up when it's counted, too, like his crucial 18-point performance in a tie-breaking Game 3 of the 2019 Finals.

Ariza played for 10 teams over 18 seasons and at every stop, he was a reliable two-way player. Early in his career, he was a raw but very capable defender. As he got older, he developed a three-point shot, which he used to help the Lakers secure a title in 2009.

Smith was unpredictable, but he was still one of his generation's most impactful role players. He could explode for a 30- or 40-point game every now and then, capable of changing the momentum of games when his offense was really going. While he was a bit of a meme at times, he was ultimately a winner, contributing to championship squads with both the Cavs and Lakers.

After a quiet first two years in the NBA in Atlanta, Diaw won the Most Improved Player award in his debut season with Phoenix, putting up averages of 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. The 6'8" forward's versatility made him a key contributor to the Spurs' 2014 championship. There and beyond, his broad skill set and high-IQ play style made him a fit everywhere he went.

Tucker had a unique NBA journey: After an uneventful rookie season, he played ball overseas for years before returning to the NBA in his late 20s. With his second chance, he established himself as a perfect small-ball forward, with a game built on tough defense. Pair that with the ability to hit threes at a high rate and he was one of the league's most-valuable role players, like when he helped the Bucks win a title in 2021.

Fisher was one of the most visible point guards of the 2000s thanks to playing key roles on successful Lakers teams. He ended up winning five titles in Los Angeles, first as a trusted backup and then as a vital starter. Most notably, he hit his famous 0.4-second game-winner in the 2004 Conference Semifinals.

Odom was on a couple of those title-winning Laker teams with Fisher, at that point in his career an occasional starter with a diverse skill set. While he looked like a promising star early in his career, he never reached those heights. He did, though, routinely have scoring averages in the mid-to-high teens to go with solid rebounding and playmaking contributions.

It might be surprising to learn that Camby didn't sneak onto an All-Star team at some point in his career. While he never had much offense to boast about, he was one of the league's best shot-blockers for well over a decade, leading the NBA in blocks per game four times, including three years in a row. He picked up a DPOY trophy and made a handful of All-Defense teams, too.

Players who are 6'9" and players who have a 7'2" wingspan aren't particularly unusual in the NBA, but it's less common when one guy checks both of those boxes. Prince did, though, and that helped make him a menace on defense in the 2000s. He was also an efficient offensive contributor for the Pistons teams of the era, playing a key role in their 2004 championship.

Miller led the NBA in assists per game for the 2002 season, and in the years before that and in the many after, he remained one of the league's best distributors. In fact, he's one of just 13 players ever with at least 8,000 career assists. Miller remained productive late into his career, when he earned some Sixth Man Of The Year consideration.

Kerr has been more of a star as a coach than he was as a player. He was a key component of those three-straight championships the Bulls won in the late '90s, though. Most notably, the biggest moment of his career was when he hit a game-winner in Game 6 of the 1997 Finals.

Haslem played in the NBA for a remarkable 20 seasons, each one with the Miami Heat. He was a trusted interior force for a long time, helping the team win titles in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Haslem appeared in just 102 games in his final eight seasons despite remaining healthy, a sign that while Miami stopped relying on him for his on-court contributions, he delivered substantial value elsewhere.

Thabo was one of the league's most-respected role players in the 2010s. He's best remembered for his time in Oklahoma City, where he made an All-Defense team in his first full season with the team. Sefolosha was critical during the Thunder's 2012 run to the Finals, like in the Western Conference Finals game where he put up a big 19 points and 6 steals.

Beverly was one of the NBA's peskiest defenders in the 2010s, making three All-Defense teams during the decade. He was also a top-tier instigator, whether it was through his relentless on-ball defense or on-court antics. It was via effort and intensity that Beverly influenced every team he played for.

Before the modern three-point explosion, Miller was one of the most prolific high-volume long-range shooters in the league. He played a number of roles throughout his career, from winning Rookie Of The Year to getting a Sixth Man Of The Year award to being a leading scoring option. As a veteran, he had some big-time moments for the Heat during their 2012 and 2013 championship runs.

After an up-and-down tenure with the Lakers, Caruso blossomed as an All-NBA defender with the Bulls and then the Thunder. His high-energy play style provides a jolt to his teams, especially when he was part of the core of the title-winning 2025 Thunder. Though Caruso entered the league undrafted, he's now an energy-shifter any team would fine useful.

Bell finished his career shooting over 40 percent from three-point range. That wasn't even his biggest asset, though, as he was also a lockdown defender. That was especially true during his time with the Suns in the 2000s, when he made two All-Defense teams.

The fact that Collison earned the nickname "Mr. Thunder" says a lot. He spent his whole career in Seattle and Oklahoma City, providing consistent toughness and leadership during good times and bad. He's so beloved by the Thunder that after he retired, the franchise retired his jersey.