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10 NBA Starters Who Might Be Better Off As Sixth Men

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 23, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 109 - 89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 109 - 89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) walks to the sideline during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brandon Knight

Like Arron Afflalo, we barely have a sample size to work with when it comes to Brandon Knight coming off the bench. He’s played a grand total of one game where he wasn’t in the starting lineup this season, and that was only because head coach Jeff Hornacek was trying to send a message that it takes 100 percent effort on a nightly basis to make it in this league.

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In that one game — a 21-point loss to the Utah Jazz — Knight was the lone bright spot for the Phoenix Suns, finishing with 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting in 35 minutes. Nothing can be drawn from that microscopic a sample size, but one thing has become abundantly clear watching him start along Eric Bledsoe: this backcourt may never thrive together.

Looking at the raw numbers, you’d think Knight had been in the middle of a career year leading up to his groin injury. He’s averaging a career high 19.7 points, 5.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game on the season and had quite a few energetic performances where he provided the Suns with their chief scoring threat.

But Knight’s streaky shooting (.424/.333/.847) is better suited for the bench, especially when bearing in mind his poor facilitating skills, his high number of turnovers (3.5 per game), his worrisome shot selection (long twos, anyone?) and his completely nonexistent defense. With rookie Devin Booker on the rise, it’s only a matter of time before Knight is expendable as a starter and accepts his ideal role in this league as a sixth man.

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