The greatest sixth man from each NBA team

Greatest sixth man in Detroit Pistons history: Vinnie Johnson

While the Boston Celtics may have invented the sixth man, and utilized a number of high-profile players in the role, the Detroit Pistons can boast that they started the archetype of the modern sixth man. Teams today use prolific offensive guards off the bench as “microwave scorers” who can come into a game cold and generate points.

Back in the 1980s, the Detroit Pistons employed “The Microwave” himself, Vinnie Johnson. He was a Pistons mainstay, playing more games than any other Detroit guard during the Chuck Daly era. While players such as Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer are more well-known for their part in the “Bad Boys” identity, Johnson was no less an integral part of that dynasty’s success.

During the rise to and defense of dominance in the 1980s and early 90s, Johnson played in 485 out of a possible 192 games. Filling in only when an injury to Thomas or Joe Dumars kept them out of the lineup, Johnson started just 72 of those 485 games.

The Microwave earned himself a new nickname due to the most famous play of his career. The Pistons closed out their second title in 1990 on a Johnson jumper that snapped through the net with 0.07 seconds remaining. Johnson was known as “007” in Detroit after that.