The greatest sixth man from each NBA team

Greatest sixth man in Oklahoma City Thunder history: James Harden

The Oklahoma City Thunder currently retain the long history of the Seattle Sonics, and will until the Sonics again join the Storm in Seattle. Plenty of great players came off the bench in significant roles in Seattle, including Nate McMillan, Sam Perkins and Eddie Johnson. Xavier McDaniel dropped 20.5 points per game off the bench in 1988-89.

Even so, it is a player from the relatively short Oklahoma City days that makes the top of the list, and that is James Harden. The shooting guard out of Arizona has become a household name due to his beard and game, winning MVP with the Houston Rockets in 2017-18.

Before the controversial trade that shipped Harden out of town, he was one of the best bench players in the league with the Thunder. On a team with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, coach Scott Brooks felt Harden’s best role was as the sixth man to attack opposing benches and sustain the offense with other reserves.

Harden did that and more, averaging 16.8 points per game by his third season in the league. There have only been 17 player seasons where a player started five games or fewer and put up at least seven win shares. Harden owns two such seasons, including the second-most win shares (9.3 in 2011-12). He also has the two youngest seasons on that list.

That 2011-12 season saw Harden accomplish a number of things. First, he proved himself the best bench player in the league for that year in bringing home the Sixth Man of the Year award. Second, he made an impact on the national stage, playing well in the NBA Finals even though the Thunder lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Finally, Harden earned himself a maximum-level contract that the Thunder were not willing to pay — at least, not with Durant, Westbrook and Serge Ibaka all needing major contracts as well. He was traded to Houston where he has started ever since, a trade that exists as one of NBA’s great what-if questions.