The greatest sixth man from each NBA team

Greatest sixth man in Phoenix Suns history: Leandro Barbosa

The Phoenix Suns are absolutely loaded with quality candidates for best sixth man, with options up and down franchise history. They are the only team to see four different players take home the hardware for the best bench player.

Danny Manning and Rodney Rogers both won the award for their work off the bench, averaging double-digit points. Eddie Johnson averaged 21.5 points off the bench in 1988-89, a crazy feat that won him the award as well. Dan Majerle put up 9.8 win shares off the bench in 1991-92, the second most all-time (behind Kevin McHale) for a player with 15 or fewer starts, and stands as one of the best sixth men to never win the award.

In the end, however, Leandro Barbosa gets the nod for his contributions to the Steve Nash Suns. He started 46 games his rookie season, then just 63 more over the other eight seasons he played in Phoenix. The “Brazilian Blur” played 553 total games for the Suns, most often deployed as an offensive spark off the bench.

Barbosa’s best season came in 2006-07 when he averaged 18.1 points and 4.0 assists, playing 32.7 minutes per game for the league’s best offensive team. From his speed cutting to the basket to a smooth outside shot Barbosa was as creative and gifted offensively as they come.