Hoops Habit
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NBA History: 25 best sidekicks of all time

By Hans Themistode

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (L), Shaquille O'Neal (C) and Brian Shaw (R) of the Los Angeles Lakers joke on the bench during the final minutes in game four of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs 27 May 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers beat the Spurs 111-82 to sweep the best-of-seven series 4-0. AFP PHOTO/Mike NELSON (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (L), Shaquille O'Neal (C) and Brian Shaw (R) of the Los Angeles Lakers joke on the bench during the final minutes in game four of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs 27 May 2001 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers beat the Spurs 111-82 to sweep the best-of-seven series 4-0. AFP PHOTO/Mike NELSON (Photo credit should read MIKE NELSON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale, Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images /

Ranking the 25 best NBA sidekicks of all time: 9. Kevin McHale

The Boston Celtics of the 1980s were defined by the trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Bird, of course, was the unquestioned leader and best player on the team. McHale and Parish battled it out for the second spot. And while we love what Parish brought to the table on a nightly basis, McHale was the better player and Bird’s most reliable second option.

From the moment McHale stepped into the league in 1980, he was a dominant low post baller who punished teams on the block. McHale knew exactly how to play his role. He never complained about settling into a secondary role on the bench. Nor did he voice his displeasure when he played around 25 minutes a night some seasons. He simply went out there, did his job and the results showed.

With Bird, McHale and of course, Parish – the Celtics were on the receiving end of three NBA titles. During his 13 years with the franchise, McHale was named to seven All-Star Games and took home two Sixth Man of the Year Awards. For as much as we love Parish, he just wasn’t as good as McHale on most nights.