NBA Opinion: The "Sixth Man" Is a Myth

I’m not one to nitpick, but there is a phrase out there that has always irked me.  By the title of this essay, you’ve probably figured it out.  It’s “The Sixth Man.”

I never understood the league’s obsession with “The Sixth Man.” Many define it as that player who comes off the bench and contributes at a high level, often playing “big” minutes.  For some, “The Sixth Man” invokes feelings of “the little man” or “the man who doesn’t get enough credit.” 

Just drop it.

For me, “The Sixth Man” is simply a player who is good, but isn’t good enough to start over another individual at his starting position.

Some of you will probably say, “But Feed, he could be a starter!”

To you all, I answer: “Then why does he start on the bench?”

Many others will say “But Feed, the player thrives off the bench, and enjoys his role as ‘The Sixth Man’!”

To you I ask: what does this say about him as a competitor?

In Meet the Fockers, the audience finds Gaylord Focker, the over-loved, slightly insecure male nurse, back at his parents’ home.  There, the audience learns that his parents keep a “wall of achievement” where they have attached every award Gaylord earned as a child, whether it was a fifth place ribbon or a Certificate of Participation.

For me, “The Sixth Man of the Year Award” is not too different.

I see this award as an “MVP for second tier players.”  Essentially, after the MVP, there are all of the other starters across the league.  These players are ranked in order of second best to worst.  After the worst starting player, we find “The Sixth Man of the Year."  I will concede that “The Sixth Man” may be better than some starters on other teams, but I find it highly improbable that he is better than the majority of them. 

In this league, you either have to be the best, or the best bench player to get recognized with an award.  If we’re going to do that, I’m awarding Pau Gasol “The Best Foreigner Award.”

I’m awarding Tony Parker “The Best Frenchman Award.” 

I’m awarding Mickael Pietrus “The Second Best Frenchman Award.”

Shannon Brown will get “The Best D-League Product Award."

Come to think of it, just give me an award.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m all for a talented player coming off the bench.  I’m all for a deep team.  I’m all for Lamar Odom. I’m glad some of these players sacrifice their own glory to start off the bench.

Let’s just not award them for it.

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