Top 10 current NBA role players

This season we have heard a lot about start like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Lebron James and so many others, especially with the All-Star break right around the corner, but it is time to recognize some of the unsung heroes of teams.

The players who are doing their job at an extremely high level- YES, the role players.

10. Bucks, F, Bobby Portis

Beginning our list is a man who has been quintessential to the Milwaukee Bucks for years now, after starting his NBA career in 2015 it took some time but Portis found a home with the Bucks, playing with them since the 2020-21 season and receiving Sixth Man of the Year votes in three of the five seasons in Milwaukee, providing an ever so consistent 13.5 points and eight rebounds with the Bucks.

9. Kings, F, Keegan Murray

Keegan Murray has continued to progress in his third year in the NBA, despite declining efficiency and other box score stats his presence for the Kings has been very important as they sit on the edge of the play-in in spitting distance of the playoffs. Specifically, his rebounding, currently averaging about seven a game, has been especially important.

8. Grizzlies, G, Luke Kennard

It wouldn’t be a list of top role players without the NBA league leader in three-point percentage. The Grizzlies have many guys who could have made this list but Kennard is the pick because of the consistency and comfortability in which he plays his role, shooting 49.1% from three on 4.7 attempts per game.

7. Thunder, G, Aaron Wiggins

Another team on this list that has multiple elite role players but Wiggins is the pick for Oklahoma City because of the versatile impact on the game he has. On any given night he could choose to either go 5-6 from the field or provide multiple steals and good defense but what is very rare for the product from Maryland is to have a bad game. Whenever he is on the court you can be confident they are productive minutes.

6. 76ers, F/C, Guerschon Yabusele

A name we would have been shocked to see in years past because he wasn’t even in the NBA, Guerschon Yabusele has been one of the best players for the 76ers this season after a fantastic Olympic campaign providing an astounding 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, and about a steal per game while shooting 50% from the field and 39.3% from three-point range. A man who was out of the league for about five years is now one of the most efficient players in basketball.

5. Celtics, G, Payton Pritchard

Breaking into the top five role players in the NBA is Payton Pritchard, he is in the midst of an incredible year off the bench for Boston where he may win the Sixth Man of the Year award as he has been averaging 14 points, 3.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds while shooting a dynamic 41.7% from three. He has been the leader of the bench unit on one of the best teams in basketball and that reason alone is worthy of him making this list.

4. Cavaliers, G, Ty Jerome

One of the best bench pieces in basketball this season has been Ty Jerome, he has not played that many minutes, just 18.8 minutes per game but his presence has been felt, similarly to Aaron Wiggins he has been productive every time he is on the floor.

Jerome’s individual statistics may not be impressive but he has shot 52/43/88.5% this season and if you glance at his per 36 minutes statistics he would be averaging 21.7, 6.5 assists, and multiple steals a game, obviously, this is far from the 11 points, three assists and a steal he is putting up but still an excellent season for the UVA star.

3. Kings, G, Malik Monk

Would it be a role players list without Malik Monk? He has continued to be one of the best role players of this decade providing the Kings with a healthy 18 points per game while giving them a significant percentage of their three-point production. On top of his scoring ability, he is enjoying career highs in assists and rebounds while garnering a steal a game.

2. Hawks, G, Dyson Daniels

Entering his first season with the Hawks’ Dyson Daniels has taken off, blowing all expectations out of the water by being a top defensive player of the year candidate and a certain All-defensive first-team selection.

He has utilized his active hands by claiming 3.1 steals per game on top of the 13 points, five rebounds and almost four assists he has been gaining for the Hawks. Providing Atlanta the defense it so desperately needed alongside Trae Young, a notoriously poor defender

1. Rockets, F, Amen Thompson

Claiming the title of best role player in the NBA currently is a man who may not be considered a role player for long if he continues the way he has been playing. Amen Thompson, a major piece of the future and now for the Houston Rockets has been on fire this season giving over a steal and block per game on the defensive end while giving almost 14 points, eight rebounds and about three assists on the other end while shooting 55.7% from the field.

Amen, as his middle name suggests, is destined for excellence and could be an all-star very soon if he continues to grow as a player and make the big plays like he did against the Boston Celtics.

There are many other very talented role players across the NBA and many more coming, we will just have to watch who is hooping and earns their spot on the next top 10.

Massimo Manfra is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mgm6116@psu.edu.