The O'Brien Gold Cup is where every NBA team aspires. Looking back at the history of the NBA, there are many superstar players who have never had a championship, such as Carl Malone, Barkley, Iverson, and Nash. In addition, there are role players in the history of the NBA who have had many championship experiences.
Luck is part of the factor, but compared to the role players who are not outstanding in the number of other champions, this group of people does have their own superiority. Otherwise, how can they win the contract of the championship team and the approval of the coach for a long time? In the past, well-known basketball commentator Xu Jingyu once proposed the concept of "role master" to describe some of the team's brilliant role players.
In this article, the author will borrow this concept, synthesize the number of championships and the degree of stealing and stability of role players, and take stock of the ten most representative character masters in the history of the NBA for reference. Of course, due to space limitations, if there are other choices of lost pearls, please also leave a message in the comment area to add.
10. Patrick McCaw
Whether measured by championship numbers or as a green leaf figure, Patrick McCaw doesn't outdo the NBA's many role players. However, he has his own special reasons for being listed. In the three years after entering the industry, McCaw has played for the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors three teams, directly is the dream start of the triple championship, the championship is a historic explosion.
The value of the three championship rings he received alone was equivalent to a year more than a fringe role player of his own level. At present, McCaw is still playing for the Raptors, but has been completely reduced to a water dispenser player, and has not yet played less than 20 minutes this season.
IX. Don Nelson
For Don Nelson's cognition, the impression of modern NBA fans is mostly stuck in his brilliant but regretful coaching era. As the NBA coach who has won the best coach honor three times and accumulated thousands of wins, Don Nelson enjoys the reputation of "mad scientist". In his coaching career, Nelson Sr. was known for his creativity and advanced understanding, and he was born under the hands of the organization of forwards, shark cutting tactics, and small ball tactics.
However, in his 31-year coaching career, the elder Nelson has never led the team to the NBA championship, which is the biggest crownless pearl in the field of coaching. Fortunately, the elder Nelson has already tasted the taste of the championship gold cup many times in his player years.
As a small forward, Don Nelson entered the NBA league since the 62-63 season and left the NBA in the 75-76 season, playing a total of 14 NBA seasons. During this time, Nelson Sr. played for the Chicago West Wind, los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics, helping the Greens win four championships along the way. Throughout his career, Nelson Sr. was known for his high ball quotient and tactical execution, averaging 20.6 points per game, contributing 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
VIII. Jim Rouskutov
From the beginning of the 55-56 season to the end of the 63-64 season, Rouskutov played for the Green Army for nine years, winning six championships with the team and never changing teams. During that time, his stats were 6.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists. As a seemingly inconspicuous role player, Jim Rouskutov presents himself with defensive ability.
Although he has never looked like a star in his career, in recognition of his contributions, the Green Army helped him retire the jersey, and the back number of the shirt is not a number, but his nickname LOSCY. As a blue-collar player, having won so many championships in his career and a special jersey retirement ceremony, Rouskutov has no regrets.
VII. Tom Sanders
The Green Army Celtics have a glorious history, in addition to a number of stars who can count the number of names, they also have a lot of high-quality role players. In this group, there is also a must mention of Tom Sanders, who has eight champions.
As a forward, Tom Sanders has never been named to the All-Star or All-Team. In the Green Army, he has been about 10 points and 7 boards for many years, and has set up a dog and horse work for the Green Army throughout the sixties. Looking at NBA history, only Bill Russell and Sam Jones, the green army leaders, have more championship rings than him.
Michael Cooper
As a forward swingman, Michael Cooper was primarily active in the eighties. After 12 seasons in the NBA, the man averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, and his best season was 11.9 points, 3.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
Not only to win, but to win beautifully, which is the slogan of the Lakers in the show TIME era. Although not known for their overall defensive ability, the Lakers of that era were equipped with the ace lock of the opposing arrow players - Michael Cooper.
As a role player, Michael Cooper has top defensive ability, and the DPOY award has been included in his pocket and has been selected for the defensive lineup many times. Presumably to be part of the Lakers' most glorious history, retiring with the honor of five crowns will be the proudest thing for this role fighter.
V. Steve Cole
Anyway, the brother has been a thigh for a year, why not have one more time?
In the final moments of the 1997 Finals G6, Jordan was tightly guarded in the final moments of the game and had no place to complete the shot. As previously discussed in the pause, he passed the ball to the sharpshooter Cole, who successfully delivered the final blow. In that year's winning parade speech, Steve Kerr recalled the goal and left such a classic golden sentence, amusing everyone in the audience, including Jordan, Pippen, and Zen Master.
As a role player, Kerr can always play the role of a well in key moments, providing the team with three-point firepower to stop the bleeding. The highlight of his career was his involvement in the Bulls' last three consecutive dynasties. In addition, he joined popovich's Spurs in the follow-up, playing the role of locker room spiritual leader and substitute shooter in the team, successfully winning two more championships and scoring a total of five championships in his career.
Ron Harper
Before joining the Bulls in the '94-95 season, Ron Harper was a good offensive and defensive quasi-star guard who could fly and jump, averaging 23 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the best season.
I don't know what kind of drug the Zen master gave him, after joining, Ron Harper, who was still in his current year, was willing to accept the pseudo-starting positioning of averaging about 23 minutes per game, and gave up a lot of shooting rights and focused on defense in the following years.
As the biggest sacrifice in the Bulls' lineup, Ron Harper incarnated as a perfect puzzle and participated in the journey of the last three consecutive games. Around the turn of the century, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers with the pace of Zen Master, and added two more crowns as a role player, ending his career with a total of five crowns, which was very successful. When it comes to the role master, there must be this fierce character Number One.
Iii. Derek Fisher
From the three-consecutive overlord dynasty led by the OK combination to the double crown era led by Kobe Bryant, Fisher, who has five crowns in hand, is an important member of the lineup. Can't run fast, can't jump high, the offensive ability with the ball is reliable but not outstanding, fans never expect this ordinary talented player to stand up and save the world, but at key moments, the old fish's confident and powerful heart and excellent shooting skills can always come in handy.
II. Andrei Iguodala
When it comes to the role master, how can we skip the adjective master Buddha-figure that is tailor-made for it?
Before joining the Warriors, Iguodala had been an All-Star, and according to the salary he was given at the time, he should have become the Warriors' main player. However, under Cole's consideration and arrangement, Iguodala turned into a green leaf player, even in the first championship stage, his position in the team is between four and five bosses.
Back in the 14-15 finals, when he was 1-2 behind, Cole made a strange move to put Iguodala on the starting line-up. Cole's operation was colorful in laying the groundwork drama, plus including the benefits of the brand sponsor, the most important thing was that Iguodala himself played a competitive performance, and finally won the honor of the FMVP that year.
The resume of the career triple crown is not top-notch in the role player corps, but the story of stealing FMVP experience in supporting roles is too legendary. After retiring, Iguodala may be able to enter the Hall of Fame as a player.
One, Robert Horry
In his career, Robert Horry's only personal honor was the rookie second team, and the career statistics were only 7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists, but he had seven championship rings. What is even more commendable is that in 7 championship experiences, he has successfully played his own value in three completely different environments with the Houston Rockets, 3 with the Los Angeles Lakers, and 2 with the San Antonio Spurs. On the role of the lord, once Horry comes out, who can compete?
In terms of personal characteristics, Robert Horry is best known for his ability to shoot key balls and his ability to do things on the court as a villain. Because of the former point, Robert Horry won the reputation of "Big Shot Rob"; because of the latter point, he was destined to be spurned by a large audience, including Nash fans, and the villain image was difficult to wash away.