The NBA's 5 most important Sixth Men next season and where Dylan Harper lands

There are several consistent themes that you see with championship teams, and one of them is depth. You'll rarely see a group win a Finals series without a collection of players who can come off the bench and make an impact in big games.

That'll especially be true next season, as a handful of front offices across the league made moves to deepen their rotations. But of course, every bench unit needs someone to lead it. So, here's a ranking of the five best sixth men to be on the lookout for in the 2026-2027 campaign.

5. Reed Sheppard

Reed Sheppard was a bright spot in what was an underwhelming season for the Rockets last season. He averaged 13.5 points while draining 39% of his threes, taking a massive leap from his rookie year.

He played well in the 21 games he started in his sophomore run, but with Fred VanVleet's return, he'll stay in his bench role. That's perfectly fine, though. With the offensive leap we saw from him last season, he's more than ready to make a huge impact in his minutes for Houston. His red-hot shooting will give the Rockets an offensive boost if their starters can't get it going.

4. Anfernee Simons

There's been a lot going on in Philadelphia this offseason, between their trade for Jaylen Brown and the signing of LeBron James. But their acquisition of Anfernee Simons deserves some attention, as he gives them a reliable scoring option off the bench.

He averaged 14.2 points on a blistering 39.5% from three while playing a similar role for the Celtics through 49 games last season. His services will be extremely valuable for the Sixers come playoff time, as he can operate as a reliable shot creator and floor spacer.

3. Jrue Holiday

The Portland Trail Blazers have a lot of guards on their roster next season. Damian Lillard and Ja Morant will likely take up the two starting spots in their backcourt, and that would bring Jrue Holiday off the bench.

The 17-year vet still has a lot left in the tank, posting 16.3 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 45% from the floor and 37.8% from three last season. As a reserve, he'll still provide some reliable, experienced scoring and aggressive defense for the Blazers. He could also spend time on the floor in the closing minutes if Morant and Lillard struggle to string together stops.

2. Ajay Mitchell

Mitchell was fantastic for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, especially in the playoffs. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds on that stage, helping his team make a run to the Western Conference Finals. He established himself as a legitimate secondary scoring threat next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

But Jalen Williams is set to return next season, which could push Mitchell back to the bench. He'll still be a reliable source of offense, leading OKC's second unit with his ability to handle the ball and generate paint touches.

1. Dylan Harper

If you saw how this man performed in the NBA Finals, this should be of no surprise. Harper had one of the best rookie showcases ever on that stage, averaging 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He did exactly what you'd want to see from a bench player, giving the Spurs a much-needed offensive boost when starters struggled to score.

He'll undoubtedly see an increase in minutes and improve in several areas. Expect to see him be an even more dangerous playmaker and long-distance shooter for San Antonio. If Mitch Johnson can better manage his role, Harper will put together one of the strongest Sixth Man of the Year campaigns in recent memory.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow