8. Jason Terry
Career statistics: 13.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.8 APG
There are a bunch of great sixth men who didn’t ever make the All-Star Game strictly because they predominantly came off the bench. Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams are two such players that come to mind, but Jason Terry is perhaps the best of the bunch.
Terry didn’t come off the bench until the back half of his career, though, as he was a starter for the better part of his first eight years in the league. Terry was nicknamed “The Jet” because of his incredible speed, and he was also capable of hitting big shots in big moments. Seemingly any Jason Terry score seemed like it was highlight-worthy, and the guard eventually won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, upsetting James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat.
7. Ron Harper
Career statistics: 13.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.9 APG
Ron Harper is best known for being a role player on the Chicago Bulls during the second of their two three-peats, but he was much more than a role player. Harper was a volume scorer and No. 1 option for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers in the ’80s and early ’90s, before he sacrificed his scoring for the greater good in his later days. He even won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers while playing in this smaller role after his time with the Bulls, bolstering his credentials as a high-impact role player.
Harper’s versatility was impressive. His lack of winning in his early days and his lack of scoring production in his later days justify why he never made an All-Star Game. In hindsight, though, he proved he could win and score, and that means he was at least an All-Star level talent. Just as importantly, Harper was a great defender who was above-average for guards at rebounding.
Harper averaged more than 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals during an eight-year stretch of his career. Only Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler had better production during that time period.