Here are my top 8 bench units heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 38.5
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +4.1
* **Key Bench Players:** Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Ousmane Dieng, Jaylin Williams, Aaron Wiggins
* **Playing Style:** Relentless defensive energy, high-IQ passing, and opportunistic 3-point shooting.
The Thunder's bench isn't just deep; it's *smart*. Wallace is a terror on defense, picking up full-court and disrupting opponents. He shot 41.9% from three in his rookie year, so he's not just a stopper. Joe is a flamethrower, hitting 41.6% from deep last season on high volume, and he’s always ready to let it fly. Dieng, heading into his third year, is finally putting it together as a versatile forward who can handle the ball and defend multiple positions. Williams is a steady hand at center, setting screens and making plays, while Wiggins is the ultimate glue guy, often out-hustling opponents for loose balls and rebounds. This unit plays with the same frantic pace and defensive intensity as their starters, making them incredibly difficult to break.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 36.0
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +3.8
* **Key Bench Players:** Derrick White (if moved to bench), Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard, Jordan Walsh
* **Playing Style:** Elite spacing, high-volume 3-point shooting, and fundamentally sound defense.
Okay, this ranking assumes Boston makes a move or two that shifts their rotation slightly, perhaps pushing White to a sixth-man role if they acquire another starting-caliber guard. Even if he starts, Pritchard and Hauser provide instant offense. Hauser shot 42.4% from three in 2023-24, and he's not afraid to launch from anywhere. Pritchard is a gritty guard who can score in bunches and brings a tenacious defensive attitude. Kornet, while not flashy, provides solid interior defense and rebounding. The dark horse here is Jordan Walsh, who showed flashes of his defensive potential and athleticism in limited minutes. He’s the kind of young player who could really pop. This bench knows its role: space the floor, hit open shots, and don’t give an inch defensively.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 35.5
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +3.5
* **Key Bench Players:** Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Reggie Jackson, Zeke Nnaji, Julian Strawther
* **Playing Style:** Athleticism, defensive versatility, and opportunistic scoring in transition.
The Nuggets' bench is built on their athleticism and defensive potential. Braun is a high-energy wing who defends multiple positions and makes hustle plays. His 3-point shot needs to become more consistent (32.4% in 2023-24), but he's already a proven winner. Watson, an incredible leaper, provides elite rim protection and disruptive defense. He’s a nightmare in passing lanes. Jackson is a veteran presence who can run the offense and hit clutch shots, though his efficiency can be spotty. Nnaji offers a mobile big who can stretch the floor, and Strawther brings more shooting from the wing. What I like about this unit is their ability to change the pace of the game, pushing the ball and getting easy buckets.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 39.0
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +2.9
* **Key Bench Players:** Devin Vassell (sixth man role), Malaki Branham, Zach Collins, Blake Wesley, Sidy Cissoko
* **Playing Style:** Young, athletic, defensive-minded, with improving offensive versatility.
This is my hot take. The Spurs are going to be a problem, and their bench is a huge reason why. Imagine Vassell coming off the bench as a super-sub, giving them an instant 18-20 points a night. He shot 37.2% from three last season and can create his own shot. Branham is a silky smooth scorer who will continue to grow as a playmaker. Collins is a solid backup center who can shoot the three (32.0% in 2023-24) and provide interior defense. Wesley's speed and defensive intensity are infectious, and Cissoko is a raw but high-potential wing defender. This unit is going to play with incredible pace and make opponents uncomfortable with their length and athleticism. They might give up some points, but they’ll force turnovers and create chaos.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 37.0
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +2.5
* **Key Bench Players:** Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs (if moved), Moritz Wagner, Anthony Black, Caleb Houstan
* **Playing Style:** Physical defense, aggressive attacking of the rim, and improving perimeter shooting.
The Magic's identity is defense and physicality, and their bench mirrors that. Anthony is a dynamic scorer who can heat up quickly, averaging 11.6 points last season. If Suggs comes off the bench, he's a major factor defensively, a relentless on-ball pest. Wagner brings energy, tough screens, and surprising offensive touch around the basket. Black, a rookie last year, is a big guard who can facilitate and defend, already showing signs of being a high-IQ player. Houstan is their dedicated shooter, hitting 37.3% from deep in 2023-24. This unit suffocates opponents with length and athleticism, then attacks the rim on offense.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 36.5
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +2.2
* **Key Bench Players:** De'Anthony Melton, Paul Reed, Ricky Council IV, KJ Martin, Mo Bamba (if re-signed)
* **Playing Style:** Tough, defensive-minded, with versatile athleticism and a knack for offensive rebounds.
The Sixers bench is built on grit. Melton is a fantastic 3-and-D guard who averaged 1.2 steals in 2023-24 before injuries. Reed is a high-motor big who crashes the boards and plays with relentless energy. Council, in his rookie year, showed bursts of explosive scoring and athleticism, averaging 9.0 points in April. Martin is another athletic wing who can defend and run the floor. If they can bring back a player like Mo Bamba to shore up the backup center spot, this unit becomes even more formidable. They play with a chip on their shoulder and will out-work most opposing second units.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 35.0
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +2.0
* **Key Bench Players:** Tyler Herro (if sixth man), Caleb Martin, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Thomas Bryant
* **Playing Style:** Playoff-tested toughness, versatile scoring, and relentless effort.
The Heat always seem to squeeze every last drop out of their role players. If Herro embraces a sixth-man role, he's instantly one of the best bench scorers in the league, capable of dropping 20+ points on any given night. Martin is a proven playoff performer who brings defensive tenacity and timely shooting (35.4% from three last season). Jovic and Jaquez Jr. are two young, versatile forwards who can handle the ball, shoot, and defend. Jaquez was a revelation in his rookie year, averaging 11.9 points and showing incredible poise. Bryant provides a veteran big body off the bench. This unit embodies "Heat Culture" – tough, unselfish, and always competitive.
* **Bench PPG (2024-25 est.):** 38.0
* **Net Rating with Bench On-Court (2024-25 est.):** +1.8
* **Key Bench Players:** Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama, GG Jackson, Derrick Rose, Brandon Clarke
* **Playing Style:** High-volume 3-point shooting, energetic defense, and opportunistic scoring.
The Grizzlies' bench is primed for a bounce-back. Kennard is one of the league's most efficient 3-point shooters, hitting 45.0% from deep in 2023-24. Aldama is a versatile big who can stretch the floor (34.8% from three) and rebound. Jackson, in his rookie year, showed flashes of being an elite scorer, averaging 14.6 points in April. Rose provides a veteran presence and can still get to the rim. The biggest factor here is a healthy Brandon Clarke, who is a fantastic rim-runner and defender. This unit will play with pace, shoot a ton of threes, and bring a defensive edge.
These benches aren't just filling minutes; they're making an impact. The margin between a good team and a great team often comes down to who can sustain pressure for 48 minutes. The Thunder, with their young talent and defensive mindset, are perfectly positioned to have the league's best second unit.
My bold prediction? The San Antonio Spurs' bench will be the most *improved* unit in the league, jumping from bottom-tier to a top-five factor by the end of the 2025-26 season.