What does bench points mean in basketball? Bench points in basketball means the points secured when a score is made by a player who did not start the game.
Initially, five players enter the court including a small forward, power forward, point guard, shooting guard, and center. They begin the game and get replaced by bench players in certain conditions.
National Basketball Association (NBA) games are played in four quarters of 12 minutes each. Though the actual playtime is 48 minutes, it lasts around 2.5 hours in real-time.
There is a short break after the end of the first and third quarters for the athletes to rest. Moreover, there is an intermission of 15 minutes after the second quarter is over.
Despite such breaks, players get tired since basketball is a physically challenging sport. To solve the problem, substitute players are kept on the bench. Such players can enter the game during substitutions, timeouts, injuries, foul plays, and game adjustments.
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What Are Bench Points In Basketball?
Bench points in basketball are the scores that are secured by the bench players. Bench players are the ones who are not a part of the starting lineup.
In simple terms, bench points(pts) are the scores earned by athletes other than the starting lineup. The NBA teams can have 15 players on their roaster. Among them, only 13 are allowed to dress and enter the court during the match.
Each team has their own bench in the arena. The starting lineup comprises 5 players whilst the remaining 8 athletes are benched. The substitute players contribute a lot to change the overall outcome of the game.
The reserve players provide support to the team and boost their energy. Moreover, they bring diverse skill sets to the arena like rebounding, scoring, defending, and so on.
The term 'sixth man' is oftentimes used in basketball games. It refers to the top substitute with a variety of skills and has contributed a lot to the team's success.
NBA All Time Bench Scoring List
NBA all time bench scoring list includes Lou Williams, Jamal Crawford, and Dell Curry on top. Eddie Johnson and Rickey Pierce also fall on the top 5 list.
Other players who have recorded the highest off-the-bench scores are as follows:
- Thurl Bailey: 8,695 pts in 699 games
- Manu Ginobili: 8,278 pts in 708 games
- Vinnie Johnson: 7,860 pts in 678 games
- Kevin McHale: 7,602 pts in 490 games
- Jason Terry: 7,523 pts in 731 games
Lou has an all-time high of 13,396 bench pts in 1001 games. Jamal ranks 2nd in the list of highest all-time bench pts. He secured 11,279 pts in 894 games and was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year three times.
Crawford played competitively for the Rainier Beach High School and the University of Michigan. Following his retirement, he broadcasted games for NBA League Pass.
Dell has the third-highest record with 11,147 bench pts in his career. Drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1986, the player is currently 58 years of age.
Curry retired in 2002 and briefly worked as a color commentator. His No. 30 jersey was retired by Virginia Tech and he was enshrined in the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
Most Bench Points In An NBA Game
Most bench points in an NBA game are secured by Lou Williams. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 45th overall pick in 2005.
Williams played as a point guard and shooting guard. He initially played for South Gwinnett High School and committed to play college basketball at the University of Georgia.
However, Lou did not join the university rather he declared himself for the NBA draft. He won the 2005 Naismith Prep Player of the Year award for his exceptional portfolio.
Williams competed on behalf of the 76ers, Fort Worth Flyers, Hawks, Raptors, Lakers, Rockets, and Clippers of the NBA. He announced his retirement on 18 June 2023 after 17 years as a competitive athlete.
Most Points Off The Bench NBA
Most points off the bench NBA are by Lou Williams. Lou is a former basketball player and 3 time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner.
The athlete has a total career statistics of 15,593 pts, 2,484 rebounds, and 3,789 assists. In 2005, he was named to Jordan Brand Classic, Nike Hoop Summit, McDonald's All-American, and Mr. Georgia Basketball.
Williams played in the NBA for 17-long years. He recorded an average of 2.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, .8 steals, .2 blocks, and 13.9 pts per game in his career.
Standing at 6 feet 1 inches, Lou is active in the music industry. He formerly recorded rap tracks and was a subject in Drake's song titled 6 Man.
Off The Bench Meaning
Off the bench means the substitute players who sit on the bench at the start of the game. They enter the court from the sidelines to replace the players.
The off-the-bench players are also known as bench players. They are not a part of the starting lineup but they do contribute a lot later in the game.
The term is simply used to descrive an athlete who is not active in the playground at the start. They are a secondary option and are called onto the field when required.
Coming off the bench is a common phrase used during basketball games. It is refered to the players who are entering the arena after sitting in the bench for sometime.
NBA Bench Scoring Leaders 2022-23
NBA bench scoring leaders 2022-23 are Malik Monk, Bennedict Mathurin, and Malcolm Brogdon. They have recorded 1,041 pts, 1,028 pts, and 1,000 pts respectively.
Other athletes who have a lead in the bench points record in the current season are as follows:
- Normal Powell: 917 pts
- Russell Westbrook: 796 pts
- Christian Wood: 768 pts
- Immanuel Qucikley: 735 pts
- Cole Anthony: 730 pts
- Chris Boucher: 712 pts
Malik is a shooting guard for the Sacramento Kings. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2017 as the 11th overall pick in the first round.
Monk formerly represented East Poinsett High School and Bentonville High School. Moreover, he was a collegiate athlete at the University of Kentucky.
Malik was named Mr. Basketball of Arkansas and McDonald's All-American in 2016. The following year was his freshman year and he received multiple titles during that period.
Monk has played 386 games by the end of the 2022-23 season. He has a record of 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, .5 steals, .3 blocks, and 10.9 pts per game.
Do Bench Players Get Points In Fantasy Basketball?
No, bench players do not get points in fantasy basketball. Only the points of the players from the starting lineup are counted in fantasy basketball.
To increase the fantasy pts, you can keep the reserved player in the active slot. You can also play around with the game settings and allow the statistics of bench players to be recorded.
The 8 reserved players can join the arena in between and score for their team. However, the statistics from such players go unrecorded. It does not help to earn any fantasy pts in most leagues.
Though there are some differences, ESPN fantasy basketball is a great way to stay updated about the NBA games and player statistics. It somewhat mimics real basketball games.
In an actual NBA matchup, secondary athletes are valuable. They not only give time for the starting lineup players to rest but also help build the team's strength.
