Stars players lead their teams to NBA championships, but there are always a handful of players who manage to win rings without doing very much. Whether they’re role players or aging stars looking for a ring, here are 11 NBA players who were carried to a championship by their superstar teammates.
Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison’s college success at Gonzaga didn’t translate into an impactful NBA career, but he still managed to win two rings with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. Thanks to Kobe Bryant leading the way, Morrison was able to ride that bench to two rings.
Darko Miličić
If you can believe it, Darko Miličić was drafted ahead of future Hall of Famers like Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh! He also won a title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, despite playing very limited minutes.
Juwan Howard
Juwan Howard was a well-respected veteran when he joined the Miami Heat late in his career. But, by the time he won his rings in 2012 and 2013, he was mostly a cheerleader on the bench.
Brian Scalabrine
“The White Mamba,” as fans affectionately called him, Brian Scalabrine was a fan favorite despite the fact he contributed very little on the court. He may not have played much during the Boston Celtics 2008 championship run, but hey, he still has a ring!
Patrick McCaw
Patrick McCaw won three consecutive championships with two different teams — the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, and the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Though he made some contributions as a role player, he was carried by stars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard.
Sasha Vujačić
Known for his energy and occasional three-point shooting, Sasha Vujačić was not a star when he won championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. While he did have clutch moments, he wasn’t one of the top players in the Lakers’ rotations.
Jud Buechler
As part of the ‘90s Bulls dynasty, Jud Buechler’s role was to simply be a good teammate to stars like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. But, while his contribution was small, he’s still a three-time champion.
Luke Walton
Though Luke Walton had some good moments earlier in his career, by the time the Lakers won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, his role was minimal. In fact, injuries kept him sidelined, while stars like Kobe Bryant dominated.
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Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut was a solid defensive presence for the Golden State Warriors, but during the 2015 playoffs, his role diminished due to injuries. While Bogut still received a ring, he didn’t do much to make it happen.
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Jason Caffey
Jason Caffey won two titles with the Bulls, though he mostly watched from the bench as stars like Michael Jordan did the heavy lifting. While he did see some playing time, he was not a part of the core group.
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David West
David West joined the Warriors to chase a championship in the last few years of his career and boy did it pay off! In fact, he won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.
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