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Not much credit is given to the men "behind the scenes" who help the superstars achieve greatness in the NBA. While these players do not share the spotlight, the greats might perhaps not have been as great if not for their contribution.
Players who have played Robin to Batman are sometimes mistaken for a super duo. However, not all duos in the NBA have gotten the same level of recognition.
The Splash Brothers come to mind when you think of a duo that has grown together without one being the sidekick. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have complemented each other perfectly over the years and are likely to continue in the 2021-22 NBA season after a two-year separation.
While being the sidekick is not an entirely bad thing as these players are superstars in their own right, they are often underappreciated.
That said, here are the five greatest wingmen in the NBA who played Robin to Batman.
#5 Tony Parker
Tony Parker was Tim Duncan's Robin as he joined the San Antonio Spurs, who were already The Big Fundamental's team. Even though Parker was an elite talent, he accepted his role and provided the help Duncan needed to win titles.
It was an incredibly long partnership as both players did not change teams throughout their entire NBA careers. Although Duncan joined the Spurs in 1997 - three seasons before Parker's introduction - they won four NBA titles together.
For his patience and hard work, Parker was rewarded with the NBA Finals MVP award in 2007. He was arguably the most deserving of the award following his heroics against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
#4 Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade was the king of the Miami Heat until LeBron James showed up in 2010. Before his arrival, Wade won Miami its first NBA championship in 2006 with the help of Shaquille O'Neal.
However, James' arrival turned things around as he became the second option behind the King himself after they failed to win the 2011 NBA title. When LeBron took charge, the Heat won back-to-back championships with Wade clearly operating as the Robin.
It was an incredibly rewarding decision as both players got two well-deserved rings before LeBron decided to return to Cleveland.
#3 Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan to some is the greatest player in the NBA, and that's partly because of Scottie Pippen's input. Although Pippen had a slow start to his career, he soon developed into the perfect sidekick for Jordan, helping him win six titles in eight years.
Pippen perfectly understood his role in the Chicago Bulls lineup and played his position perfectly. When Jordan needed to take over and dominate, he knew how to get out of the way and let him work.
Defensively, Pippen was able to guard four positions comfortably, while also providing the necessary boost on offense. The Last Dance docuseries gave an insight into how much Pippen was a key part of Jordan's success in the NBA.
#2 Kobe Bryant
Shocking, right? Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest players in the NBA so it is surprising to see that he played a sidekick. However, he was once the second option of the dominant Shaquille O'Neal.
Despite being a force in the paint, O'Neal was in search of a championship, which resulted in him joining the LA Lakers during the 1996 NBA free agency. He joined forces with a young Kobe and won three consecutive NBA titles from 2000-2002.
It was a productive union as they posed threats to teams from inside the paint and the perimeter. O'Neal was awarded the Finals MVP on all three occasions, while Kobe was a key contributor.
#1 Kevin McHale
The Kevin McHale-Larry Bird dynamic was a unique one, as most sidekicks were guards that could provide for the big man. In this case, McHale played a supporting role as a big man while Bird was a threat from the perimeter.
McHale attained the Robin status after he was promoted to the starting lineup for the 1985-86 season. Prior to that, he won two NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards for his contributions off the bench.
In the 1986 NBA Finals, McHale came close to overthrowing Bird as Batman after an impressive 25.8 points average. Although he was the leading scorer, Bird's overall brilliance earned him the MVP award. Between the two forwards, they made five NBA Finals appearances and won three championships for the Boston Celtics.
