Top 10 Bench Players of 2023-24 According to MOB Score

Here at the Bench Mob Blog, the mission is to shine light on guys who get it done off the pine. I’ve always been drawn to them and I have a soft spot for loveable benchwarmers who spend more time clapping and dancing on the bench than getting buckets on the court. 

I also have a love for statistics and I spend plenty of time pouring over all the advanced stats the NBA world has to offer. So, I decided to combine both of those interests and create a one-number stat that measures the contribution of bench players. I call it “MOB.”

Unfortunately, MOB doesn’t stand for anything. It’s just a simple, snappy title. The metric itself is simple, too. It uses basic counting stats to quantify a player’s statistical input to their team relative to how many games they started. The formula is as follows:

(% of total team points) + (% of total team rebounds) + (% of total team assists) + (% of total team steals) + (% of total team blocks) –  (% of games started x 25) 

The equation might not make much sense written out like that, but it’s pretty straightforward. An example might help you understand. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 1333 points this season, which is 13.7% of the 9703 points the Atlanta Hawks scored as a team. He also added 7.4% of Atlanta’s rebounds, 11.3% of their assists, 15.6% of their steals, and 7.0% of their blocks. The formula adds all of those numbers together and then subtracts the percentage of games Bogdanovic started (weighted slightly less than the stat percentages). After that subtraction, we’re left with one number: 44.55. That’s Bogdanovic’s MOB score, and it ranks 11th out of 367 bench players (bench player being defined as a player who started 50% or less of their games played in 2023-24). 

Today, I’m going to give you the top ten bench players of 2023-24 according to MOB score. Let’s dive in! 

#10- Paul Reed (Philadelphia 76ers)

MOB Score: 44.90

Paul Reed’s slogan is “out the mud” and it’s fitting because he’s made it out the mud in the NBA. In his first two years in the league, he played less than ten minutes per game and he barely eclipsed that amount in year three. He showed flashes in those seasons, but in 2023-24, he finally put it all together. He went from the coach’s dog house to being Philly’s junkyard dawg. Reed played in all 82 games for the 76ers and did all the dirty work for his squad, racking up boards and stocks and playing hard on defense. 

#9- Russell Westbrook (Los Angeles Clippers)

MOB Score: 45.15

He’s well past his MVP days, but Russell Westbrook is still a very valuable player because he’s embraced a diminished role and prospered in it. Mr Triple Double’s downhill playmaking is still as good as ever and he provides a big energy boost on both ends every time he checks in. Showing the ability to thrive as a sixth man has extended Westbrook’s career and he’ll help this Clipper core compete for as long as they’re together.  

#8- Kyle Anderson (Minnesota Timberwolves)

MOB Score: 45.35

What Kyle Anderson lacks in speed (which is a lot), he makes up for with feel, smarts, and length. He’s a defensive ace who bothers all five positions and wardens the passing lanes. On the other end, he’s a savvy passer and driver. Anderson has received less love than another Timberwolf on this list, but he was almost equally as important as his teammate to Minnesota’s fantastic season.  

#7- Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves)

MOB Score: 48.38

The 2024 Sixth Man of the Year recipient was knocked by this metric due to the amount of games he started, but that shouldn’t diminish the contributions he made to the Timberwolves this season. The big fella was nothing sort of phenomenal in his role. He’s an offensive spectacle who shoots and handles the ball like a guard despite his 6’9”, 264 pound frame. There’s a reason why Minnesota fans practically worship the guy. He’s a flat-out bench mob superstar.  

#6- Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic)

MOB Score: 49.00

The young Magic massively overperformed this season and Cole Anthony was a key part to their rise. He’s a high-confidence guard who can get buckets in a flurry and also run the show as a floor general. It feels like no coincidence that the season where he moved to the bench full time was also perhaps his best. He’s perfect for the sixth man role. 

#5- Andre Drummond (Chicago Bulls)

MOB Score: 49.15

Andre Drummond has come a long way in his career. He’s rebuilt his image from an overrated empty stats guy to a beloved backup big by leaving his ego at the door and taking pride in being a role player. Drummond attacks the glass with relentless enthusiasm and it’s a joy to watch. Being an All-Star is cool, but so is being a star in your role. 

#4- Caris LeVert (Cleveland Cavaliers)

MOB Score: 50.93

Caris LeVert is the perfect bench combo guard. He has the on-ball creation ability to spearhead units and fill up the scoring column on his own. He also has the off-ball chops and defensive intensity to slide in as role player in lineups with stars. LeVert could be starting on plenty of other teams, but he’s found a home as the sixth man in Cleveland. 

#3- Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)

MOB Score: 51.63

The Jazz have a monster stashed on their bench in Walker Kessler. The 2023 Rookie of the Year finalist is one of the best shot blockers in basketball. He swatted 2.4 attempts per game,which ranks second in the league, in just 23 minutes a night. Kessler isn’t just a rim protector, he does other big man things at a high level too. It may seem surprising to see him ranked this high, but it makes sense when you realize just how impactful he is in his limited burn. 

#2- Malik Monk (Sacramento Kings)

MOB Score: 52.00

Malik Monk is electric. He’s a soaring athlete with lightning quickness who darts his way to the cup and throws down some thunderous jams. He’s a microwave scorer who can rain threes when he catches fire. He’s a dynamite playmaker who can take over without even shooting the ball. Monk was a popular pick for 6MOY and for good reason. 

#1- Bobby Portis Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks)

MOB Score: 52.23

The best bench player in the league according to MOB is Bobby Portis. The Bucks fan favorite had his struggles early this season, but he overcame them and returned to the reliable double-double machine we know and love. His production and love of the game are undeniable and he deserved Sixth Man of the Year just as much as the other two finalists for the award. Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!

So, those are the ten best bench players of the 2023-24 season according to my new MOB metric. In case you were curious, here’s the rest of the top fifteen:

#11- Bogdan Bogdanovic 

MOB Score: 44.55

#12- Precious Achiuwa

MOB Score: 42.03

#13- Peyton Watson

MOB Score: 41.55

#14- Jaime Jaquez Jr.

MOB Score: 40.13

#15- T.J. McConnell

MOB Score: 39.80

If you want to see more of the MOB metric, let me know and I will find a way to present the full data! Thanks for reading and see you next time!