The Bench Mob All-Star team is a tradition unlike any other in sports media. The mission of this blog is to show love to unknown end-of-bench players who make an impact that the average fan doesn’t see. Unlike the official NBA All-Star team, this one is made up of the best bench mob ballers in the league. The roster features former second round picks, G League veterans, rookies, and everything in between. These guys are putting themselves on the map and staking a claim for a bigger role. They’re proof that good players can be found anywhere if teams are willing to search for them.
Let’s meet this year’s squad.
(Note: Bench Mob Player of the Day is an award handed out daily via X to the bench mobber who had the best game the prior night. Follow @finleykuehl to keep up with the winners!)
(Second note: shoutout to the following players who have outplayed their prior bench mob status this year and become members of the “too good club”: Scotty Pippen Jr., Keon Johnson, Brandon Boston Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Justin Champagnie.)
Jay Huff (Captain, 8x Bench Mob Player of the Day)
Jay Huff dominated in college. He dominated in the G League. He dominated in Summer League. At every level, the big man proved he deserved at least a fair shake at being an NBA player. He played seven games for the Wizards in 2023 and played well, but he wasn’t re-signed by the team and ended up spending 2023-24 riding the bench for the Nuggets.
The Grizzlies, who have one of the best scouting departments in the league, saw the work Huff was putting in. They signed him on a two-way contract in July and let him play real minutes from the jump this season. The Virginia product responded by scoring double digits in three of his first four outings. Memphis converted his contract to a standard one on the day of the fourth game. It was clear they found a gem.
Huff’s story is an inspiring one. He exemplifies resilience. He bounced around the league for over three years before finally getting an opportunity to be in a rotation. The seven-footer grinded in silence so he was ready when his time came. Now, he’ll be draining threes and blocking shots for years to come on basketball’s biggest stage.
Huff’s eight Bench Mob Player of the Day awards is tied with the record for most in a season, which is currently held by Isaiah Joe, who won eight in 2022-23.
Moussa Diabate (6x BM POTD)
Older fans love to grumble about how players nowadays don’t care about rebounding and boxing out. That can’t be true, though, because Moussa Diabate is almost single-handedly keeping the art of crashing the boards alive. The Frenchman ranks top fifteen in the NBA in offensive rebounding and he doesn’t even play 20 minutes a night. Because of his rebounding ability, as well as his prowess as a lob threat and interior defender, Diabate has emerged out of nowhere as Charlotte’s backup center. He’s currently the best two-way contract player in the league and it shouldn’t be long before he gets a guaranteed deal.
Johnny Juzang (5x BM POTD)
Most people likely know Johnny Juzang from his college days. He led UCLA on multiple deep tournament runs, including a Final Four appearance in 2021. The silky scorer had the makings of a solid pro, but he went undrafted in 2022. The Jazz gave him a chance on a two-way contract and he has since blossomed into a key bench piece for them. Juzang is a legitimate shooting threat on the wing with the chops to attack closeouts and score off one or two dribbles as well.
Jared Butler (4x BM POTD)
As coach-turned-broadcaster Stan Van Gundy loves to say on TV, there’s no such thing as garbage time. For many players, it’s the only chance to show they belong as a pro. That’s the case for Jared Butler, and he’s made it clear he should be getting a lot more playing time. The Baylor product is ridiculously productive. Per 36 minutes, he averages 21.9 points and 8.2 assists. In the four games where he’s played 20+ minutes this season, he’s averaged 18.0 points and 5.8 assists. Despite those stats, Butler was still inexplicably buried in Washington’s depth chart. Now, though, he’s headed to Philadelphia via trade where he should be able to put his talents on full display.
Butler was a member of the 2023-24 All-Bench-Mob First Team, but this is his first Bench Mob All-Star appearance.
Dru Smith (3x BM POTD)
The Heat are known for their legendary ability to sniff out undrafted talent, and Dru Smith is their latest discovery. He’s a hard-nosed defender with a trusty three-ball who does everything Erik Spoelstra loves from his players. In many ways, Smith is similar to former Miami guard Gabe Vincent and could play an equally important role for the team in future playoffs runs. Unfortunately, he suffered an Achilles injury in December, so he’ll have to wait until next year to make his postseason debut.
Lindy Waters III (4x BM POTD)
After spending his first three seasons with the Thunder, Lindy Waters was traded to the Warriors on 2024 draft night. It was an inconsequential move at the time, but Waters turned out to be a real contributor for the Dubs. His movement shooting skills made him a natural fit in Golden State’s offensive system. The Oklahoma native shot 40% from three in wins as a Warrior. He’ll now be joining the Detroit Pistons as part of the Jimmy Butler deal, where his shooting will be useful in lineups next to Cade Cunningham.
Tyrese Martin (4x BM POTD)
One year ago, Tyrese Martin wasn’t on an NBA roster. He played 66 total minutes as a rookie in 2022-23 and wasn’t given another contract. Determined to stick, Martin turned to the G League, where he averaged 17.9 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Iowa Wolves. His efforts earned him a two-way deal with the Nets. For Brooklyn, the UConn product has consistently seen big minutes as the team has dealt with injuries. His major breakout game came on November 27th, where he scored 30 points on 10/13 shooting in a win over the Suns. Martin’s well-rounded offensive game should keep him in the league for a long time to come.
Jamison Battle (3x BM POTD)
Probably the most important thing for a draft prospect to have is at least one true NBA-level skill. For Jamison Battle, it was shooting, and he’s put that talent on full display so far as a rookie. The undrafted southpaw has an absolute torch on him— he’s been one of the best freshman shooters this season, hitting well over 40% of his deep tries. Because of how well he’s shot it, Battle has made a convincing case for the Raptors to keep him around long-term.
Jalen Wilson (3x BM POTD)
After a dominant Summer League performance that earned him MVP of the tournament, Jalen Wilson was named to the preseason All-Bench-Mob First Team. The second-year man has lived up to those expectations. He’s the perfect plug-and play forward, a guy who can do some of everything out there. Brooklyn has been comfortable running Wilson in a variety of lineups and asking him to do everything from shooting off the catch, to crashing the glass, to playmaking. It’s easy to see him doing the same thing for a contender in the near future.
Tosan Evbuomwan (4x BM POTD)
When the Nets signed Tosan Evbuomwan (pronounced eh-WOAH-mah) in the middle of the season, he was immediately thrust into the rotation. Many players would have taken a few games to adjust to the big change, but Evbuowman got right to work. The Princeton product has been key in helping the team compete with more talented opponents. He’s one of Brooklyn’s most aggressive and impactful scorers, which has allowed him to settle easily into a microwave role off the bench.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (2x BM POTD)
Some players stop giving maximum effort when they’re on bad teams. It can be hard to stay energized and motivated when you lose all the time. That’s not the case for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, though. The 2021 second round pick has been one of the few consistently available Pelicans this season, and his health shows in how hard he plays. Robinson-Earl has done all he can in his bench role to put New Orleans in a position to win. He’s a versatile four man whose speciality is rebounding— he ranks top five on his team in both offensive and defensive rebound percentage.
Justin Edwards (2x BM POTD)
Justin Edwards was one of the most surprising undrafted names of the 2024 draft. He was a five-star recruit in high school and showed intriguing flashes during his lone season at Kentucky. Yet, 29 teams passed on him on draft night. The 76ers rolled the dice on Edwards and they definitely don’t regret it. The athletic wing has been a bright spot in a brutal season for Philly. He’s entered their nightly rotation, carving out a spot as a sparkplug scorer.
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