Which NBA team has the best bench? Standout teams

It is not realistic to expect scoring from every team's reserves every night. Still, players who come off the bench and produce points make a huge difference for their teams. In the first weeks of the 2026-27 season, some benches are carrying their teams, while in others the offense has been left entirely to the starting five.

At the very bottom of the ranking, 30th, sit the Philadelphia 76ers. The team has started the season well with 9 wins and 3 losses, but it gets very little contribution from its reserves. The bench averages 22.6 points, and most of the offense comes from the stars in the starting lineup. For the playoffs, Anfernee Simons needs to find his form, and the bench needs to produce one more double-digit scorer.

When the stars rest in Miami, the need for bench scoring becomes clear. However, the reserves' shooting accuracy is one of the weakest in the league. Pelle Larsson is one of the rare players who stands out in this picture. In Denver, DeRozan brings scoring off the bench, but since there are no shooters around him, opponents can comfortably close off the paint when Jokic sits on the bench.

In Houston, the ball mostly stays with the stars because the team has one of the best starting fives in the West. Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason do their jobs well, but they cannot carry the offense on their own. In New York, Landry Shamet stands out with his three-point percentage, and the reserves share the ball well. However, there is no clear leader. If Jordan Clarkson finds his form, the Knicks' bench can climb much higher, according to the report.