Top 10 bench players in Dallas Mavericks history

The Dallas Mavericks have lost three of their last five games. Most of their struggles can be attributed to the defensive end, as the team has allowed their opponents to score 125 points or more.

Dallas has also struggled to shoot the ball. Over the past few weeks, the Mavs led the league in 3-point shooting. That changed this week when the team struggled to shoot well from long range.

Top 10 bench players in Dallas Mavericks history

However, one player who hasn't had trouble shooting the ball is Mavs' sixth man, Tim Hardaway Jr. He is having one of his best seasons as he is knocking down 40.5 percent of his long-range attempts. The Dallas guard is averaging 18.2 points per game and has a legitimate case to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.

This is an improvement from the past two seasons, as he averaged 14 points per game and struggled to find consistency in his shooting.

Now, he has been a valuable asset for Dallas. This month, he's averaging 17 points per game and knocking down 40 percent of his attempted 3-pointers. Against the Washington Wizards last week, Hardaway Jr. dropped in 31 points and shot 55 percent from the field.

So, with Hardaway Jr. off to a hot start, where might he rank compared to past Mavs bench players? Has he reached Jason Terry status?

Well, lets dive in and rank the top 10 bench players in Dallas Mavericks history.

10. Shawn Bradley

We start off the list with Space Jam star Shawn Bradley. The former Mav was a vital piece for Dallas during the early 2000s.

The Mavericks acquired Bradley during the 1996-1997 season. At the time, the team was going through a series of changes and looking to clean house.

Bradley started all but one game for Dallas in his first season. He averaged a career-high 14.6 points per game that year. However, he would later come off the bench, as he became a primary role player.

He made his presence known on the defensive side. The former Mav averaged 2.5 blocks in his career.

Bradley currently holds the record for most blocks off the bench. He recorded 13 blocks and 22 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 7, 1998.

Bradley also holds the Dallas' record for most blocks in a season with 228. He broke his personal record during the 2000-01 season.

The 7-foot-6 center wound up playing eight seasons in Dallas. Injuries took a toll on him as he saw limited action towards the end of his career.

However, he played a vital role in helping the Mavs become playoff contenders during the early 2000s.

If only the Mavs had a a center like Bradley that could off the bench and do some defensive damage.