10 NBA Stars Who Were Famously Benched in Their Primes
Superstars don’t stay untouched forever. Even the biggest names in basketball eventually face a shift in status when the role they once dominated no longer aligns with what the team needs.
These decisions stem from strategy, roster fit, chemistry issues, or a coach attempting to establish a new identity. In each case, the bench move tells a deeper story about roles, expectations, and the acceptable margin between star and role player.
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo entered the 2018 season with the Houston Rockets after 15 seasons as a starter before being benched. The move stunned the league: a ten-time All-Star who struggled to adjust to coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. He went from go-to scorer to waiting for his number.
Allen Iverson
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison
Allen was quite the star when he joined the Detroit Pistons in 2009. But when coach Michael Curry considered slipping him to the bench to make room for a younger guard, Allen famously said: “I’d rather retire before I come off the bench.” The moment marked the beginning of the end of his prime status in the league.
Manu Ginóbili
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Mike
Manu’s shift was different in that it was tactical and not punitive. Under coach Gregg Popovich, he transitioned to a sixth-man role during his All-Star years with the San Antonio Spurs. Remarkably, he thrived and won the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year award.
Andre Iguodala
When the Golden State Warriors, under coach Steve Kerr, asked Iguodala to give up his starting spot in 2015, it was a surprising move. He accepted a bench role and became the engine of a championship team before winning Finals MVP that year. That’s benching in your prime, with purpose.
Russell Westbrook
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Erik Drost
Russell’s role shift with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022/2023 season was dramatic. He was a former MVP who was moved to the bench to help improve team chemistry and contribute differently. He averaged around 15.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.2 rebounds in that role.
Amar’e Stoudemire
Amar’e arrived in New York as the key to a franchise revival. However, by 2013, injuries and acquisitions had eroded his athleticism, and his role had shifted. Bench duty followed under coach Mike Woodson.
Bradley Beal
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Mogami Kariya
A bit more recently, Bradley’s bench status with the Phoenix Suns in 2025 raised eyebrows. He was a three-time All-Star and dependable scorer, yet he was moved to accommodate a superstar trio of Durant, Booker, and himself. At the age of 31, he was repositioning, and the bench move carried significant implications.
Isaiah Thomas
Once a top performer for the Boston Celtics, Isaiah suffered from fit issues and injuries after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. He also had difficulty adapting to new systems after his standout 2016–17 season in Boston. His benching marked a sharp curvature in a once-rising trajectory.
Josh Smith
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison
Josh Smith was a versatile forward known for athleticism and scoring. But in 2015, with the Houston Rockets, he started only seven of 55 games. Inconsistencies and fit problems relegated him to a reserve role, despite still possessing firepower.
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert once averaged over 29 points per game for the Washington Wizards. By 2011, with the Orlando Magic, he had become an afterthought, with only two starts in 49 appearances. His move to the bench marked a sharp decline from being one of the NBA’s most exciting guards.