They were originally the perfect deputy template, but the reality made them take the blame for the team.

There is an embarrassing success in the NBA: it’s not that you are not strong, but that you are too versatile and capable of carrying it. If you carry it, no one will help you. These players were originally the ideal "golden second leader" - both offense and defense, and have a strong execution ability. But either no one around them resisted, the times were forced to push, or the team operations collapsed, they were forced to stand up and be the boss, take the blame, lead the team, and play the main attack. As a result, some became leaders, and some were scolded for their whole lives. These five are the most typical golden deputy who is "pushed into the C position".

Fifth place: Clay Thompson

Career data: Average of 19.6 points/3.5 rebounds/2.3 assists/41.3% three-point shooting percentage

Honors: 4 championships/5 All-Stars/1 All-Defensive Lineup

Clay Thompson was originally the most perfect "No Ball-Offer" in NBA history: first-class defense, top three-pointers, no ball rights, and can explode at critical moments. He and Curry form the Splash Brothers, and are one of the central axes of the Warriors' tactical system. But with Durant leaving the team, Curry was injured and team rebuilding, Clay was forced to undertake more ball-holding tasks. When he returned after 2022, his form had not yet fully returned, but he had to fight, defend, and bear his emotions. He was even criticized as a war criminal in 2023. It’s not that he doesn’t have the ability to be the boss, but he’s the most suitable weapon and shouldn’t be pushed to shoot the main gun.

4th place: Anthony Davis

Career data: Average of 24.1 points / 10.6 rebounds / 2.4 blocks / 50.8% shooting percentage

Honors: 1 championship / 8 All-Stars / 4 best defensive team

During the Pelicans' era, Davis was a full-scale interior with a talent explosion, but his playing style and temperament were more like the top second in command. He needs a teammate who has a stable control of the field to share the responsibility of the organization and leadership. In 2020, he played the most perfect year of his career. But after that, James got older, and Thomas was forced to take more balls and hold the ball, and the defense had to be carried on one shoulder. His body and style are destined to not be the main attacker every game, but he has been asked to "hold the entire Lakers" for a long time, which has led to good and bad times, and has been called "soft" and "not worthy of the boss". In fact, he has never been a problem, but his positioning has been pushed wrongly.

Third place: Kyrie Irving

Career data: Average of 23.4 points / 5.7 assists / 3.9 rebounds / 39.2% three-point shooting percentage

Honors: 1 championship / 8 All-Stars / 2016 Finals G7 key three-pointers

Irving is the technical ceiling, but when he played the most comfortable, he had a stable big brother around him. In 2016, he played his best career performance around James, with full scores in explosive scores and key ball executions. But after leaving the Cavaliers, he was forced to be a "core ball-holder" and was controversial in the Celtics and the Nets because of insufficient control and locker room storm. He is suitable to be a key gentleman, a terminator, not a leader. He is playing around Doncic now, which shows that he has never lacked abilities, but just a suitable position.

Second place: James Harden

Career data: Average of 24.1 points / 7.1 assists / 5.6 rebounds / 36.3% three-point shooting percentage

Honors: 1 MVP / 3 scoring king / 2 assist king / 7 best team team

Harden was originally one of the strongest deputy in history - during the period of the Thunder's Sixth Man, he was able to defend, control rhythm, and explode at critical moments. But after transferring to the Rockets, he was pushed to the core C position and began to fire infinitely, dominate tactics, and control the ball, which brought the ultimate data and the ultimate tactical burden. For a period of time, he almost "scored to the playoffs alone", but he could not help the Rockets break through the bottleneck. Later, both the Nets and the 76ers tried to return to the position of deputy, but were always pushed back to "save the team" in the chaos of the system, becoming the target of taking the blame for tactical failures.

No. 1: Russell Westbrook

Career stats: 21.7 points per game / 8.1 assists / 7.1 rebounds / 1.6 steals

Honors: 1 MVP / 9 All-Stars / Triple Double King in History / 2 Scoring King in

Westbrook is the most energetic engine in the league. His skills, rhythm and emotions are suitable for being a deputy attacker - responsible for igniting the rhythm, impacting the basket, and pressing the defense. But after Durant left, he alone bears the full tactical burden of the Thunder, and has forced a MVP and a historical triple-double king, but it is also infinitely amplified the shortcomings: inefficient in the final quarter, many mistakes, and unstable shooting. He has been repeatedly pulled as the first main controller in the Rockets and Lakers because of his vague roles, causing conflict and discomfort. He can be the leader, but that is not the best position for him. He originally should have been the most perfect "former breaker".