We are witnessing a seismic shift in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting. The criteria for the award are evolving with the game's changing dynamics.
Historically, prolific scorers from the bench like Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams dominated the award, with Crawford and Williams combining to win the honor six times. In fact, half of the past 20 winners of the award were the season's leading bench scorers, highlighting the traditional emphasis on offensive output.
A New Era in Sixth Man Voting
The 2022-23 season signaled a notable departure from this trend. Malcolm Brogdon captured the Sixth Man of the Year award despite finishing fifth in bench scoring for the season. Interestingly, Naz Reid took home the award, ranking even lower at 12th among players who came off the bench at least 30 times.
Reid's achievement marked only the third time a center has won the Sixth Man of the Year award in the past two decades, with Montrezl Harrell and Lamar Odom being the other two. This shift may indicate a broader criterion beyond scoring, taking into account defensive impact, versatility, and overall contribution to the team's success.
Impact Players and Their Odds
Among the favorites for next season's award, Malik Monk sits with odds of +575, followed closely by reigning winner Naz Reid at +700, and Grayson Allen at +1000. These odds underscore the increasing competitiveness and unpredictability surrounding the award.
However, Reid's potential for back-to-back wins is being met with some skepticism. As one analyst put it, "For Reid to win again, you're relying on either Rudy Gobert or Karl-Anthony Towns to get injured again, for Reid to thrive again, and for the field to be as weak or weaker than it was a year ago." This highlights the challenges Reid faces in replicating his previous success under similar conditions.
Josh Hart's Versatility
Josh Hart emerged as a significant contributor last season, averaging just below 40 minutes per game from February 1 through season's end, and an astounding 46.4 minutes per game in New York's first nine playoff games. Despite his heavy workload, Hart jokingly remarked on Twitter, "I am a 1-4, not a center," in light of the news that Mitchell Robinson would not be ready for the beginning of the season.
Hart's versatility did not go unnoticed. One critic humorously noted, "Tom Thibodeau is just going to make him do center things because Tom Thibodeau makes him do everything." This quip alludes to Thibodeau's tendency to rely heavily on key players, which might make Hart a dark horse candidate for the Sixth Man award, should his role continue to expand.
A Competitive Field
In Dallas, the Mavericks' Jaden Hardy earned playoff minutes in his second year, while Tim Hardaway Jr.'s history of garnering Sixth Man votes adds to the mix of potential candidates. This highlights the growing depth and talent pool vying for recognition, making the award a focal point of interest for both fans and analysts alike.
As the NBA continues to evolve, so too does the landscape of the Sixth Man of the Year award. The increasing consideration for players' overall contributions and versatility reflects the shifting dynamics of the modern game. With a host of talented players and evolving criteria, the race for the Sixth Man of the Year promises to be as thrilling and unpredictable as ever.