In a season marked by remarkable transformations and unexpected outcomes, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award has become a compelling narrative unto itself. Historically dominated by prolific bench scorers like Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams, who combined to win the award six times, the criteria for this accolade are clearly evolving with the game’s changing dynamics.
Recently, Malcolm Brogdon captured the prestigious title in the 2022-23 season, despite finishing fifth in bench scoring. This outcome signaled a departure from tradition, where half of the past 20 award recipients were the season's leading bench scorers. However, Brogdon's success story was just the beginning of an even more intriguing development in the Sixth Man race.
Naz Reid’s Unprecedented Triumph
In a surprise to many, Naz Reid emerged as the Sixth Man of the Year, although he ranked 12th in scoring among players who came off the bench at least 30 times. Reid's achievement marked him as just the third center in NBA history to win the award, a distinction shared with Montrezl Harrell and Lamar Odom within the past two decades.
The odds were undeniably stacked against Reid. As one analyst astutely noted, "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." Despite the challenges laid out, Reid's win underscores the rapidly shifting landscape of what it means to be the league’s top reserve player.
Josh Hart: The Ultimate Utility Player
Josh Hart's impact on the court last season was multifaceted and profound. Averaging just below 40 minutes per game from February 1 through the end of the season, and clocking in at 46.4 minutes per game during New York's first nine playoff games, Hart demonstrated his versatility and endurance. Known jokingly on Twitter as a "1-4, not a center," due to the absence of Mitchell Robinson, Hart has become indispensable to coach Tom Thibodeau's game plan. "Tom Thibodeau is just going to make him do center things because Tom Thibodeau makes him do everything," another commentator quipped.
Future Contenders and the Changing Criteria
Looking ahead, there are already leading contenders eyeing the Sixth Man award for the upcoming season. Malik Monk has odds of +575, while Naz Reid follows closely with +700 odds. Grayson Allen and the Mavericks' Jaden Hardy also make the list of potential candidates, with Allen boasting +1000 odds.
Hardy, who earned playoff minutes in his second year, shows promise alongside Tim Hardaway Jr., who has historically garnered Sixth Man votes in Dallas. These emerging talents suggest that the traditional measures of success for this award are continually being redefined. Analysts are paying close attention to how teams are utilizing their bench depth and the multifaceted contributions of their players.
Ultimately, the shifting dynamics of the Sixth Man of the Year award reflect broader changes within the NBA. As the league continues to evolve, the recognition of more diverse skill sets and contributions from bench players signifies a more holistic understanding of what it means to be a valuable team member. These changes promise to keep the competition for this accolade both unpredictable and exhilarating for seasons to come.