We are witnessing a seismic shift in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year voting as the criteria for the award evolve with the game's changing dynamics. Historically, prolific scorers from the bench like Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams dominated the award, combining to win the accolade six times. Notably, half of the past 20 winners were the season's leading bench scorers. However, recent seasons have seen a deviation from this trend.
Evolving Criteria for Sixth Man
The 2022-23 season epitomized this change when Malcolm Brogdon clinched the Sixth Man of the Year award despite finishing fifth in bench scoring. The award went to a heightened level of unpredictability with Naz Reid taking home the honor. Reid, the third center in NBA history to win the award, ranked just 12th in scoring among players who came off the bench at least 30 times. Prior to Reid, Montrezl Harrell and Lamar Odom were the only other centers to have won the coveted award in the past two decades.
Dynamic Benches in New York
Josh Hart’s performance exemplifies the new dynamics in bench contributions. From February to the end of last season, Hart averaged just below 40 minutes per game. Moreover, he boasted an average of 46.4 minutes per game during New York's first nine playoff games, positioning him as a critical contributor. Despite Hart’s significant impact, some skepticism remains about his consistency and role: “Ultimately I just think there are too many mouths to feed in New York,” highlights the intricacies of balancing multiple star players in one team.
Hart himself addressed his versatility on social media, joking, “I am a 1-4, not a center,” in light of Mitchell Robinson's injury news. This humorous take brings to light the demands placed on players to adapt, especially under the coaching philosophy of Tom Thibodeau. "Tom Thibodeau is just going to make him do center things because Tom Thibodeau makes him do everything," captures the essence of a coach known for extracting every ounce of talent from his roster.
Challengers to the Throne
As the NBA gears up for the new season, several players find themselves in the discussion for the Sixth Man of the Year honors. Malik Monk holds favorable odds at +575, while Naz Reid, seeking a consecutive win, holds odds of +700. Skeptics caution, “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 statement underscores the sheer unpredictability and competitive nature of the award.
Among the longer shots, Grayson Allen has odds of +1000, bringing a sense of intrigue to his potential breakout season. Meanwhile, the Mavericks' Jaden Hardy, having earned valuable playoff minutes in his second year, and Tim Hardaway Jr., historically a Sixth Man votes’ magnet in Dallas, add further depth to the pool of candidates.
The constant evolution of the Sixth Man of the Year award showcases the league’s changing dynamics and the versatility required for a bench player to stand out. Whether it's the rise of versatile players like Josh Hart or centers like Naz Reid, the diversification of criteria and performances continues to redefine what it means to be the best sixth man in the NBA.