The NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award has long been dominated by prolific scorers who come off the bench to provide an explosive offensive spark. Legendary figures like Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams have cemented their legacies by winning the award multiple times, collectively taking home the honor six times between them. However, the tide appears to be shifting as the criteria for this prestigious award evolve in lockstep with the NBA's changing dynamics.
Recent trends indicate that sheer scoring prowess may no longer be the definitive path to Sixth Man glory. Malcolm Brogdon's win in the 2022-23 season is a testament to this shift. Although he only finished fifth in bench scoring that year, his overall contribution to his team evidently earned him the nod. This highlights a growing recognition of multifaceted roles beyond just putting points on the board.
Naz Reid's victory further underscores this new direction. Reid won the award despite ranking 12th in scoring among players who came off the bench at least 30 times. This makes him the third center in NBA history to be named Sixth Man of the Year, joining Montrezl Harrell and Lamar Odom in this rarefied category over the past two decades. Reid's success suggests that versatility and impact, rather than just scoring, are becoming increasingly valued.
The shifting criteria raise interesting questions about what attributes the voting body will prioritize in the future. Reid's potential for a repeat performance embodies these uncertainties. 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."
While Reid's circumstances might be unique, other players are also vying for the coveted award. Among them, Malik Monk has been given odds of +575 to clinch the honor, while Reid follows closely at +700. Grayson Allen, another notable contender, holds odds of +1000.
The New York Knicks have an intriguing candidate in Josh Hart, who averaged just below 40 minutes per game from February 1 through the end of last season and an astounding 46.4 minutes per game in New York's first nine playoff games. Yet, doubts linger about his role in a burgeoning Knicks roster. "Ultimately I just think there are too many mouths to feed in New York," one observer notes, highlighting the challenge of standing out in a stacked team.
Hart himself seems to take the evolving dynamics in stride, recently quipping on Twitter, "I am a 1-4, not a center," in response to news that Mitchell Robinson would miss the beginning of the season. Regardless, it appears Knicks' coach Tom Thibodeau has other plans for Hart. "Tom Thibodeau is just going to make him do center things because Tom Thibodeau makes him do everything," another insider states, emphasizing the coach's penchant for demanding versatility from his players.
Elsewhere in the league, young talents are pushing their way into the conversation. The Mavericks' Jaden Hardy, for example, impressed by earning playoff minutes in just his second year. Meanwhile, his teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. has historically garnered Sixth Man votes, establishing himself as a reliable option off the bench for Dallas. These emerging talents highlight the evolving landscape of what it means to be a standout sixth man in today's NBA.
As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see who adapts best to the changing criteria and rises to secure the Sixth Man of the Year award. Whether through scoring, versatility, or overall impact, the competition remains fierce, making for an ever-compelling storyline in the NBA narrative.