The landscape of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award is in the midst of a significant transformation, reflecting the evolving dynamics of the game. Historically, the award has been dominated by prolific scorers coming off the bench—players like Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams, who alone have combined for six wins. Indeed, half of the past 20 winners have been the leading bench scorers of their respective seasons.
However, recent trends suggest that scoring alone may no longer be the decisive factor. For instance, Malcolm Brogdon, who clinched the title in the 2022-23 season, only ranked fifth in bench scoring for that year. Even more strikingly, Naz Reid captured the award despite placing 12th among players who came off the bench at least 30 times. Reid's achievement marks a noteworthy departure from the past, signaling a possible shift in the criteria voters consider. Not only is he the third center in NBA history to earn the honor, following Montrezl Harrell and Lamar Odom in the last two decades, but his win also highlights that impact and versatility might now weigh more heavily than raw scoring numbers.
The Boston Celtics' forward Josh Hart also illustrates this trend. Averaging just below 40 minutes per game from February 1 through the end of last season, Hart became a fixture in New York's lineup during the playoffs, averaging a whopping 46.4 minutes per game in the Knicks' first nine playoff contests. Given such significant contributions, it’s worth consideration whether the criteria for Sixth Man of the Year should account more for the holistic influence a player has on their team.
Another angle to consider is the betting odds, which paint an interesting portrait of how different players are viewed in the race for next season's award. Malik Monk currently stands at +575, with Naz Reid close behind at +700, and Grayson Allen at +1000. Monk's odds suggest that, despite the increasing emphasis on all-around play, scoring prowess remains a considerable factor in the eyes of bookmakers and fans alike.
Intrigues continue with Naz Reid's future candidacy. One commentator quipped, "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 sentiment underscores the complexities players face in replicating such individual success amidst the league's ever-changing dynamics.
Meanwhile, the sentiment surrounding Josh Hart remains skeptical. As one analyst noted, "Ultimately I just think there are too many mouths to feed in New York," suggesting a crowded field that could hamper individual recognition. Hart himself added a bit of levity to the discussion, joking on Twitter, "I am a 1-4, not a center," in light of news that Mitchell Robinson would miss the beginning of the season. It hints at the versatile roles players must adopt and the physical demands placed on them by their coaches. "Tom Thibodeau is just going to make him do center things because Tom Thibodeau makes him do everything," the analyst added, reflecting on the coach's reputation for pushing his players.
In the backdrop are promising young players like the Mavericks' Jaden Hardy, who earned significant playoff minutes in his sophomore year. Tim Hardaway Jr. has also historically garnered Sixth Man votes in Dallas, highlighting the Mavericks' depth. These narratives exemplify the diverse array of talents and circumstances that influence the Sixth Man of the Year race, underscoring the complexity of pinpointing a single, decisive criterion for excellence.
As we look forward to the upcoming season, the Sixth Man of the Year award remains one of the most unpredictable and dynamic honors in the NBA. Whether it will continue to evolve away from scoring-focused decisions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the debate over what makes the best sixth man is just getting started.