NBA 6th Man of the Year Award Race: Down to Two People As Quickley Moves Into the Top Spot

The 6th Man of the Year Award is given to the best NBA player to come off the bench in a given season. Last year it was given to Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who averaged over 20 points a game, helping his team lock up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. This year, Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley is the leader in the race. Quickley continues to play big minutes for a red-hot Knicks team.

We’ll cover the top players in contention and give the betting odds for the NBA’s 6th Man of the Year Award.

Quickley’s stellar season was on full display in last night’s come-from-behind win in Boston. The Knicks’ 6th man helped rally his team back from 14 points down to a thrilling double-OT victory. Quickly played a game-high 55 minutes and finished with a career-high 38 points. 

The Kentucky product is in his third season with the Knicks. He played a big role off the bench in the first two but his impact has been especially noticeable in his third year. He was able to fill in, in the starting lineup for an injured Jalen Brunson and the Knick’s offense did not deteriorate. Head coach Tom Thibodeau trusted him enough to only rest him for three minutes in the double-OT victory. 

Quickley has played in 65 games this year. He’s averaged 28 minutes with 13.4 points a game while shooting 45% from the field.

Celtics 6th man Malcolm Brogdon is having a great year in his first season with the team. Brogdon was traded from the Pacers to the Celtics this summer. The point guard was a full-time starter in the prior four seasons. He’s been able to adjust seamlessly to his role off the bench with the reigning Eastern Conference champions. 

Brogdon’s point totals and minutes are down this year, but his percentages have gone up. Brogdon is shooting 48.8% from the field and 46% from beyond the arch. Brogdon’s percentage from three is the highest of his career. 

Brogdon has missed his team’s last two games while dealing with right ankle soreness. The Celtics lost each of the two games, blowing a pair of big leads. The Celtics 6th man is not on the injury report and is set to make his return tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This year’s 6th Man of the Year Award is going to come down to Immanuel Quickley or Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon had held the top spot for a while, but last night’s game flipped the two reserves.  

If Quickley is able to win the 6th Man of the Year Award it would be an incredible turnaround. On December 13th, FanDuel was giving Quickley the long odds of +50000 to win this award. They’ve since slowly shrunk to where they are now, in minus money.

Clippers small forward Norman Powell was another guy that was in the mix. On February 9th, Powell had +260 odds to win the award. However, a recent dry spell and an injury have led to Powell falling out of contention in this award race.

76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was another guy that was in the mix to win this award. On February 14th, The Sixers guard had +300 odds to take home the trophy. Maxey is averaging 20 points a game and would appear to be the clear-cut winner of the award. However, to win the 6th Man of the Year Award you must come off the bench in more games than you start. Maxey has started 25 of the 44 games he’s played in, including his last three.

As they say, it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. Immanuel Quickley will have to finish well if he hopes to become the first Knick since JR Smith in 2013 to win the 6th Man of the Year Award.