The NBA regular season is almost up and that means campaigns for the NBA 6th man of the year award are coming to an end. The 6th man of the year award is given to the league’s best performing player coming off the bench for that season. Last year, forward Montrezl Harrell of the Los Angeles Clippers won the 2019-20 NBA Kia 6th Man of the Year. Harrell averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds, both career highs for him. He also led the league in most double-doubles while coming off the bench with 11.
This season with a shortened and tighter schedule on top of a lot of injuries, it has been a close race with a couple of candidates for this year’s 6th man of the year. Jordan Clarkson has held the number one spot in the power rankings nearly the whole season. With multiple players on this list having career seasons coming off the bench, Clarkson’s is by far the best.
6th Man of the Year Power Rankings
#1- Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson
The Utah Jazz has had an incredible season holding the top spot in the west so it’s no surprise they have two top candidates for this award. This season the Utah Jazz’s shooting guard Jordan Clarkson is averaging a career-high of 18.2 points a game while coming off the bench this season. Clarkson is also averaging a career-high in rebounds at 4.1 a game. While shooting 42% from the field, Clarkson is certainly has had a career season. His outstanding season will most likely win him, Kia’s 6th man of the year award for this season.
#2- Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles
Utah’s small forward Joe Ingles has averaged 12.1 points this season, tying his career-high from the 2018-2019 season. On top of that, he’s shooting 49.1% from the field and 45.3% from three, which are both new career highs for Ingles. It is most likely that Ingles’ teammate Jordan Clarkson will get this year’s award. However, you can’t ignore Joe Ingles’ career season this year with the Utah Jazz.
#3- Dallas Maverick’s Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson in only his third year as the point guard for the Dallas Mavericks coming off the bench has had a great season. Brunson has averaged 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season. He’s shooting 52.4% from the field on 9.8 attempts per game and has gotten 12 starts this season. Although the odds are not in Brunson’s favor this year to win, I think there’s a good chance of him winning in the future.
#4- Los Angeles Lakers Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell, the defending 6th man of the year award recipient, is again a strong candidate for this year’s award. However, Harrell, this season has not compared to last season’s numbers. This year he has averaged 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 62.3% from the field on 8.8 shot attempts per game. Harrell is still putting up great numbers for coming off the bench for the defending NBA Finals Champions, the Lakers. The odds this season for him to win twice in a row aren’t looking that good.
#5- Philadelphia 76ers Shake Milton
In Shake Milton‘s third season in the NBA, he has made a big jump this year with the Philadelphia 76ers. At 24 years old, Milton is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists at shooting guard. With averaging 10.5 field goal attempts per game, Milton is shooting 45% and averaging 12.9 attempts per game. Milton does not have great odds to win the award this season but with continued progress, the award could be his in the future.
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