Shortly after word broke last summer that Malcolm Brogdon was being traded from Indiana to Boston, the veteran guard spoke about his willingness to sacrifice his personal numbers and play whatever role his new team asked of him for the sake of winning.
Nearly eight months later, Brogdon has made good on that promise — in 51 games as a reserve, his 14.9 points per game represent his worst scoring average since the 2017/18 season, and his 25.5 minutes per game are a career low. But the 30-year-old is leading the NBA with a career-high .465 3PT% and the Celtics own the league’s best record (43-17).
The contributions Brogdon has made to the NBA’s top team, including as a defender and play-maker, have made him the frontrunner to become this season’s Sixth Man of the Year. Betting site BetOnline.ag currently lists him as a -175 favorite to win the award, and in a discussion published today by The Athletic, Eric Koreen, Josh Robbins, and Sam Amick all made Brogdon their top pick.
Still, we have about a month-and-a-half left in the regular season, and it’s not as if Brogdon’s somewhat modest counting stats will make him a runaway winner.
Norman Powell shows up on two of the unofficial ballots put forth by The Athletic’s trio, and BetOnline.ag gives the Clippers swingman the second-best odds (+350) to become this season’s Sixth Man of the Year. After a slow start to the season, Powell has bumped his scoring average to 17.0 points per game on a sparkling .486/.417/.805 shooting line, and he’d be the sort of instant-offense player who often wins this award.
Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley is also a popular choice, with Koreen and Robbins selecting him as their runner-up. His season-long stats, including 12.7 points per game, don’t jump off the page, but Quickley has averaged 15.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 3.4 APG with a .478/.391/.810 shooting in his last 29 games (dating back to Dec. 20) and the Knicks’ defensive numbers are much stronger when he’s on the court.
Bucks big man Bobby Portis has averaged a double-double (14.4 PPG, 10.1 RPG) while primarily playing a reserve role, though a knee injury that has kept him on the shelf for the last month will hurt his case.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey has only played 39 games and has started 22 of them, but he’ll likely come off the bench for most of the rest of the season and is putting up an impressive 19.7 PPG and 3.6 APG on .452/.384/.813 shooting.
BetOnline gives Maxey the third-best odds and Clippers guard Russell Westbrook the fourth-best odds. Westbrook’s numbers with the Lakers (15.9 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 6.2 RPG) certainly warrant Sixth Man of The Year consideration, but his case will be hurt by the fact that he was traded and then bought out — we still need to see how he fits with his new team too.
Warriors guard Jordan Poole (20.9 PPG, 4.5 APG) and Mavericks big man Christian Wood (17.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG) are among the other players who have posted strong offensive numbers but could end up having too many starts to qualify. This is more likely for Poole, who has already made 36 starts and is part of Golden State’s current starting five, than for Wood, who has made just 17 starts and has come off the bench so far this month.
Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, having averaged 17.2 PPG as a rookie, may get a look from some voters, though his efficiency stats have dropped off over the course of the season (he’s shooting 43.0% from the field and 32.2% on threes).
What do you think? Is Brogdon your pick for Sixth Man of the Year at this point or is there someone else you like?
Head to our comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
I think it’s crazy that Christian Wood is in the running for a sixth man award. What a bizarre case.
Should go to Brogdon but it’s somewhat of a dubious honor IMO.
I would give it to Quickley over Brogdon. Brogdon has better numbers, but Quickley plays for a shallower, less well-rounded team. And he’s a superior defender, which matters. His on-off numbers are also better than Brogdon’s.
Brogdan was guarding Giannis during the last Bucks game…dont see Quickley doing that anytime soon.
Brodgon has a better defensive rating than Quickley. He is at 113.2
Quickley is 115.2.
Offensively Brogan is miles better.
Also, playing for a worse team is not a positive.
Brogdon makes the Celtics “deeper and more well rounded”. Without him the Celtics aren’t the best team in the East. He should win it and it’s not wv n close
Poole, or Mathurin
Mathurin 43 %FG percentage, 32 % from 3. 1.5 assists per game 13,8. PER on a bad team
Brogdan 49% FG percentage 47% from 3. 3,8 assists per game 18,8 PER. on the team with the best record in the NBA
And you think Mathurin.
Not a Celtics fan, and whether a team is in the playoffs or not, has nothing to do with the 6th man award. Unless you are 12!
IQ has a good case. I feel he is under appreciated, even by his own fanbase. He fills a lot of roles for the Knicks. I can see, though, where Brogdon (if he stays healthy) or Portis (if he gets back on the court soon) would get the nod over him.
Brogdan 49% FG percentage 47% from 3. 3,8 assists per game 18,8 PER. on the team with the best record in the NBA
Quickly 44% FG percentage, 35% from 3, 3.2 assists per game, 14.6 PER for the 6 seed.
Westbrook. Nah, I’m just yanking your chain.
Easy one Brogdon… landslide.
No doubt, its brogdon.