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NBA Awards Watch: Klay Thompson on the rise

By Brad Rowland

Jan 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is greeted after scoring a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Thompson set a record 52 points in their win over the kings.
Jan 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is greeted after scoring a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Thompson set a record 52 points in their win over the kings. /
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Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas (3) drives to the basket in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas (3) drives to the basket in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

6th Man of the Year

  1. Isaiah Thomas, Phoenix Suns – As the Phoenix Suns have been rolling, so has Isaiah Thomas. The 5-foot-9 assassin is shooting 50.8% from the floor in January, and that has helped to improve his production across the board, including 15.4 points and 3.7 assists per game in only 25.6 minutes per contest. Thomas has always been a high-volume player, and that should be mentioned, but he is now integrating beautifully within the Phoenix system, and you can’t argue with a PER over 20 and a career-best 59.6% true shooting. Efficiency is king, and Thomas is a member of the royal family.
  2. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz – Gobert is beginning to receive buzz for his defensive accolades, but how about a mention for 6th Man honors? The 7-foot-2 defensive force has started only 8 of 45 games for the Jazz this season, but his impact is immeasurable. Gobert currently leads the NBA (among qualified participants) with a 7.9% block rate, his rebounding pace is impressive (12.0 per 36 minutes) and as a developing offensive weapon given his length, the Utah Jazz are in a fantastic position for the future.
  3. Lou Williams, Toronto Raptors – Williams is the definition of a one-dimensional player offensively, but that dimension has been vital in keeping Toronto afloat. Admittedly, the 28-year-old has cooled off in January (39% FG, 26.6% 3-PT), but his season-long numbers are just fine (55.9% true shooting) and Williams has managed to average 14.9 points per game as a secondary option for the Raptors. To be honest, his 19.76 PER is a bit misleading toward his overall impact, but Williams was a fantastic pickup for Toronto in the off-season, and with DeMar DeRozan sidelined, it has been a blessing to have his offensive creation potential.

Next: Defensive Player of the Year

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