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NBA Awards Watch: The two-way greatness of Kawhi Leonard

By Brad Rowland

San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after a shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after a shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) shoots the ball in front of Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) shoots the ball in front of Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Sixth Man of the Year

  1. Will Barton, SG Denver Nuggets – Barton has probably been the best player on the Nuggets roster this season, and with only one start on his profile, that is a pretty good start for a 6MOY candidacy. Barton has come out of nowhere to become a ridiculously efficient scorer, putting up 16.7 points per game on 57.7% true shooting, and his PER of 20+ speaks for itself. Denver isn’t the most interesting team in the NBA, and as such, Barton probably won’t generate the respect he deserves, but it has been a tremendous year for the unheralded guard.
  2. Andre Iguodala, SG/SF Golden State Warriors – His offense simply won’t allow a legitimate 6MOY run, but Iguodala’s impact is immeasurable. The voters have never shown a willingness to tab a player with his style, but Iguodala remains a top-flight defender who makes open shots and does all of the little things for the NBA’s best team. He is among the league leaders when it comes to many advanced stats for bench players (including win shares, etc.) and Iguodala wouldn’t be the worst choice.
  3. Enes Kanter, C Oklahoma City Thunder – Kanter has been the punchline for many people around the NBA in recent months, as he is certainly overpaid after inking a massive offer sheet with the Blazers that was quickly matched by the Thunder. However, he is also a very productive player despite shortcomings (and they are shortcomings) on the defensive end. Kanter currently boasts a 25.0 (!!) PER for the season while putting up 21.1 points and 14.3 rebounds per 36 minutes, and it’s tough to argue against those numbers in a reserve/specialty role.

Next: Defensive Player of the Year

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