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NBA Awards Watch: The Final Ballot

By Brad Rowland

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 29: Stephen Curry at ORACLE Arena on March 29, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 29: Stephen Curry at ORACLE Arena on March 29, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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Mar 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) defends Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) defends Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

6th Man of the Year

  1. Andre Iguodala, SF Golden State Warriors – “But he only played in 65 games…” I can already hear this complaint coming, and it is a valid one. However, missing 17 games over the course of an NBA season isn’t criminal, and Iguodala happened to captain the bench unit of the best team in the history of the league. In addition, he regularly closed games as a member of Golden State’s best lineup, and the Warriors boasted a +14.4 (!) net rating with Iguodala on the floor over the course of the season. I understand that the 6th Man of the Year is “supposed” to go to a scorer, and Iguodala does not fit that bill while averaging seven points per game. I am giving it to the best bench player in the league, though, and that was Iguodala in my mind this season.
  2. Tristan Thompson, PF/C Cleveland Cavaliers – This is a tough one for me. Thompson absolutely qualifies for the award because he did not start half of Cleveland’s games, but the big man did make 34 starts on the season, which will probably cost him votes elsewhere. For me, though, qualifying is all that matters, and Thompson was extremely valuable for the Cavs. He led all NBA bench players in win shares (8.7) while averaging 7.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and Thompson’s defensive impact is immeasurable for a team that desperately needs it. You could argue that Thompson had a better season than Iguodala because of the minutes uptick and I wouldn’t argue too hard. That is a good sign for his candidacy.
  3. Enes Kanter, C Oklahoma City Thunder – This has been the craziest season for the 6MOY award in recent memory. There are a few more candidates (Jrue Holiday, Ed Davis, Thabo Sefolosha, etc.) that deserve consideration and, for some reason, the “old guard” led by Jamal Crawford continues to generate interest. However, we’ve combed through the wasteland to pick out the two best candidates by a wide margin… and now Enes Kanter. I do think there is a gap after the top two, but Kanter has been quite good. He has earned a reputation for being a ghastly defensive player, and that wasn’t misplaced. However, Kanter is now below-average instead of disastrous on that end, and with his considerable offensive contributions and fantastic numbers (21.7 points, 13.9 rebounds per 36 minutes), he is a stand-out bench option for the Thunder.

Next: Defensive Player of the Year

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