Jamal Crawford wins his third NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
Jamal Crawford has set a record by winning the award for a third time.
The NBA regular season has come to a close and the playoffs have finally arrived. One of the great traditions after the season has ended is the awards that are given to the athletes. From Defensive Player of the Year to MVP, the awards the NBA gives out are very prestigious. There is one award that is a game-changer, just like the player who wins it. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award honors those who help produce off the bench.
Since Bobby Jones was the first recipient of the award during the 1982-1983 season, there have been many players who have been given the honor. The most recent recipient just happens to be the one who has won it the most. It was announced on NBA.com that Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford has won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. This will be his third(!) time receiving the award.
The @LAClippers' @JCrossover named 2015-16 @Kia Sixth Man of the Year, a record third time! #KiaSixth pic.twitter.com/PdQ8kcFrd7
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2016
Crawford had 51 first-place votes and 341 total points. He averaged 14.2 points per game in 79 games, five of which he started. The 36-year old was able to outlast the Warriors’ Andre Iguodala, who had 288 total points and the Thunder’s Enes Kanter, who had 182 total points. When Blake Griffin went down with an injury, it was Crawford who stepped it up and helped the Clippers win big games. In regards to the win, there were many positive remarks all around the NBA. Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said it best on NBA.com, stating:
"Regarding the Sixth Man of the Year, the award will probably be renamed the ‘Jamal Crawford Award’ at some point. There’s not many guys who have done it better than Jamal off the bench."
That is very high praise for anyone to say about a player like Crawford. The Clippers are still in the playoffs, which means that Crawford can find more ways to show why he won the award. It will be interesting to see what the new Sixth Man of the Year will do. Whenever this postseason ends for the Clippers (NBA Champions anyone?), next season will be a whole new chapter in the story of Jamal Crawford. I can’t wait to see what will happen then.
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