The Sixth Man of the Year race is as deep as ever but can anyone dethrone Lou Williams?
With the season dwindling down it’s time to focus on what’s important this time of year in the NBA, awards. The MVP race is a two-man sprint between Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden, Luka Doncic has been a lock for Rookie of the Year for months now and although you can make a case for many coaches around the league, Mike Budenholzer is the clear favorite for Coach of the Year.
Those categories are pretty easy to award one way or the other, but when it comes to Sixth Man of the Year, it gets a little tricky. While Lou Williams has built an impressive case for winning back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year awards, he’s got some stiff competition with this group of guys.
Lou Williams
The defending Sixth Man of the Year may very well be on his way to another win. His points have slightly dipped, but he’s still averaging 20 points and 5 assists per game in fewer minutes than last season. It’s honestly still surprising that Williams is coming off the bench given his consistent production, there are definitely some teams around the league that would love to have him in their starting lineup, but his past two seasons with the Clippers have really shown just how effective he is off the bench.
The one-two punch he forms with Montrezl Harrell, who is also on this list, is a major factor into why the Clippers are jockeying for playoff position in the West. Their pick-and-roll tandem is a dream made in heaven that I could watch on an endless loop, and Williams’ ability to catch fire at a moment’s notice from literally anywhere on the floor makes it extremely difficult for opposing teams who don’t have a solid defender guarding him at all times.
There hasn’t been a back-to-back winner for Sixth Man of the Year since 1992 when Detlef Schrempf won it, and if there were ever a person to repeat Williams’s play this season would be deserving.
Spencer Dinwiddie
Last season Spencer Dinwiddie filled in for D’Angelo Russell in the starting lineup when Russell missed significant time with a knee injury. With Russell back to full strength this season, Dinwiddie went back to being the first man off the bench for the Nets, and it didn’t slow down his production at all. In fact, Dinwiddie is averaging a career best 17 points per game in 28 minutes, and although his assist numbers have dipped a bit, Dinwiddie has been wreaking havoc on opposing teams’ second units.
Dinwiddie’s play off the bench has been crucial for the Nets in games where some of the starters are having an off night. On several occasions, Dinwiddie has exploded for 30 or more points, hit game winners, and been the glue for Brooklyn in tight games.
Before he missed 14 games in late January/early February, he was a big reason the Nets strung together five wins in a row, during which he averaged 20 points a game on 51% from the field. Dinwiddie’s efforts may get overshadowed by Williams, but there’s no denying that he’s established himself as one of the top players you could have come off your bench.
Montrezl Harrell
If there was anyone to stop Lou Williams in his quest to a second-straight Sixth Man of the Year award, it’s his teammate Montrezl Harrell. Included in that huge package deal along with Williams that netted the Houston Rockets Chris Paul, Harrell has made the most of his past two seasons with the Clippers. This season specifically though, he’s quickly made himself well known in the league as the high energy guy who will outwork everyone for an offensive rebound.
Harrell, like Williams, is another guy who could easily start on another team, and should probably be starting for the Clippers quite honestly. He’s lethal in the pick and roll with Williams, has a decent mid-range game and above all else is the ultimate sparkplug off the bench that any team would love to have.
He’s averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds a game, and when stacking him up against Williams, Harrell has the highest win share total on the entire Clippers team. He’s receiving more minutes this season than last, a clear sign that Doc Rivers is putting more trust in his third-year center.
There are several other candidates who would be on the long list of nominees for Sixth Man of the Year. Dennis Schroder has adjusted well to coming off the bench in his first season with the Thunder, Domantas Sabonis has been a major factor in the Indiana Pacers having a fourth seed in the East right now, and Derrick Rose started the season hot before missing a chunk of games throughout the season.
Some of these guys mentioned above could, and probably should, be starting on their team, but the fact that they are able to produce so heavily coming off the bench speaks to how big of a role they play for their respective teams.