The 2020-21 NBA ‘Season Just Started’ Awards

TNSJS Sixth Man of the Year: Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic G

Also receiving votes: Jordan Clarkson, Elfrid Payton, Rudy Gay

This is one of the most controversial year-end awards, with many deriding it for celebrating players whose deficiencies prevent them from serving larger roles and for the award celebrating points per game production above all else. It’s also hard to award after only 17 days of play, as roles and rotations are not yet finalized for a large portion of the league.

I myself do not feel particularly strong about anyone in the pool of candidates, but it’s hard to argue against T-Ross, he of hot shooting streaks. “The Human Torch” was shooting 63.8 percent from deep prior to a 1-for-8 stretch in his past two games, and the Magic’s net rating vaults up from minus-1.5 per 100 possessions to plus-3.3 per 100 (per CTG) despite their posting a hilariously bad rim pressure rate in said lineups.

Again a very hard award to select given the small sample size, but the fearless veteran shooter takes it this year.

Previous years TNSJS winners (2016-2019): Jonathan Simmons, Eric Gordon, J.J. Reddick, Lou Williams