In addition, it has the advantage of being in a media focus such as New York, which can always indirectly weigh on the votes. After going through a difficult years due to injuries, Rose has established himself as an effective scorer with the ability to revitalize the team from the bench, a role that it seems he will return to this time. Derrick RoseĪfter his third place last season, the point guard is another of those who seem to start with options to fight the award. Of course, at the same level, he is a clear candidate for a repeat award. Clarkson even signed two 40-point performances, and since the team structure hasn’t changed much, he is expected to continue to fill the same role. With 18.4 points per game, the shooting guard was essential for the Utah team to finish the regular league as the best team. Already in his first year, in which he arrived in the middle of the year, he left great sensations, but it was last season when he finished exploding. After years of not finding his place, Clarkson fit like a glove in the Jazz since his arrival, and it was not long before he became a scoring machine from the bench. We start, of course, with the current champion of the award. This is a highly valued role recently and that certain players have begun to embrace above starting, and the list that is being considered for this award has unquestionably a high level. However, it is worth reviewing some names that seem to be important in the second unit of their respective teams.
This, however, is a somewhat more unpredictable prize, since the role of certain players is not always clear and it is possible that various factors cause some of those mentioned not to end up even acting as a substitute. Last year's winner, Montrezl Harrell - then of the Los Angeles Clippers, now of the Los Angeles Lakers - finished sixth.As we did recently with the MVP, today we will review the list of players who start the season as candidates to be crowned Sixth Man of the Year. In all, 15 players got at least one first-, second- or third-place vote in this season's sixth man balloting. “I just really accepted it and kept rolling,” Clarkson said. He started 136 games over his first three seasons, and has started only five games in the four seasons since - and is now flourishing in the reserve role. 15 and then getting 41 against Golden State on May 10. Voters were asked to select their top three picks for the award, in order.Ĭlarkson averaged a career-high 18.4 points this season, coming off the bench in 67 of his 68 appearances.Ĭlarkson reached 40 points twice this season, finishing with 40 against Philadelphia on Feb. New York’s Derrick Rose, the other first-place votegetter, was third, while Dallas teammates Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr. He really runs our second unit,” Clarkson said. “No, I think his impact off the bench is something he’s embraced and taken pride in.” Ingles got 34 of the remaining 35 first-place votes. “I tried to get him the ball as much as possible so he could win sixth man of the year,” Ingles said on TNT, which broadcast the award announcement. Clarkson finished with 65 of the 100 first-place votes cast from a global panel of reporters who cover the league and appeared on all but five of the ballots. It’s the first time a Jazz player has won the award. Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, the only player to come off the bench and score 40 points in a game this season, was announced Monday as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.Īnd his closest competition was from a teammate: Utah’s Joe Ingles was second, marking the first time the top two finishers for this award came from the same franchise. Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz shoots between Shaquille Harrison #3 and Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on in Salt Lake City, Utah.