Trophy Race | Our favorites for Sixth Man of the Year

If the title of sixth man of the year became obvious last season with the crowning of v Payton Pritchardranked first 82 times out of 100, the 2026 edition of the 6th Man of the Year could be much closer. Judge from last season’s podium instead: Peyton Pritchard should start this season for the Celtics. His dolphin Malik Beasley is currently without a club following a match-fixing investigation in which he was involved. I You Jeromethird last season, left the Cavaliers for the Grizzlies where he has already gone to the infirmary for at least four weeks, which could make him ineligible for trophies, because he did not play enough games.

Faced with this completely shaken hierarchy, there are many contenders. So much so that no player received more than one vote within our editorial team!

Players who have changed teams and thus roles, newcomers, or even players with redesigned responsibilities… There is no shortage of options. At the moment, the Sixth Man of the Year has undecideds even with the bookies, the highest odds of any possible award in the season. For FanDuel, one of the main platforms, second MVP title for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is listed at +170, or a $170 win on a $100 bet. Crowning Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama as Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year even has negative odds because this scenario is expected. But the favorite for the sixth man of the year is +900.

Naz Reid a repeat offender?

This award goes to one of the players featured in our predictions and former Sixth Man of the Year: Naz Reid. The Wolves interior hasn’t given up on their title run in 2024, with a 5th place finish last season despite still rising stats. Nikhil Alexander-Walker’s offseason departure, or even the possible regression of Rudy Gobert, 33, could offer even more playing time and weight to Naz Reed in the Minnesota game.

Other names mentioned during our consultation undoubtedly have more “bets”. For Bradley Beal (Clippers) and PJ Washington (Mavericks), everything will first of all depend on their use. Bradley Beal starts the season in a starting role, but the Clippers’ top five is still in the experimental phase. The guard joined Los Angeles looking for a resurgence and could slide off the bench to provide an extra option for Tyronn Lue when Kawhi Leonard and/or James Harden hit.

He still averaged 17 points year after year last season with the Suns on a team that was drifting. However, the former Wizards player will have to reach the 65-game mark, which he hasn’t done since 2019.

PJ Washington was also in the starting five with Dallas for the restart. It remains to be seen whether Jason Kidd’s proposed option of listing Cooper Flagg as the leadoff man will continue, while D’Angelo Russell could regain starting status. Using Cooper Flagg at his natural wing position and having Anthony Davis at the 4 could push Washington to the bench.

Valuable since his arrival in Texas, the former Charlotte player could serve as an ideal patch for the Mavs, capable of playing wide or closer to the circle in an “impact player” profile.

Several candidates from the Knicks and Clippers

The other two mentioned players will discover a new situation in the 2025/26 season. Already four times in the “Sixth Man of the Year” ranking in his career with fifth place in 2021. Tim Hardaway Jr he will find this role with the Nuggets. In Denver, the guard is expected to be the main offensive spark and the only true scorer off the bench. A good season for the Colorado franchise could put “THJ” in the spotlight.

There is no doubt that it will be the same for Jordan Clarkson in New York if the transplant goes well with the Knicks. After the limited rotation imposed by Tom Thibodeau in recent seasons, the wider usage advocated by Mike Brown could be a perfect fit for Jordan Clarkson. The sixth man in 2021 is still capable of hot shots that can change a match.

Other players can also claim this reward. Still in New York, Josh Hart he should come off the bench this season, at least when Mitchell Robinson isn’t in the infirmary. The winger’s versatility is essential for the Knicks to perform well, it remains to be seen if he won’t start too many games for him to make the cut. An observation that also applies to De’Andre Hunter in Cleveland. Fourth last season, the winger should be integrated into the starting five following the absence of Max Struss, possibly until the end of 2025.

This sixth trophy of the year could also stay in Boston, where Anfernee Simmons could have the right profile. A poor collective season for the Celtics, however, could do him a disservice. Tara Eason (Rockets) if he plays enough games, John Collins (Clippers), or even Grady Dick (Raptors) or Obi Toppin (The Pacers) are starting from further back, but they could have the statistical power to get into the discussion.

OUR FAVORITES

2024-2025 stats: 14.2 points at 46.2%, 6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 blocks in 27.5 minutes

• Tim Hardaway Jr. (Nuggets)

2024-2025 stats: 11 points at 40.6%, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 28 minutes

2024-2025 stats: 16.2 points at 40.8%, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists in 26 minutes

2024-2025 stats: 17 points at 49.7%, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists in 32.1 minutes

• PJ Washington (Mavericks)

2024-2025 stats: 14.7 points on 45.3% shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists in 32.2 minutes

NOSE OUTSIDERS

• Josh Hart (Knicks)
• De’Andre Hunter (Cavaliers)
• Anfernee Simmons (Celtics)
• Tarry Eason (Rockets)
• John Collins (Clippers)