Clippers center Montrezl Harrell has won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2019/20 season, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). Harrell beat out fellow finalists Dennis Schröder and teammate Lou Williams for the award.
Harrell, 26, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2019/20, averaging 18.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 1.1 BPG on 58.0% shooting in 63 games (27.8 MPG) for the Clippers. Although he was technically the team’s backup center behind Ivica Zubac, Harrell was typically relied upon in the team’s closing lineups.
As Fred Katz of The Athletic observes (via Twitter), Harrell’s win represents a deviation from the norm, as the award almost always goes to a high-scoring guard. In the last decade, Williams and Jamal Crawford have won the award multiple times, with Eric Gordon, J.R. Smith, and James Harden also taking it home. Lamar Odom was the last non-guard to be named Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
The Sixth Man of the Year was one of the few NBA awards this summer whose outcome was in doubt, as Schröder and Williams also submitted strong cases. The Thunder point guard averaged 18.9 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 3.6 RPG on .469/.385/.839 shooting, while Williams – who won the award in 2018 and 2019 – put up 18.2 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 3.1 RPG.
Harrell received 58 of 100 potential first-place votes for the award, with Schröder getting 35 and Williams receiving the final seven. Here are the full voting results, per the NBA:
- Montrezl Harrell, Clippers (397 total points)
- Dennis Schröder, Thunder (328)
- Lou Williams, Clippers (127)
- Christian Wood, Pistons (17)
- George Hill, Bucks (17)
- Goran Dragic, Heat (6)
- Derrick Rose, Pistons (5)
- Davis Bertans, Wizards (2)
- Dwight Howard, Lakers (1)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dennis Schroder didn’t? Wtf
Serves him right for being a dirty nut-puncher.
Harrell insulting Luka was exemplary though.
Goran Dragic was robbed
I’m curious who voted for Dwight Howard, that’s a joke!
Dennis still gets robbed lol. Tbh Harrell should have won it over williams last year but ig its better then Williams getting another.
Also a bit off topic but is Williams a HoF if the Clips win? Most Sixth man awards, about 15000 points, 3500 assists and then a ring.
At some point a career backup should not get any awards. He’s not good enough to start even, or has a basic flaw(s). Not sure repeated 6th man trophies is to be resumey worthy.
John Havlicek
There are players who could start but come from the bench, just because it’s the best for the team and they are unselfish enough, not because they have any flaws. They play starter minutes and are essential for their teams, and indeed are worthy of getting awards. Manu Ginobili (who is almost a lock for the HoF) isc one of them, and Lou Williams could also fit that bill.
I think Havlicek started for the ’74 & ’76 title teams, Don Nelson the backup, Paul Silas figuring in there too. Hondo started 6th man and built his reputation that way but was a minutes leader by the end of that 50s-60s run. Alltimer. He shows you can begin as the 6th; it’s not a curse.
Of course players have flaws and Lou Williams has them. Defense, height & selfishness, but also his strength: playing/thinking so fast that teammates cannot keep up either, so he just does things himself! He wins 2nd string awards and maybe a title coming up.
I wonder about Manu Ginoboli as a HOFer. Per Bas.Ref., Ginoboli started 349 games of 1057, 33%. He made both his allstar appearances in 2 of his 3 seasons as full starter. Won 4 titles, 1 starting, and played 16 years. He was not very good at the end when they kept asking him back just to be there, but then, he was wanted personally. Healthy not great career stats, 20.2PER, 47.6VORP, 112-100 Ortg-Drtg. The 100 is super for a guard.
He did start a lot and proved himself when he did. It was Popovich’s choice and not starting became a tradition he usually stuck to. Marco Bellinelli & Danny Green starting for the 2014 title team? Popovich probably had a worry. Ginoboli sported a nervous look and maybe he was.
Leading a second unit is important and a different skillset than starting. Dont be so close minded.
Yes but the topic was Hall Of Fame, not 6th man OY or skillset. When someone does well leading a second team, something happens; players tend to move on. But Lou Will does not lead teams except statistically; he guns; others watch, not knowing the plan.
Dwayne Wade once led a second unit brilliantly, but nobody cares. CLE’18/19, dumped. TJ OConnell led the Sixer first team successfully and got dumped. Well so did the GM & HC soon after, and Butler.
Except for all 3 of these guys would be starting on a lot of other teams. Them not starting has nothing to do with ability, rather a coaching decision.
Schroder was robbed….shame
Personally, I think he is already. 2nd best 6th man of all time. Only trails Ginobli
Sorry, but “the Microwave” Vinnie Johnson is the best 6th man of all time.
I still don’t get how two teammates can both be up for 6th man of the year award. Logically, one of them HAS to be the 7th man and thus cannot be a 6th man.
Yes, I’m joking, but as with almost every joke there is an air of truth to the statement.
How many times has Lou been top 3 alongside a team mate?