Open Thread: Spurs fans take Sixth Man awards seriously

Will there ever be a more beloved 6th Man than Manu?

As you by now know, the NBA announced finalists for June 24th NBA Awards ceremony. In the past, the annual awards for MVP, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player, etc. were announced and then handed out unceremoniously to the recipient in a convenient location.

This is the third year since the awards have taken on a more ceremonial look. Fans can look forward to the reveal of the Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man, and Most Improved Player without Randy Newman grimacing with flop sweat from the seventh row.

This week Pounders will have a chance to participate in a PtR version voting. Each day, we’ve added another category. Feel free to vote for one of the finalists, add in your own “fourth” candidate, or go “Spurs only” in the comments.

Today, we feature the Sixth Man Award Nominees. This year’s trio features two from the same team, implying 28 teams did not have a viable 6th man.

Kia NBA Sixth Man Award

For starters, Lou Williams is on the list. This should come as no surprise as Williams garnered the honor last year as well as in 2015. This year did see a dip in his numbers overall, but that includes minutes. He was as effective off the bench as he has ever been and kept the Los Angeles Clippers viable playoff opponents despite trading Tobias Harris. If Lou earns this year’s award, he will be the third player behind Kevin McHale and Detlef Schrempf to be recognized in back-to-back seasons. He would also be the second player to win three times (*cough* Jamal Crawford).

William’s own teammate Montrezl Harrell is also in the running. He posted career highs nearly across the board including a 150% increase in scoring, 162% more rebounds and nearly doubling his steals per game. If he or Williams takes the trophy, this will be the fourth time in six years a Clipper has been named Sixth Man (*cough* Jamal Crawford).

The final candidate is Indiana Pacer’s big man Domantas Sabonis. His greatest attribute coming off the bench this year was hitting an impressive 52.9% from beyond the arc.

Spurs fans know about Sixth Man. Manu Ginobili took the honor in 2008 and stayed in contention for the remainder of his career. Alas, he retired before this season began, leaving a hole for another to fill. In your opinion, who took the torch from Manu as the 2018-19 San Antonio Spurs Sixth Man?

Tomorrow: Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year

The 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia will take place on Monday, June 24th at 8:00 p.m. CST on TNT.

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Open Thread: Spurs fans take Sixth Man awards seriously
Source: Pounding The Rock