NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Odds 2022-23: Brogdon Moves Back To Favorite
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The NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds will be updated throughout the season! The “6MOTY” (Sixth Man of the Year, abbreviated) award is handed out to the league’s best non-starter throughout an entire season. Eligibility requirements for the award are simple: any player is eligible as long as they have come off the bench in more games than they have started for their team.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds 2022-23
Below is a table of all the favorites and their respective NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds for the 2022-23 season. Tyler Herro won the award last year after a dominating 20/5/4 season with an impressive shooting split, but he will likely be shut out this season due to the fact that he will be a consistent starter for Miami. Check out which players below I believe to have value for their NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds!
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: 6MOTY Race
The Sixth Man of the Year award has had a ton of odds favorites this season, with Malcolm Brogdon now leading the way. Check out the NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds and the 6MOTY race below, as we are likely down to a two-man race between Malcolm Brogdon and Immanuel Quickley.
1. Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics
- Last Week: 1
- 2022-23 Statistics: 14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.6 apg
- 6MOTY Odds:
It seems likely that the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voters will value consistency a bit more than usual, especially with all of the different players who were favorites at one point, like Jordan Poole, Russell Westbrook, and others.
Malcolm Brodgon fits the bill about as good as any player this season; he went from a starter in Indiana, putting up roughly 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game, to welcoming a sixth man role for a talented Boston Celtics team. It is always nice to see a talented player, who has been a leading scorer on another team, take a lessened role for the sake of winning.
Brogdon is the third-leading scorer for the No. 2 seeded Boston Celtics; at one point, they were the NBA’s best team, as far as winning percentage. Still, Boston will finish the season as a top seed in the Eastern Conference, holding home-court advantage in at least the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Brogdon’s 14.7 points per game is impressive for a player coming off the bench, especially in just 26 minutes per game. His “Per 36s” are tremendous, but by far the most incredible stats for Brogdon this season are his FG% and 3P%, which are 49% and 46%, respectively. He is tied for second place in the NBA for 3P%!
Other players may have NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds that look favorable, but at this point, it would be difficult to move off of Brogdon. He has been a major contributor off the bench and has been consistent all year long, while many of the other candidates have had ups and downs.
2. Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
- Last Week: 2
- 2022-23 Statistics: 13.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.2 apg
- 6MOTY Odds:
Immanuel Quickley has had a fantastic season for the New York Knicks, but it wasn’t until the past few weeks that he has skyrocketed to the top for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds.
On the season, Quickley has averaged roughly 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game, which is solid but nowhere near a player like Tyrese Maxey; however, Maxey has had the benefit of starting for the Sixers for a large portion of the 2022-23 campaign.
Quickley’s floater, touch, shooting, IQ, and elite quickness make him a difficult cover, and his 38-point, eight-rebounds, seven-assist, four-steal, and three-block performance against Boston in a recent overtime win confirm that claim to be true.
There is little doubt about Quickley’s impact on this Knicks team, and if he continues to play anywhere near this level, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award could end up in his hands.
Right now, he is in the lead with Malcolm Brogdon, and it would take a significant late-season push from Powell or someone unexpected to close the gap that Quickley and Brogdon have created. Quickley’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are likely as favorable as they will be between now and the end of the 2022-23 season.
3. Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
- Last Week: 3
- 2022-23 Statistics: 13.8 ppg, 1.6 apg, 9.6 rpg
- 6MOTY Odds:
The Sixth Man of the Year award can be super interesting when there isn’t a clear frontrunner, especially when the season is three-fourths over!
Bobby Portis has been nowhere near this ladder until this week; Russell Westbrook and Jordan Poole being featured too much in the starting lineups of their respective team have completely turned this award upside down, as now he, Brogdon, and Quickley are favorites for the award.
Portis has been one of the most important pieces for the Bucks; he comes in off the bench and provides frontcourt depth, rebounding, shooting, and scoring. As a matter of fact, Portis would start on quite a few NBA teams if he weren’t in Milwaukee.
With the Bucks having so much success recently, including them putting together a 16-game winning streak, Portis could find himself toward the top of this ladder with players like Malcolm Brogdon. Portis has averaged a near double-double this season on a 50/35/82 shooting split.
If Milwaukee continues to be the hottest team in the NBA behind Portis’ bench contribution, this could be a viable futures bet.
4. Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers
- Last Week: 4
- 2022-23 Statistics: 16.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg
- 6MOTY Odds:
Norman Powell has been huge for the Los Angeles Clippers; without him, it is difficult to imagine where the Clippers would be, as they struggle immensely with scoring and offensive output.
Powell’s contributions to Los Angeles have come mostly in the form of scoring off the bench, which likely makes him a bit one-dimensional in the eyes of 6MOY voters.
Further, Powell has missed some time recently due to a shoulder injury, and while he should return soon, this absence could make it difficult to gain that ground back on guys like Portis, Brogdon, or Maxey.
This futures bet would be the longshot of all long shots. However, if a few players above him begin to struggle, anything could happen.
5. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
- Last Week: 5
- 2022-23 Statistics: 20.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.5 apg
- 6MOTY Odds:
Tyrese Maxey has again taken a massive step forward in his career, averaging close to 20 points per game as the third option for a championship-contending 76ers team with MVP candidate Joel Embiid and future Hall-of-Famer James Harden.
Maxey’s speed, shooting, and craftiness make him an incredibly tough assignment for defenses; he is borderline impossible to stay in front of as a defender.
Eligibility concerns and voter biases to the fact that he started for most of the season are Maxey’s biggest drawbacks as a candidate for the 6MOY award, and his NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds reflect that.
Just Outside Top 5: Malik Monk, Cam Thomas, Russell Westbrook, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Christian Wood
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: Odds Changes Explained
NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are ever-changing, beginning in the preseason until the award winner is announced during the NBA Playoffs. Usually, you can get favorable odds in the preseason, and the reasoning should be simple: different catalysts can quickly alter the outlook of a future bet, such as the Sixth Man of the Year award. For example, injuries, locker room tension, cold streaks, a trade, or a change in coaching staff can all impact a player’s odds of winning the award.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: Futures Bettors
The Sixth Man of the Year award is another future bet that is highly speculative; there are not many back-to-back winners of this award in league history. Only three players have won the award in consecutive years: Kevin McHale, Lou Williams, and Detlef Schrempf. NBA futures bettors understand the likelihood of a player winning consecutive Sixth Man of the Year awards is slim and will bet accordingly.
Additionally, these futures bettors can notice and acknowledge important trends. For instance, guards have won the award in ten of the past 11 seasons. The only non-guard who won the Sixth Man of the Year award during that stretch was Montrezl Harrell. Another important consideration is that centers do not receive this award; Bill Walton and Roy Tarpley were the only ones to win. Power forwards not named Kevin McHale have not fared much better.
NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Odds: Favorite Early/Preseason Bets
Below, I list out all players with NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds that I believe have value. Surprisingly, Herro is not eligible to be a Sixth Man of the Year after starting in every Heat game thus far in the 2022-23 season. Herro’s absence will open doors for many dark horses this season. Check out our complete analysis of the Sixth Man of the Year odds and which players have great value!
The Favorite: Jordan Poole
Jordan Poole surprised everyone when he came out of seemingly nowhere (the G-League, to be specific) and put up an astonishing 18.5 points, four assists, and 3.4 rebounds on nearly 45% from the field last year. The hype around Poole began right before the season, but few people believed he could be a 6MOTY candidate that quickly. Poole’s meteoric rise to become one of the best scorers and shooters off the bench in the NBA proves that individual awards can be challenging to predict.
Despite Ja Morant winning the Most Improved Player award last season, many believed Poole should have been the recipient. Regardless, Poole should only continue to improve, but the start of this season has been a roller coaster for him and the Warriors. This graph, courtesy of bball-index, details how important Jordan Poole is to the Golden State’s offense through his ball dominance and usage rate from the 2021-22 season.
The Dark Horse: Christian Wood
Christian Wood was not a lock to be a starter for the Mavericks, but many people assumed he’d step into a starting role almost immediately. However, Wood has been brought off the bench for the Mavs and has thrived in the role, averaging roughly 18 points and eight rebounds per game on a shooting split of 55/40/72.
His free throw percentage needs to increase a bit, and he has to improve defensively, but this is the kind of production that can catapult Wood from a dark horse to a favorite fairly quickly. The Mavericks need consistent scoring outside of Luka Doncic, and they may have just found it!
The Rookie Candidate: Bennedict Mathurin
Benn Mathurin’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds have tightened exponentially since the first week or two of the 2022-23 NBA season. Mathurin somehow still comes off the bench for the Indiana Pacers after flashing future star potential. Perhaps, this is all part of the strategy, but I don’t necessarily understand it. My opinion on that is beside the point, though. What matters is that Benn Mathurin is averaging 17.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in just over 28 minutes per game!
A strong second half of the year could result in Mathurin making a late-season surge for the 6MOTY award. Mathurin would end up being the first rookie to win the award since Ben Gordon in 2005; he could also be the first ever rookie to win Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year, as Gordon was unable to bring both awards home. Right now, Mathurin’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are still long enough to justify sprinkling a bit on his future.
Out of Nowhere: Russell Westbrook
In a surprising turn of events, Russell Westbrook not only became an eligible Sixth Man of the Year but has leaped Jordan Poole to be the favorite to win the award in many different sportsbooks. Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ roller coaster start to the 2022-23 season, Westbrook should still consistently put up solid stats across the board.
Through the first half of the 2022-23 season, Westbrook has averaged about 15 points, six rebounds, and eight assists; however, he has looked much more comfortable in his bench role, where he can play on-ball more and secure a higher usage rate when he steps on the floor. Weak defense, offensive efficiency concerns, and poor team play are all valid reasons why Westbrook might not win the award, but as it stands today, he is a favorite!
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: Conclusion
It’s still early in the 2022-23 regular season, but a few Sixth Man of the Year candidates have jumped out to an early lead: Jordan Poole, Christian Wood, Benn Mathurin, and now Russell Westbrook look like strong candidates to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award! Like other individual awards, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award is voter-based, which means there is some level of subjectivity involved.
Christian Wood is an interesting Sixth Man of the Year dark horse with his red-hot shooting through the first half of the NBA season; he looks like the Dallas Mavericks’ perfect bench scorer. Westbrook’s new role has helped him overtake Jordan Poole in a convincing manner for the 6MOTY award, but other dark horses, like Benn Mathurin, could upheave this new order in due time. NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds fluctuate throughout the season, so check back in often to see what has changed.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds FAQ
What is a “Sixth Man?”
A “Sixth Man” is a player for an NBA team that comes off the bench. These players are often scorers on the offensive end but have a deficiency that can keep them out of the starting lineup (i.e., defense, rebounding, size.) However, sometimes, a bench unit just needs a great scorer.
How are the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds calculated?
NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are often more straightforward than other awards; statistics are usually the most important. The narrative is less important in this award, as expectations aren’t for this player to lead your team to the playoffs or best conference record necessarily.
Who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award last season?
Tyler Herro was the winner last season and came into this year with the best NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds. However, the Miami Heat decided that Herro would fit better in the starting lineup, so he likely won’t be eligible to win this season.
What player has the most Sixth Man of the Year awards?
Two of the greatest volume scorers off the bench in recent history, Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford, are the only players to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award three times. Williams and Crawford lacked size and defense, respectively, so they came off the bench for teams and provided elite scoring.
Which player has the best NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds in 2022-23?
After being moved from the starting lineup to the bench, Russell Westbrook’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds skyrocketed. Westbrook struggled last season and at the beginning of the 2022-23 season but has since improved in his new role.