Bench players often decide close NBA games. The Sixth Man Award exists to honor that impact.
It recognizes the top player who comes off the bench and still changes the game on both ends of the floor. This award shows how depth and timing matter as much as star power.
The NBA Sixth Man Award goes to the league’s most effective reserve each season. It honors players who deliver steady production, energy, and leadership without starting.
Winners shape games with scoring bursts, defense, and smart play when starters rest. This article tracks how the award began, how it evolved, and which players defined the role.
It also looks beyond the trophy to highlight legendary sixth men whose influence reached far past the stat sheet.
What Is the NBA Sixth Man Award?
The NBA Sixth Man Award recognizes elite bench players who change games without starting. It highlights scoring, consistency, and impact from players who come off the bench and still play major roles.
Definition of Sixth Man in the NBA
In the NBA, a sixth man is the first player a team brings in off the bench. He does not start games but often plays starter-level minutes.
Coaches rely on this role to keep pressure on opponents when starters rest. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year award honors the best player in this role each season.
Fans also call it 6MOY. The league introduced the award in the 1982–83 season.
A strong sixth man usually leads bench units in scoring or playmaking. He often finishes games when matchups demand it.
The role values flexibility, readiness, and performance without a starting spot.
Award Criteria and Selection Process
Voters focus on impact, not just raw stats. A panel of NBA writers and broadcasters selects the winner each year.
They compare production, efficiency, and team success. Key factors include:
- Games played off the bench
- Scoring and playmaking
- Consistency across the season
- Team results
The league officially calls it the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. The winner receives the John Havlicek Trophy, named after a Hall of Famer who thrived in a bench role.
Recent winners, such as Payton Pritchard in 2025, show how bench players can shape winning teams. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year winners list highlights their achievements.
Importance of the Sixth Man Role
The sixth man role solves real problems during games. Starters need rest, foul trouble happens, and matchups change fast.
A trusted bench player keeps the team steady during these moments. Many teams design offenses around a high-usage sixth man.
He can attack second units, push pace, or provide instant scoring. This impact often swings close games.
The sixth man award also changes how players approach their careers. It proves that value does not depend on starting.
Teams reward players who accept the role and still perform at a high level. This keeps rotations deep and competitive.
History and Evolution of the Sixth Man Award
The NBA created this award to honor elite players who lead from the bench. Over time, voting habits, player roles, and the trophy itself changed to reflect how teams use reserves.
Origins and Inaugural Winner
The league introduced the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in the 1982–83 season. Voters wanted to recognize players who did not start but still shaped games.
Bobby Jones won the first award with Philadelphia. He brought defense, energy, and leadership off the bench.
His impact showed that value did not depend on starting status. Key facts from the early years include:
- First season: 1982–83
- First winner: Bobby Jones
- Voting group: Media members across North America
The award set a clear standard for bench excellence. It focused on steady impact across a full season.
Learn more about the award’s origins on the NBA Sixth Man of the Year history page.
Notable Changes Over the Years
For many years, voters favored high-scoring guards who led bench units. Players like Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford fit that mold.
Recent winners show a wider view of value. Voters now reward efficiency, defense, and lineup flexibility.
Big men and wings have gained more support. Examples of evolving criteria include:
- Minutes played with starters and bench units
- Defensive impact and matchup value
- Team success tied to reserve performance
This shift reflects how modern teams rotate lineups. The award now captures total on-court impact.
A full list of winners by season appears on the NBA Sixth Man Award winners page.
Renaming and Significance of the John Havlicek Trophy
The league renamed the trophy to honor John Havlicek, one of basketball’s most famous sixth men. He starred for Boston while often coming off the bench early in his career.
The John Havlicek Trophy connects today’s winners to that legacy. It highlights unselfish play, stamina, and trust from coaches.
Why Havlicek matters:
- He thrived without starting every game
- He closed games and handled key moments
- He set a model for long-term excellence
The trophy name adds history to each win. It reminds players that bench roles can lead to lasting recognition.
Details about the trophy appear on the John Havlicek Trophy award page.
Comprehensive List of NBA Sixth Man Award Winners
The NBA Sixth Man Award tracks how bench players shape winning teams across seasons. The history shows clear trends, standout repeat winners, and a strong link between certain teams and elite bench production.
Chronological List by Season
The award began in the 1982–83 season, with Bobby Jones winning the first honor. Early winners often filled defensive and leadership roles rather than pure scoring.
By the late 1980s, Kevin McHale and Bill Walton helped redefine the award by delivering All-Star level impact in limited starts. The 1990s added versatility with players like Detlef Schrempf, who won twice and contributed across scoring, rebounding, and passing.
In recent years, scoring guards have dominated. According to the NBA Sixth Man Award winners list from AP News, recent winners include Malcolm Brogdon (2023), Naz Reid (2024), and Payton Pritchard (2025).
These players combined efficiency with steady production off the bench.
Repeat and Multi-Time Winners
A small group of players stands out for winning the award more than once. Kevin McHale won twice in the 1980s while playing for Boston.
He often closed games despite coming off the bench. Detlef Schrempf also earned the award twice, showing that forwards could thrive in the sixth man role.
In the modern era, Jamal Crawford won three times, using shot creation and instant offense to swing games. Lou Williams matched that three-time mark, becoming one of the most productive bench scorers in league history.
The full record of repeat winners appears on Basketball-Reference’s Sixth Man Award history.
Teams With Most Award Winners
Certain teams consistently produce top sixth men. The Boston Celtics lead historically, with winners such as Kevin McHale, Malcolm Brogdon, and Payton Pritchard.
Boston often uses deep rotations, which creates strong bench roles. The Los Angeles Clippers gained recognition during the 2010s due to Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams.
Their offense relied heavily on scoring bursts from the bench. Other teams, like the Minnesota Timberwolves, joined this list more recently with Naz Reid.
Team patterns and year-by-year winners appear in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year history on NBA.com.
Profiles of Legendary Sixth Men
Several reserve players changed games without starting. They scored fast, led second units, and accepted roles that helped teams win titles and awards.
Jamal Crawford: The Three-Time Winner
Jamal Crawford won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award three times. He earned the honor in 2010, 2014, and 2016.
The league later named the trophy the John Havlicek Trophy, which fits Crawford’s style and impact, as shown in the official Sixth Man of the Year winners list. Crawford came off the bench but often finished games.
He used quick handles, step-back jumpers, and deep range. Defenses struggled to match his rhythm once he heated up.
He accepted a reserve role for many teams, including the Hawks and Clippers. That choice extended his career and kept offenses sharp when starters rested.
Lou Williams: Scoring Off the Bench
Lou Williams built a career as one of the most reliable bench scorers in league history. He won the award three times and twice in a row with the Clippers.
His name appears often among the all-time Sixth Man of the Year winners. Williams focused on scoring in tight spaces.
He drew fouls, hit pull-up shots, and controlled pace late in games. Coaches trusted him to lead the offense without forcing plays.
He rarely started but still logged heavy minutes. That role allowed him to attack tired defenders and change momentum quickly.
Manu Ginóbili: Team-First Superstar
Manu Ginóbili won the award in 2008 while playing for the Spurs. He accepted a bench role even though he played at an All-Star level.
His approach matched San Antonio’s team-first system. Ginóbili brought elite passing, cutting, and on-ball defense.
He also delivered clutch scoring in playoff games. His impact reached far beyond the box score.
International fans knew Manu Ginóbili as a star before his NBA success. His willingness to sacrifice starts helped the Spurs win multiple titles.
Other Hall of Fame Recipients
Several Hall of Fame players defined the sixth man role before and after the award began in 1983.
| Player | Key Impact |
|---|---|
| Kevin McHale | Elite post scoring for the Celtics’ second unit |
| Bill Walton | Passing and defense during Boston’s 1986 title run |
| Detlef Schrempf | Versatile scoring and rebounding |
| Toni Kukoc | Playmaking and shooting for the Bulls |
| Bobby Jones | Defense and energy as the first award winner |
The award honors players who thrive without starting. The John Havlicek Trophy reflects that legacy, named for a player who set the standard for bench excellence.
Recent NBA Sixth Man Award Winners and Their Impact
Recent Sixth Man winners shaped games with scoring, playmaking, and flexibility. Each player filled a clear role that helped strong teams manage minutes, injuries, and late-game pressure.
Payton Pritchard and the Modern Bench Role
Payton Pritchard won the award in 2025 with Boston by bringing steady scoring and pace off the bench. He handled the ball, pushed tempo, and spaced the floor with reliable shooting.
His role allowed Boston to rest starters without losing control of games. Pritchard averaged double-digit points while keeping turnovers low.
He often closed games when matchups favored his shooting. His impact showed how teams value guards who can score and defend without needing high usage.
The NBA Sixth Man Award Winners list highlights his place among recent winners.
Naz Reid: Instant Offense for the Timberwolves
Naz Reid won the 2024 award with Minnesota by changing games with quick offense. He scored in the post, hit open threes, and attacked slower defenders.
His skill set fit well next to different lineups. Reid gave the Timberwolves lineup freedom.
Coaches could sit starters without losing size or scoring. He also punished second units that lacked rim protection.
His season stands out among NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winners because he blended power forward strength with guard-like shooting.
Malcolm Brogdon and Boston’s Depth
Malcolm Brogdon won in 2023 by playing a controlled, efficient style. He led bench units, scored when needed, and defended multiple positions.
Boston relied on him to steady games when starters rested. Brogdon often faced opposing starters late in games.
He responded with strong decision-making and calm shot selection. His ability to fit many roles made Boston’s rotation harder to defend.
Tyler Herro and Jordan Clarkson: Versatile Scorers
Tyler Herro won in 2022 by giving Miami consistent scoring and shot creation. He attacked off the dribble and stretched defenses beyond the arc.
Miami used him to spark runs and break tight games. Jordan Clarkson earned the award in 2021 with Utah.
He played fast, took tough shots, and pressured defenses every night. His scoring bursts changed momentum.
Both players appear on the complete list of Sixth Man winners.
International NBA Sixth Man Award Winners
Several Sixth Man of the Year winners came from outside the United States. These players brought different styles, strong fundamentals, and global experience that helped shape modern NBA bench roles.
Impact of Foreign-Born Recipients
International players have won the Sixth Man award only a few times, but their influence stands out. The league recognizes five foreign-born winners across its history: Manu Ginóbili, Leandro Barbosa, Toni Kukoč, Detlef Schrempf, and Ben Gordon.
The NBA tracks these players as part of the official list of foreign-born Sixth Man winners. Most of these players filled key roles as scorers or playmakers.
Coaches trusted them to close games, not just fill minutes. Some trained fully outside the U.S., while others blended international development with American systems.
That mix expanded how teams evaluated talent for non-starting roles.
Leandro Barbosa and the Brazilian Blur
Leandro Barbosa won Sixth Man of the Year in 2007 with the Phoenix Suns. He played with speed, pressure, and constant movement.
Defenders struggled to stay in front of him. Barbosa averaged over 18 points per game that season.
He attacked early in the shot clock and pushed fast breaks. Phoenix used him as a scoring weapon next to Steve Nash.
Barbosa trained outside the U.S. before entering the NBA. His success helped raise Brazil’s profile in pro basketball.
Detlef Schrempf, Toni Kukoc, and International Influence
Detlef Schrempf won the award twice, in 1991 and 1992, with the Indiana Pacers. He offered size, shooting, and smart passing.
Coaches used him at multiple positions. Toni Kukoč won in 1996 with the Chicago Bulls.
He fit into a title team without needing to start. His spacing and decision-making supported star-heavy lineups.
Manu Ginóbili later set a modern standard by winning in 2008. He sacrificed starting status but still finished games.
His style blended creativity with discipline. Ben Gordon, born in England, won as a rookie in 2005.
He delivered instant offense and clutch scoring.
Notable International Sixth Man Winners
| Player | Country | Award Year |
|---|---|---|
| Manu Ginóbili | Argentina | 2008 |
| Leandro Barbosa | Brazil | 2007 |
| Toni Kukoč | Croatia | 1996 |
| Detlef Schrempf | Germany | 1991, 1992 |
| Ben Gordon | England | 2005 |
Best Sixth Men in NBA History: Beyond the Award
Some of the best sixth men shaped games, rotations, and playoff results in ways that stats alone do not show. Their value came from timing, flexibility, and trust from coaches during critical moments.
Top Bench Players Who Changed the Game
John Havlicek set the standard for elite bench play in the 1960s. He brought energy, defense, and scoring for Boston before becoming a full-time starter.
Many lists still rank him among the best sixth men in NBA history due to his early impact. Kevin McHale gave Boston efficient scoring and strong defense off the bench in the 1980s.
He later became a starter, but his reserve years changed how teams viewed frontcourt depth. Manu Ginóbili accepted a bench role to help San Antonio balance lineups.
His creativity and pace often shifted games. Many rankings place him among the best sixth men despite his All-Star talent.
Notable Non-Winners With Major Bench Impact
Some players made huge bench impacts without winning the award. John Havlicek never won Sixth Man of the Year because the award did not exist early in his career.
Bill Walton played limited minutes for Boston in 1986 but changed games with passing, defense, and leadership. His role helped stabilize second units during tight playoff games.
Jason Terry often closed games for Dallas while coming off the bench. His scoring and spacing proved vital during the 2011 title run.
Legacy and Influence on Championship Teams
Elite sixth men often decide playoff series. Coaches rely on them to steady lineups when starters rest or struggle.
Lamar Odom gave the Lakers playmaking and rebounding off the bench during title seasons. His all-around skill made him one of the most versatile reserves ever, as noted in historical sixth man rankings.
Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams showed how scoring-focused sixth men could carry second units. Their success helped define the modern bench scorer role.
