Celtics’ Brogdon Becomes Second Player Ever to Win Sixth Man, Rookie of the Year

He’s also the first player from Boston in nearly 40 years to win the Sixth Man award.

Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon was named the 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year on Thursday.

With this award, Brogdon becomes just the second player in NBA history to win the Sixth Man of the Year title after previously being named the league’s Rookie of the Year (2017), according to ESPN Stats & Info. The only other NBA player to win both awards is Mike Miller, who won the titles in 2006 and ‘01, respectively.

Brogdon also became just the third Celtics player in franchise history to win the award, following Kevin McHale, who won it twice in 1984 and ‘85, and Bill Walton in ‘86.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT ☘️

Congratulations on an incredible season, @MalcolmBrogdon7 pic.twitter.com/6wLhO1IidK

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 20, 2023

In his first season in Boston, the guard finished first in scoring (14.9 PPG), third in rebounding (4.2 RPG) and second in assists (3.7 APG) in the league for players who didn’t start a regular season game. This is the first season in his seven-year NBA career in which he came off the bench every game.

He adapted to the role well, finishing first among non-starters in minutes played (1,743.8), second in made field goals (354), third in total points (1,000) and fourth in assists (248). By scoring 1,000 points during the 2022–23 season, Brogdon became just the fourth Celtics player in history to cross that benchmark ... off the bench.