Inside The Celtics

Malcolm Brogdon Named a Finalist for NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Malcolm Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season and nearly shot his way into the 50/40/90 club.
Bobby Krivitsky|
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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Boston CelticsNew York Knicks

The 1982-83 season represents the first time the NBA handed out a Sixth Man of the Year award. It went to Bobby Jones of the Philadelphia 76ers. A Celtic took home the hardware for the next three seasons.

Kevin McHale won it in 1983-84 and 1984-85. Then, Bill Walton did so in 1985-86, helping complete a championship team on the short list of the greatest assembled in NBA history.

Now, Malcolm Brogdon has a chance to become the third player in franchise history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Brogdon made the sacrifice of exclusively coming off the bench this campaign, but made a significant impact, played plenty of crunch time minutes, and helped Boston go 57-25, the second-best record in the Association.

The former Virginia Cavalier generated 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season. He also nearly made it into the 50/40/90 club for the second time, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, knocking down 44.4 percent of the 4.4 threes he hoisted, and converting on 87 percent of his free throws.

In this author's opinion, Brogdon is the candidate most deserving of this award. As well as Bobby Portis played this season, the former's top competition for Sixth Man of the Year is Immanuel Quickley.

But the Knicks' guard delivered most of his best performances in a starting role. Coming off the bench, he averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest.

After a late-season win against the Raptors, 97-93, a victory where Brogdon led the Celtics in scoring with 29 points, he stated the following about the possibility of winning the award.

"It'd be great. I think it'd be a testament to the team. I think we've got guys on this team that are accomplishing a lot this year. We've got two All-Stars, probably two All-NBA guys, Derrick might make (an) All-Defensive team, so it'd be another award for the team, for sure. But that's not my focus, that's not the team's focus."

That night, his head coach, Joe Mazzulla, expressed about Brogdon, "It would mean a lot. The humility that he brings to our team. He takes pride in the second unit. And in order to be a great team, you have to have people like that," adding, "Malcolm has come in here with patience, humility, and understanding."

Further Reading

Malcolm Brogdon Named a Finalist for NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Jaylen Brown Provides Update on Injured Shooting Hand, Opens Up About Playing Hometown Hawks

Despite the Familiarity of Title Contention, Jayson Tatum Doesn't Take Celtics' Success for Granted

The Celtics Are Pushing Robert Williams to Take His Offense to the Next Level

Joe Mazzulla and Brad Stevens Discuss How the Celtics' Head Coach Has Grown in His First Year at the Helm: 'He's Been a Great Strength for Us'

Jayson Tatum is Ready for the Challenges that Await the Celtics in the Playoffs: 'We've Not Been Waiting for it But Working for it'

Jaylen Brown Shares What Winning the Red Auerbach Award Means to Him: 'I've Put My Everything Into This Team, I've Put My Everything Into This City'

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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