Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award honors the league’s best player in a reserve role. Introduced in the 1982–83 season, the award recognizes players who make a significant impact off the bench by providing scoring, playmaking, defense, leadership, and energy without being regular starters.
Many of the NBA’s most valuable role players have won the award, including Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams, Manu Ginóbili, Kevin McHale, James Harden, and Tyler Herro.
What Is the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award?
The NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award is presented annually to the league’s top reserve player.
To be eligible, a player must come off the bench in more games than they start during the regular season.
Media members vote based on factors such as:
- Scoring production
- Efficiency
- Overall impact
- Team success
- Leadership in a reserve role
The award highlights players who embrace coming off the bench while playing starter-level minutes and producing at a high level.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Winners by Season
| Season | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Bobby Jones | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1983–84 | Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics |
| 1984–85 | Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics |
| 1985–86 | Bill Walton | Boston Celtics |
| 1986–87 | Ricky Pierce | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1987–88 | Roy Tarpley | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1988–89 | Eddie Johnson | Phoenix Suns |
| 1989–90 | Ricky Pierce | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1990–91 | Detlef Schrempf | Indiana Pacers |
| 1991–92 | Detlef Schrempf | Indiana Pacers |
| 1992–93 | Cliff Robinson | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1993–94 | Dell Curry | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1994–95 | Anthony Mason | New York Knicks |
| 1995–96 | Toni Kukoč | Chicago Bulls |
| 1996–97 | John Starks | New York Knicks |
| 1997–98 | Danny Manning | Phoenix Suns |
| 1998–99 | Darrell Armstrong | Orlando Magic |
| 1999–00 | Rodney Rogers | Phoenix Suns |
| 2000–01 | Aaron McKie | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2001–02 | Corliss Williamson | Detroit Pistons |
| 2002–03 | Bobby Jackson | Sacramento Kings |
| 2003–04 | Antawn Jamison | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2004–05 | Ben Gordon | Chicago Bulls |
| 2005–06 | Mike Miller | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2006–07 | Leandro Barbosa | Phoenix Suns |
| 2007–08 | Manu Ginóbili | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2008–09 | Jason Terry | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2009–10 | Jamal Crawford | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2010–11 | Lamar Odom | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2011–12 | James Harden | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2012–13 | J.R. Smith | New York Knicks |
| 2013–14 | Jamal Crawford | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2014–15 | Lou Williams | Toronto Raptors |
| 2015–16 | Jamal Crawford | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2016–17 | Eric Gordon | Houston Rockets |
| 2017–18 | Lou Williams | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2018–19 | Lou Williams | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2019–20 | Montrezl Harrell | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2020–21 | Jordan Clarkson | Utah Jazz |
| 2021–22 | Tyler Herro | Miami Heat |
| 2022–23 | Malcolm Brogdon | Boston Celtics |
| 2023–24 | Naz Reid | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2024–25 | Payton Pritchard | Boston Celtics |
Players with the Most Sixth Man of the Year Awards
Several players have won the award multiple times:
| Player | Awards |
|---|---|
| Jamal Crawford | 3 |
| Lou Williams | 3 |
| Kevin McHale | 2 |
| Ricky Pierce | 2 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 2 |
Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams share the NBA record with three Sixth Man of the Year awards each.
Sixth Men Who Became NBA Stars
Several winners either became stars before winning the award or developed into elite players afterward, including:
- Kevin McHale
- Bill Walton
- Toni Kukoč
- James Harden
- Manu Ginóbili
- Tyler Herro
- Lou Williams
- Jamal Crawford
James Harden is the only Sixth Man of the Year winner to later earn the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.
Sixth Men Who Won NBA Championships
Many Sixth Man of the Year winners played key roles on championship teams, including:
- Bobby Jones
- Kevin McHale
- Bill Walton
- Toni Kukoč
- Manu Ginóbili
- Lamar Odom
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Payton Pritchard
Elite bench production is often a critical ingredient for championship success.
Interesting Facts
- The award has been presented every season since 1982–83.
- Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams each won a record three Sixth Man of the Year awards.
- James Harden won the award before becoming an NBA MVP and perennial All-NBA First Team selection.
- Kevin McHale won back-to-back awards while helping the Boston Celtics become one of the NBA’s dominant teams.
- Manu Ginóbili is widely regarded as one of the greatest sixth men in NBA history despite starting relatively few games during his prime.
Why the Award Matters
The Sixth Man of the Year Award recognizes players who sacrifice starting roles for the benefit of their teams while continuing to perform at an elite level. Many winners provide instant offense, stabilize second units, and often finish games despite not starting them.
The award celebrates selflessness, versatility, and the importance of depth, proving that some of the NBA’s most valuable players make their greatest impact after the opening tip.
Related NBA Lists
- NBA Most Improved Player Winners
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
- NBA Rookie of the Year Winners
- NBA Coach of the Year Winners
- NBA MVP Winners
- NBA All-Star Players
- NBA Champions (Players)
- NBA Hall of Fame Players