Immanuel Quickley Gaining Traction for NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award
New York Knicks' backup point guard Immanuel Quickley now has a +500 chance of clinching the 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. With his scorching form and solid performances on both ends of the court, Quickley has been a driving force behind the Knicks' seven-game winning streak and their fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Quickley currently ranks third on DraftKings' NBA awards leaderboard. Malcolm Brogdon, a versatile guard for the Boston Celtics, leads as the frontrunner at -200 odds, with swingman Norman Powell of the Los Angeles Clippers following closely at slightly better odds of +450.
It's worth noting that a guard has won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 10 out of the last 11 seasons, with Montrezl Harrell, a backup center for the Clippers, being the only exception since the 2010-2011 season.
Shooting guard Tyler Herro from the Miami Heat won the award last season by averaging 20.7 points per game; however, he is no longer eligible to defend his title as he moved to a starting role this season.
MSG Loves IQ: Immanuel Quickley (+500)
The Knicks, boasting a 37-27 record, have been on fire, showing an impressive 9-1 record in their last ten games and a seven-game winning streak. They are currently the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, trailing the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers by just 1.5 games.
In his third season with the Knicks, Quickley has been phenomenal, averaging a career-best 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Despite being a reserve player and seeing minimal court time at 27.7 minutes per game, he has managed striking stats, including a 35.9% success rate from beyond the arc and a 44.3% shooting average overall.
Quickley recorded impressive January averages of 15.4 points per game and scored in double digits in 13 out of 14 games. He has consistently scored double-digit points in each of the last nine games and is averaging 15.7 points per game during the Knicks' winning streak.
Oddsmakers have taken notice of Quickley's incredible performances over the past two months, prompting him to climb up the board and secure +500 odds to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.
Quickley leads the Knicks' second unit, composed of forward Obi Toppin, centers Jericho Sims and Isaiah Hartenstein, and acquisition Josh Hart. Excitement among fans at Madison Square Garden soars whenever Quickley steps off the bench and onto the court.
Consensus Favorite: Malcolm Brogdon (-200)
The Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals, exposing their weak bench. To address this, the Celtics made significant moves to strengthen their bench, especially with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon via trade from the Indiana Pacers.
Brogdon would be a starter for most NBA teams, but the Celtics want him to provide offensive firepower off the bench while maintaining a high defensive level. This season, he has averaged 14.6 points per game, ranking as the third-best scorer for the Celtics as their sixth man. He also contributes 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and impressively, he has a sizzling 46% three-point shooting percentage.
Since being acquired by the Celtics, Brogdon has been one of the leading contenders for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Currently, he is the overall favorite at -200 odds, but he faces challenges regarding his health and the emergence of Quickley.
Overall, Brogdon has missed approximately 70% of games during his six-year professional career, with injury constraints causing him to miss 59 games in his first three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and 80 games in the following three seasons with the Pacers. He missed 46 games last season, which prompted the Pacers to trade him to the Celtics.
So far this season, Brogdon has only missed nine games with the Celtics, but late-season injuries could jeopardize his chances of winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in the final 20 games.
Top 5: Norman Powell (+500), Tyrese Maxey (+1500), and Russell Westbrook (+5000)
Powell ranks as the third-best scorer for the Los Angeles Clippers as their sixth man, averaging 16.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game from the bench. He is also the second contender on the leaderboard with +500 odds to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Guard Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers currently holds fourth position at +1500 odds. Initially, he held a starting guard role before being sidelined by an injury. After recovering, he shifted to a bench role, which head coach Doc Rivers found favorable due to the smooth flow of the offense.
Point guard Russell Westbrook was initially the sixth man for the Los Angeles Lakers, reluctantly accepting his demotion but eventually finding his rhythm. Though initially competing with Brogdon for the Sixth Man of the Year award, Westbrook's performance has cooled off since.
The LA Lakers offloaded Westbrook to the Utah Jazz right before the NBA's trade deadline. Westbrook didn't suit up for a single game with the Jazz, as both sides agreed on a contract termination. Westbrook regained his freedom and teamed up with the Clippers again.
It's quite unusual to witness two teammates from the same squad vying for the Sixth Man of the Year title, but that's the scenario unfolding with the Clippers. Westbrook has recently joined the roster, while Powell secured his spot as the first sub all season long.
The Clippers dropped four straight games with Westbrook on board, which isn't beneficial for his attempt to clinch the Sixth Man of the Year award. Westbrook's chances have diminished in the last few weeks, and he's now fifth on the NBA awards radar with +5000 odds.
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