NBA 6th Man of the Year (6th MOTY) Power Rankings featuring Russell Westbrook, Jordan Poole, and more | January 7, 2022-23 NBA Season
The 2022-23 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award is heating up with multiple players playing elite-level basketball. Russell Westbrook, Jordan Poole, Bobby Portis, Bennedict Mathurin, and others top the list. There's a good argument to be made for each of them.
Others have fallen off the list, including Dallas Mavericks center Christian Wood. He hasn't necessarily been the best in the past month and he is also starting games periodically.
Let's break it down with the recent Sixth Man of the Year Award rankings.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Rankings
#5 Bennedict Mathurin
Previous month's NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 40; Games won - 22; Games lost - 18
Last Week: PPG - 19.6, APG - 0.6, RPG - 3.0
Overall: PPG - 17.4, APG - 1.4, RPG - 3.8
Last Week: FG% - 50%, 3P% - 40%, FT% - 85.2%
Overall: FG% - 42.3%, 3P% - 33.9%, FT% - 82.1%
Not only does Bennedict Mathurin have a real chance of winning the Rookie of the Year Award, but he also has a chance of doing something special and winning the Sixth Man of the Year in his rookie season. Perhaps he will become a starter soon and it will ruin his chances.
#4 Malcolm Brogdon
Previous month's NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 39; Games won - 27; Games lost - 12
Last Week: PPG - 14.8, APG - 4.5, RPG - 4.3
Overall: PPG - 13.2, APG - 3.8, RPG - 4.1
Last Week: FG% - 44.7%, 3P% - 52.9%, FT% - 94.1%
Overall: FG% - 46.7%, 3P% - 42.7%, FT% - 87.4%
Malcolm Brogdon and the Boston Celtics had a down week, giving up 150 points in a loss to Oklahoma City and also losing to the Denver Nuggets. However, Brogdon continues to impress and has a real chance to win the award.
#3 Jordan Poole
Previous month's NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 2; Games won - 1; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 39; Games won - 20; Games lost - 19
Last Week: PPG - 26, APG - 5.5, RPG - 5.5
Overall: PPG - 20.6, APG - 4.4, RPG - 2.4
Last Week: FG% - 37.7%, 3P% - 22.7, FT% - 77.8%
Overall: FG% - 42.9%, 3P% - 30.9%, FT% - 86.1%
The numbers were down for Jordan Poole last week, but that was because he needed to take on a bigger role while Stephen Curry is still out. Poole might be the most important bench piece in the entire NBA this season.
#2 Russell Westbrook
Previous month's NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - N/A
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 30; Games won - 18; Games lost - 21
Last Week: PPG - 13.7, APG - 6.7, RPG - 7.7
Overall: PPG - 14.6, APG - 7.7, RPG - 6.4
Last Week: FG% - 40%, 3P% - 30.8%, FT% - 62.5%
Overall: FG% - 40.9%, 3P% - 28.2%, FT% - 67.6%
Russell Westbrook was sent to the bench this year by the LA Lakers and has proved to be an above-average role player at this point in his career. Not giving him the Sixth Man of the Year would be tough.
#1 Bobby Portis
Previous month's NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - NA
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 39; Games won - 25; Games lost - 14
Last Week: PPG - 17.4, APG - 2.3, RPG - 11.8
Overall: PPG - 14.2, APG - 1.8, RPG - 10.3
Last Week: FG% - 49.1%, 3P% - 37.5%, FT% - 100%
Overall: FG% - 49.6%, 3P% - 32.4%, FT% - 81.5%
Without Khris Middleton and others for the Bucks this season, Portis continues to show why he's one of the most valuable players in the NBA off the bench.