Malcolm Brogdon won Kia’s 2022-23 sixth man

BOSTON (AP) The Boston Celtics asked Malcolm Brogdon to learn a new role. He mastered it quickly.

Brogdon was honored as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year on Thursday night after a season in which he came off the bench alone to help the Celtics finish with the second-best record in the NBA.

It’s the second major individual award of Brogdon’s career: The 30-year-old guard was Rookie of the Year in 2016-17.

This is a great honour. “It’s definitely been a transition for me coming from Indiana to Boston,” said Brogdon, who had started every game the last four years in the NBA before embracing his role coming off the bench when the Celtics acquired him. My last two seasons weren’t very successful, so for me it was another internal test to understand that maybe I’m not number one, but I can be a great 2, 3 or 4.

Boston Celtics point guard Malcolm Brogdon has earned the John Havlicek Trophy as the 2022-23 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Complete voting results and award history: https://t.co/sAPaYcriFa pic.twitter.com/EZD328xus1

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2023

Brogdon beat out finalists Immanuel Quickley of New York and Bobby Portis of Milwaukee with 60 of 100 first-place votes and 408 points from the media panel. Quickley was second with 326 and received 34 first-place votes. Portis had six first-place votes and 97 points.

Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists; Of those who played primarily off the bench this season, only Los Angeles Clippers Russell Westbrook averaged better in those three categories.

The Celtics sent Brogdon a significant package of five players and a first-round draft pick to Indiana last summer, with his special bench role in mind, despite starting each of his last 210 regular season games. He played 67 games for the Celtics, all off the bench.

And he was still third in Boston in points per game, trailing only All-NBA candidates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. When Brogdon made at least 50% of his shots from the field, the Celtics were 26-9 and 13-0 when he shot at least 63%.

“These guys come to Boston and play behind JT and JB and they’re proven All-Stars and soon to be NBA guys,” Brogdan said. It definitely suits me well.

NO DOUBT

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

– Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 20, 2023

The sixth man was the fourth individual honor announced by the league this season, with Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. named Defensive Player of the Year, Sacramento’s DeAaron Fox the inaugural winner of the clutch player award and Kings coach Mike Brown. unanimous coach of the year.

The Sixth Man of the Year award honors Celtics Hall of Famer John Havlicek, who excelled off the bench like no one before him. Havlicek came off the bench for the first seven seasons of his career and was an All-Star in four seasons. His career highlights include eight NBA championships, 13 NBA All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA Team selections, NBA Finals MVP, eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, and being named to the 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams .

Voting results in full below: