On Monday, the NBA announced Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz as the winner of the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. Clarkson was one of three finalists along with teammate Joe Ingles and Derrick Rose of the New York Knicks.
Despite a late surge by Ingles, Clarkson ultimately won fairly comfortably, securing 65 of the 100 first-place votes. Ingles earned 34 and Rose the one remaining.
Charlotte’s Miles Bridges was among those that received a vote, securing a singular second-place vote to tie for 12th with Philadelphia’s Shake Milton, who also had a second-place vote. In 66 games this season, 49 of those off the bench, Bridges averaged 12.7 points on 50.3% shooting from the field, 40.0% shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7% from the free throw line.
In fact, Bridges, who finished 98 of 113 from the free throw line on the year, finished four made free throws short of a 50/40/90 season, a feat only accomplished by ten players all-time across the NBA and WNBA.
In the Sixth Man Award voting, Jalen Bruson and Tim Hardaway Jr., both of the Mavericks, took fourth and fifth, respectively. The Lakers’ Montrezl Harrell, the reigning Sixth Man winner, finished sixth in voting.
Carmelo Anthony of Portland, Chris Boucher of Toronto, Bobby Portis of Milwaukee, Enes Kanter of Portland and T.J. McConnell of Indiana all finished ahead of Bridges in voting.
