Timberwolves’ Naz Reid wins NBA Sixth Man of the Yr award

Minnesota ahead Naz Reid was named the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Yr on Wednesday night time, changing into the primary Timberwolves participant to win the award.

Reid, 24, averaged profession highs of 13.5 factors and 5.2 rebounds to assist Minnesota end with the second-best document in franchise historical past (56-26) and clinch the third seed within the Western Convention.

He additionally grew to become the third undrafted participant to win the award, together with John Starks (1997) and Darrell Armstrong (1999).

“Blessed to be on this scenario,” Reid, certainly one of six gamers to win the award earlier than the age of 25, stated in an interview on TNT.

“It is particular,” Reid stated of his relationship with the followers in Minnesota, the place he has spent his complete profession to date. “It is certainly one of a form, one thing that you just clearly dream of, particularly on the highest stage. They’ve seen me work since Day 1. … I feel simply being with me, that is tremendous particular.”

Reid simply edged out Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, who completed second. Reid and Monk had the identical variety of second-place (39) and third-place (10) votes, with the 10-point distinction (352 to 342) coming right down to Reid getting 45 first-place votes, in comparison with 43 for Monk.

In response to NBA Communications, the 10-point distinction between Reid and Monk was the smallest margin in NBA Sixth Man of the Yr balloting beneath the present voting format, which started with the 2002-03 season.

The opposite finalist, Milwaukee Bucks ahead Bobby Portis, was a distant third with 5 first-place votes and 82 whole factors. LA Clippers guard Norman Powell (two first-place votes) completed fourth, whereas Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanović obtained 5 first-place votes to complete fifth and spherical out the gamers to obtain at the very least one first-place vote.

Monk, 26, averaged 15.4 factors and 5.1 assists — each profession highs — this season, taking part in alongside faculty teammate De’Aaron Fox and serving to energy Sacramento to 46 wins and its second consecutive successful season — the ninth general for the Kings since shifting to Sacramento from Kansas Metropolis in 1985.

Portis, 29, averaged 13.8 factors and seven.4 rebounds whereas taking part in in all 82 video games for the Bucks. It’s the third time in 4 years Portis has obtained votes for Sixth Man of the Yr, after ending third final 12 months behind then-Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon and then-New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey on Tuesday was named the NBA’s Most Improved Participant, the primary of the league’s season-long awards to be handed out over the following couple weeks.

The league’s Clutch Participant of the Yr award might be handed out Thursday and Coach of the Yr on Sunday, earlier than the remaining particular person awards — Most Beneficial Participant, Rookie of the Yr and Defensive Participant of the Yr — are unveiled within the coming weeks, together with the All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie groups.