As we approach the halfway point of the NBA season, the landscape of the league is becoming clearer. The contenders for the playoffs are emerging, and the race for postseason berths is intensifying. Additionally, the frontrunners for individual awards are starting to emerge, and there are some tightly contested battles in that regard.
One player who has established himself as the frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is Nikola Jokić. He currently holds a significant lead in the odds, sitting at -160, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander trails behind at +275. In the Coach of the Year race, Mark Daigneault is the favorite due to his impressive work with the Thunder, but Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is not far behind.
However, the closest competition at the moment is in the 6th Man of the Year category. This award is currently a two-man race. Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks is the odds-on favorite, with +140 odds to win. Despite not being a starter, he is averaging 17.7 points per game off the bench and is the team’s third-leading scorer.
Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings is nipping at Hardaway Jr.’s heels in the odds, with a +150 designation. Monk is averaging 15.2 points per game and is often relied upon as a go-to scorer for his team. He has already hit several clutch shots this season.
When comparing the two contenders, Monk arguably deserves to be the favorite. Although he averages 2.5 points less per game, he also plays significantly fewer minutes (4.4 minutes less). Hardaway Jr. has started 10 of his team’s first 50 games, while Monk has come off the bench in every game. Monk also has a higher assist average (5.3 per game) compared to Hardaway Jr. (1.7 per game), and his shooting percentages are better while committing fewer turnovers.
Furthermore, the Kings have had a higher standing in the Western Conference than the Mavericks for most of the season, although the gap has narrowed to just half a game.
Barring any injuries that could impact the race, such as Joel Embiid’s MVP campaign, the battle for the 6th Man of the Year award is likely to come down to the final weeks and days of the regular season. The top five contenders for the award include Normal Powell (+800), Caris LeVert (+1000), and Jordan Clarkson (+1600).
According to the Source sportslens.com