As the 2020-21 NBA Season begins to wrap up, we’re getting closer to finding out who’ll win the individual player awards, including the NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson is currently being favored to win the award this year at -1000 odds, according to BetOnline.
The NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award is another popular betting market. It’s the award given to the league’s best player who comes off the bench for that respective season. Montrezl Harrell won the award last season as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers while averaging 18.6/7.1/1.7 in 63 games.
After looking at his stats, it’s easy to see why Jordan Clarkson is this year’s favorite. In his second season with the Jazz, Clarkson is averaging 17.2/3.9/2.2 on .422/.349/.955 shooting splits. He’s also done this without starting a single game this season.
The Jazz are currently 41-14 and are the best team in the league. A lot of their success can be attributed to having a guy like Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench. The fact that they can rely on a guy to average over 17 points without needing him to start should give them an edge as they chase an NBA Championship.
Even if Clarkson is heavily favored at -1000 odds to be the 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, it’s not a guarantee. Here’s a look at a few other bench players who could make a case to win the award.
NBA Odds: Sixth Man of the Year Award
Odds via BetOnline as of Thursday, April 15
- Jordan Clarkson (-1000)
- Joe Ingles (+500)
- Jalen Brunson (+900)
- Montrezl Harrell (+2000)
- Chris Boucher (+3500)
- Shake Milton (+4000)
- Terrence Ross (+4000)
Can Joe Ingles Beat Jordan Clarkson in Sixth Man Race?
Jordan Clarkson isn’t the only Utah Jazz player in the hunt to be the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. While he may not have the top odds, Joe Ingles has the second-best shot of winning at +500.
In 50 games this season, Ingles is averaging 12.0/3.6/4.2. He’s also shooting the ball better than he ever has in his career, averaging career-highs in all shooting percentages (.521/.487/.864). He’s also one of the more underrated defensive players in the NBA and his being involved in conversations for NBA Sixth Man of the Year shows that more people are starting to take notice.
However, it may be tougher for Ingles to win the award over Jordan Clarkson considering the former has actually started in 14 games this season. Now, that’s not a large chunk, but we’ve seen in the past how games started can take away from a player’s chances of winning Sixth Man of the Year.
Jalen Brunson in Sixth Man of the Year Award Race as Well
While Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles are getting the most attention in this award race, Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson has an outside chance of being the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year. In 50 games this season, Brunson has started a majority of the games in 2021 coming off the bench (39). He’s averaging 12.7/3.6/3.5 and has +900 odds of winning the award.
Brunson is also averaging impressive shooting splits (.526/.392/.789), but those and his other stats may not be enough to catch Clarkson and Ingles. One thing holding Brunson back is the fact that the Mavericks are currently 7th in the Western Conference. On the other hand, Clarkson and Ingles are on the first-place Jazz. It may not seem like a big deal, but a team’s overall success can sometimes affect how voters choose who’ll win the award.
