In a surprising turn of events, Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the 2023-24 season. The 24-year-old center had a breakout year, averaging career highs of 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds to help lead the Timberwolves to a 56-26 record and the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Reid’s impressive performance on the court made him the first player in Timberwolves history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award and only the third undrafted player to receive the honor. He narrowly beat out Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings for the award, with the closest margin in voting since the 2002-03 season.
Monk, who averaged 15.4 points and 5.1 assists this season, put up a strong fight for the award, as did other finalists Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks, Norman Powell of the LA Clippers, and Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Atlanta Hawks. Portis averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds, further showcasing his value to the Bucks throughout the season.
In other NBA news, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers was named the NBA Most Improved Player, adding to the excitement of the awards season. Fans can look forward to the announcement of the Clutch Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the coming weeks, as well as the unveiling of the All-NBA, All-Defensive, and All-Rookie teams. Stay tuned to Forever Sports Online for all the latest updates on the NBA awards season.
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