Will Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award twice?
Malcolm Brogdon won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award during the award season the year after joining the Boston Celtics. He did this while wearing the prestigious green jersey, which rapidly made him the best option for the bench.
With an impressive debut season, his ability on the court demonstrated his importance to both supporters and detractors, dispelling any remaining questions about his contribution to the squad. In just 26 minutes a night during his honorable season, Brogdon averaged a remarkable 14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 0.7 SPG.
It’s easy to understand why he was given the Sixth Man of the Year honor and brought it back to Boston. After that, the question of whether he can continue to shine off the bench and win the award back-to-back arises.
Let’s look at it.
Who are the favorites to take home the Sixth Man of the Year honor in the NBA this year?
In fact, Brogdon trails only guard Immanuel Quickley of the New York Knicks in the odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook for this year’s prize. Consider the probabilities.
After a good season as Jalen Brunson’s backup in 28.9 minutes per game, averaging 14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.4 APG, quickly becomes the small favorite to win the prize. As Quickley prepares for the upcoming season, betting companies anticipate a sudden improvement in his performance.
Chris Paul’s ranking at No. 6 may raise some eyebrows, but we must remember that the 38-year-old veteran has seen his prime days come and go, leading to a change in role after his relocation to Golden State. The question of whether Paul can succeed in his new position as the third man alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson now emerges. DraftKings believes it is unlikely that he will perform well enough in that capacity to win the prize.
Why isn’t Brogdon the favorite? Well, his absence from the odds-on favorite position may have a deeper reason, extending beyond Quickley’s anticipated leap next season.
Will the attempted trade be a factor in Malcolm Brogdon’s season with the Boston Celtics?
The off-season for Boston was anything but mundane, leaving fans holding their breath in anticipation of what twists and turns might be around the corner. This was most notable during their pursuit of the towering seven-foot-three Latvian, Kristaps Porzingis, which ultimately concluded the Boston Celtics tenure of Marcus Smart; who departed Beantown as a part of a complex 3-team trade, landing him in Memphis with the Grizzlies.
When it came to acquiring Porzingis this off-season, that wasn’t the first strategy. Due to their fears about the Celtics guard’s health, the transaction abruptly came to an end. Brogdon was set to move to the West to help Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in their efforts to bring success to the LA Clippers.
Will Brogdon’s performance in the upcoming season be impacted by the idea that he was once a trade target for the Boston Celtics? They won’t, in my opinion. He understands and accepts his position as an important rotational player on a club that has its sights set on the championship next season. He might hurt his team’s chances if he let the trade thoughts persist in his mind.
