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The race for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award hasn’t been very exciting lately, and that shouldn’t change this season. Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams has claimed the title three times in his last five campaigns and has the best odds (+150) to win for a third straight time on DraftKings Sportsbook. But one of his teammates is right behind him.
Who will win Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, or someone else?
Williams was entered 2020 as the front-runner to three-peat as the league’s sixth man of the year and was clocked in at -106 in late-January. He accounted for 96% of last season’s first place votes and 97% the year before. The additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George haven’t affected his offensive production much, as he’s averaging more than 19 points per game for a third straight year. His stiffest competition is Harrell (+175).
Harrell finished third in last year’s voting — behind Williams and Indiana Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis. But Lou Will is climbing the ladder now that Sabonis is a starter and All-Star. Harrell was +200 in January and has improved his odds to +175. He’s averaging career highs in points per game (18.8) and rebounds (7.1) this season. Both he and Williams are major contributors to a team that is within striking distance of the top spot in the Western Conference title. The award will most likely be going to a Clipper, unless an unexpected dark horse emerges.
Oklahoma City Thunder PG Dennis Schroder has the third best odds at +200, so he isn’t too far off. Despite his team’s decision to trade Russell Westbrook to bring in two more starting-caliber guards in Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he’s averaging 19 points per game on a career-high 47% shooting. It’ll be harder for him to climb higher though, as he has too much competition at his position for his impact to be felt as much as the frontrunners. Derrick Rose (+1000) might’ve been a reasonable option as a sleeper, but he became a starter following the Detroit Pistons releasing Reggie Jackson. The Sixth Man of the Year award appears destined to run through Los Angeles for now.
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