NBA: Predicting regular season awards after finalists revealed
By Ethan Becker
Sixth Man of the Year: Montrezl Harrell, Domantas Sabonis, Lou Williams
Every year, this award seems to include Lou Williams, which is a testament to how amazing he is for the Clippers bench. In fact, for me, this award comes down to the two Clippers players: Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. And, just like the MVP competition, the stats are nearly split down the middle.
The one measurement that isn’t close, and what determines it for me, is usage rating. Harrell finds himself with a 22 percent usage, whereas Williams’ is 32 percent. That’s why Harrell is my Sixth Man of the Year.
Harrell was able to do nearly as much as Williams with fewer possessions. The Clippers seem to put more trust in the veteran Williams, and while he was able to produce, Harrell was able to impress too. Considering the Williams and Harrell have been on the same team since the 2016-17 season, it’s likely that Williams has been a mentor for Harrell, and that relationship can only benefit the Clippers in the future.