NBA 2025-26 midseason Sixth Man of the Yr: Naz Reid is man to beat, plus betting tips about race

[ad_1] We have reached the midpoint of an NBA season that has been full of surprises — Detroit and Boston lead the East, San Antonio is second within the West — and likewise far too many accidents to stars. It is also given us jaw-dropping moments, and never simply those Victor Wembanyama appears to ship us on a nightly foundation.

The midpoint additionally means it is time to take inventory of the NBA postseason awards. All week lengthy, I'll make my picks for among the NBA's high awards at this level within the season, plus get betting angles from NBC Sports activities consultants. At present: Sixth Man of the Yr.

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NBA Sixth Man of the Yr: Naz Reid 2. Jaime Jaquez Jr.3. Ajay Mitchell

Evaluation of Sixth Man of the Yr race Naz Reid gained Sixth Man of the Yr two years in the past with stats which might be not so good as those he's placing up for the Timberwolves this season, together with a career-high 14.5 factors per sport. He's additionally somebody coach Chris Finch leans on in clutch minutes (relying on the matchup) due to his versatility and talent to play each ends of the ground (he's a plus defender and an enormous capturing 38.8% from 3-point vary).

Often, the Sixth Man of the Yr race sees numerous motion within the second half of the season, however it seems like another person goes to win the award this yr, they will should show themselves higher than Reid. Good luck with that.

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Miami's Jamie Jaquez Jr. — who has carried the Warmth offense for stretches — could be the man to tug that off, though he must be a little bit extra environment friendly together with his scoring to win this. Ajay Mitchell has been a revelation off the bench in Oklahoma Metropolis in his second season, and the truth that he tends to be on the courtroom with a stacked roster — have you ever seen the Thunder bench? — should not be held towards him. Mitchell has been incredible.

Three different names to observe on this race are Reed Sheppard in Houston, Keldon Johnson in San Antonio, and the new Anfernee Simons in Boston. Any of them may climb into the highest three — or the highest spot itself — with a robust second half of the season.

Orlando's Anthony Black, Atlanta's Nickiel Alexander-Walker and Phoenix's Collin Gilespi should not on this checklist as a result of all three have grow to be common starters and have began greater than half of their staff's video games up to now.

Betting Sixth Man Race We reached out to the NBC Sports activities betting consultants for his or her ideas on the Rookie of the Yr race and the way they could guess it.

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Drew Dinsick, NBC Sports activities Betting Analyst The rubric for this award is the best bench participant by way of uncooked scoring for a Prime 3 seed in both convention. We have seen a rotating solid of favorites for this award all through the season at this level however the man approaching sturdy for the time being is clearly Anfernee Simons of the Boston Celtics. His worth at 14/1 doesn't seize the latest surge which discover him Prime 3 in factors scored off the bench, barely behind Naz Reid and Jaime Jaquez Jr. It appears doubtless he'll lead bench scoring by the All-Star break for the 2-seed Celtics which is able to doubtless imply he would be the market favourite and the most effective awards guess on the board right now.