Payton Pritchard is the clear preseason betting favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year in 2025/26. The Boston Celtics guard is followed by De’Andre Hunter, who slotted into a bench role after being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers midway through last season.
While this honor has traditionally been given to shot creating scorers, other player types have been represented in recent races. Naz Reid, for instance, claimed the award a couple of seasons ago, and Joe Ingles pushed his then Utah Jazz teammate Jordan Clarkson all the way in 2020/21.
As this year’s odds show, the Sixth Man of the Year contest will not be limited to microwave scorers.
Sixth Man of the Year Odds
Payton Pritchard +490
De’Andre Hunter +850
Naz Reid +1200
Bradley Beal +1400
Jordan Clarkson +1500
Jared McCain +2000
Ty Jerome +2000
T.J. McConnell +2000
Gradey Dick +2500
Nickeil Alexander-Walker +3000
Caris LeVert +3000
*Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on Aug. 8
Stay Away from Pritchard
The Celtics guard was a deserving winner last season with 82 first place votes. A lot has changed in Boston, and Pritchard going back to back is a longshot at best.
Boston is facing a lost year with Jayson Tatum ruled out. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis have departed. There is no guarantee Anfernee Simons will be on the roster after the trade deadline.
Pritchard only started three games last season, but there is a good chance he does not even qualify for this award in 2025/26. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown will be protected with all eyes on 2026/27, which could see Pritchard take on long stints as the starting point guard.
Boston does not have the depth to keep Pritchard in a sixth man role if any of their starters are unavailable. Joe Mazzulla could use Pritchard as a starter alongside Brown, White, and Simons if he really wants to ensure their three point volume tops the league again.
Hunter’s Full Season in Cleveland
Hunter came off the bench in 22 of his 27 regular season games as a Cavalier and in all eight of his postseason appearances. He knocked down 42.6 percent of his three point shots and showed commitment on the defensive end, which was not always evident during his time in Atlanta.
Max Strus is likely to remain as Cleveland’s starting three with Hunter filling in at both forward spots off the bench. Hunter’s size made him a reliable option in closing lineups, and that trend is likely to continue in the new season.
Bench players entrusted with clutch minutes are often the recipients of plenty of votes for this award. Hunter is a decent option at this price and should arguably be the favorite.
Do Not Forget Naz
The winner of this award two seasons ago, Reid was unlucky to finish fifth in last season’s voting. Minnesota was 4.6 points better per 100 possessions with Reid on the floor.
Aside from a slight decrease in his three point percentage, Reid’s numbers were better in 2024/25 than they were in his award winning 2023/24. His role was not impacted too drastically by Julius Randle replacing Karl Anthony Towns, and Randle’s new contract ensures Reid will remain in a sixth man role unless Randle or Rudy Gobert are traded or suffer a long term injury.
It feels like Reid is drifting back towards underrated territory. The +1200 price is the best value among the top three candidates for this award.
Traditional Sixth Men
Beal, Clarkson, and McCain fit the traditional archetype of a sixth man. All three are shot creators who prioritize getting their own shot off.
Ty Jerome does not quite warrant being in this group. His 24.5 percent assist rate in his brilliant 2024/25 with the Cavaliers is far higher than we expect from Beal, Clarkson, or McCain. The latter was at only 16.7 percent during his truncated rookie year, while Beal’s assist rate was much lower in Phoenix than it was in Washington, and his role is likely to be similar as a Clipper.
Clarkson has improved as a playmaker with an average of 4.5 assists per game over the last three regular seasons. His career average until then was 2.5, including 2.5 assists and 1.7 turnovers when he won this award. Now on the contending Knicks rather than the Jazz, he could revert to focusing on getting his own shot if given a few minutes per game to run the bench unit.
Beal will either be running the offense or playing off ball next to James Harden or Kawhi Leonard. He was out of his depth as a third star in a big three, but he is more than capable of being an elite sixth man taking 12-15 field goal attempts per game.
McCain’s role is fascinating. He is going to end up starting next to Tyrese Maxey at times as the Sixers search for offense when Joel Embiid or Paul George are out. If the Sixers keep their veterans healthy, McCain becomes a perfect scorer off the bench to pair with Embiid or George when Maxey rests.
Stay Away
Jerome’s abysmal playoffs put us off backing him in this market. The situation in Memphis is far from ideal as well.
Gradey Dick will not put up the numbers to win this award unless he starts. The same likely goes for Nickeil Alexander Walker, who is a great acquisition for the Hawks, but it is unclear what his role will be amid Atlanta’s stacked wing rotation.
Caris LeVert has the profile to be a solid bench scorer and creator in non Trae Young minutes. Does that get LeVert enough time to put up numbers? He risks being a non factor when he shares the court with Young.
Bobby Portis and P.J. Washington, both +3500, do not make much sense as sixth men candidates. Portis will be an afterthought if the Bucks overachieve. Washington should be a starter for the Mavs, even with Cooper Flagg on the roster.
Longshots to Consider
Cole Anthony (+3500), Dennis Schröder (+4000), Lonzo Ball and Bruce Brown (both +5000) are better value than many of the players featured in the list above.
Outside of Giannis and the inconsistent Kevin Porter Jr., the Bucks are devoid of ball handling. Anthony has a major role to play and could play his way into closing lineups with his ability to get to his own shot when teams go all out to stop Giannis.
It was a puzzling offseason for the Kings. Schröder is going to come off the bench due to the hierarchy of NBA rotations, but he might be their best option at point guard with his hustling defense and experience at running an offense. Do not be surprised if he has a big year running the show when Malik Monk is on the bench.
Ball is a fascinating player to try and project. His defense could see him play in three guard lineups with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. The three point shot should be further improved in his second year after a long layoff, and it is worth noting the Bulls were 9.7 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor.
Brown’s candidacy boils down to his fit in Denver. It is the best spot for him, he knows his role next to Nikola Jokic and company, and he has not put too many miles on his legs over the last two seasons. The numbers will not be eye-catching, but there could be a swell of momentum behind the former Net if Denver wins more than 55 games.
Parting Shot
The 2025/26 Sixth Man of the Year race is shaping up to be one of the most wide open in recent memory. From proven veterans like Reid and Clarkson to up and comers such as McCain, there is value to be found well beyond the preseason favorite. Whether bettors prefer the steady production of past winners or the upside of new faces in fresh roles, this year’s race offers plenty of intriguing options.
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