Naz Reid was named the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday night, becoming the first Minnesota Timberwolves player to win the award. He is the third center to earn it, joining Bill Walton (1986) and Montrezl Harrell (2020).
Reid, 24, appeared in 81 games and made 14 starts during the regular season. The 6-foot-9 center is averaging career highs of 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 24.2 minutes per game.
The LSU product shot 47.7% from the field and a career-best 41.4% from three-point range. He helped Minnesota finish with the second-best record (56-26) in franchise history and earn the third seed in the Western Conference.
The 10-point difference between the first-place finisher and the second-place finisher is the smallest margin in Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting under the current voting format, which began in the 2002-03 season.
– NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 24, 2024
Naz Reid also became the third undrafted player to win the award, joining John Starks (1997) and Darrell Armstrong (1999). In the regular season, he posted three games off the bench with at least 25 points per game.
“You're blessed to be in this position,” Reid told TNT in an interview.
“It's special,” Reid said of his relationship with Wolves fans. “It's something that you obviously dream about, especially at a high level. They've seen me work since Day 1 … I think just having me, that's pretty special.”
Reid bested Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk. Reid and Monk had the same number of second-place (39) and third-place (10) votes. The finalists had a difference of only 10 points (352 to 342) between them. Reid received 45 first-place votes, while Monk had 43.
Timberwolves' Naz Reid won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year with a 10-point difference between him and Kings' Malik Monk.
According to NBA Communications, the 10-point difference between Reid and Monk was the narrowest margin in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting under the current voting format, which began in the 2002-03 season.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was a distant third with five first-place votes and 82 total points. Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell finished fourth with two first-place votes. Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic was the last player to receive first-place votes, with four overall in fifth place.
Monk, 26, is averaging a career-high 15.4 points and 5.1 assists with Sacramento. The Valley guard helped the Kings to their second straight winning season, ninth since moving to Sacramento from Kansas City in 1985.
“It's special, it's different, it's something you dream about growing up – especially at the highest level in the NBA.”
Naz Reid in Minnesota fan love ♥️ pic.twitter.com/fM5Lk07VFS
– NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 24, 2024
Portis, 29, averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds while playing in all 82 games for the Bucks. This marks the first time in four years that Portis has received NBA Sixth Man of the Year votes. He finished third last year behind Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon and New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was named the NBA's most improved player, the first award of the league's season to be handed out in the next few weeks.
The NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award will be presented on Thursday and the Coach of the Year will be presented on Sunday. The Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year are scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks, in addition to the All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie Teams.
Naz Reid opted to stay with the Timberwolves last summer by signing a three-year, $42 million deal in free agency. Considering his stats and the sixth man's recent accomplishments, the contract is a bargain for Minnesota.
