The 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year race is loaded with instant-offense scorers, and the frontrunners heading into 2026 changed teams, roles, and reputations before the ball even went up.
- Naz Reid enters 2026 chasing a second NBA Sixth Man of the Year trophy after winning in 2023-24 — Buy.
- Malik Beasley and Buddy Hield turn catch-and-shoot volume into the loudest bench cases of the season — Consider.
- Bobby Portis and Payton Pritchard bring size and shot creation that keep contenders alive late — Hold.
- T.J. McConnell’s motor still makes him the sneaky NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate teams hate facing — Buy.
Why this matters
Sixth Man of the Year doesn't get the campaign treatment MVP gets, but it decides who gets paid like a starter without ever cracking the opening lineup. The award has gone to instant-offense specialists for over four decades, and in most years the winner is the guy whose team can't survive the second unit without him.
Heading into 2026, the race splits into two camps: repeat threats who already know what the trophy feels like, and new-team gambles who moved this offseason hoping a fresh role turns into a career-best case. For a deeper look at how bench scorers stack up against the league's all-time greats, SportsOrca's best NBA players ever breakdown is the companion read.
How we ranked these NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidates
The NBA's own eligibility rule anchors this list: a player has to come off the bench in more games than he starts to even qualify for Sixth Man of the Year. Past that, voters lean on scoring punch, efficiency, and whether the player's minutes swing winnable games — not just gaudy box scores against bad teams.
Each candidate below gets weighed on role security, shot profile, and team context for the stretch run into 2026. Award history matters too — repeat winners get benefit of the doubt from voters who already trust the tape.
The ranked list
1. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves — the reigning champ nobody wants to see check in
Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24, the first Timberwolves player to ever take home the trophy. He stretches the floor at a position that used to just bang for rebounds, and Minnesota's bench offense collapses without him on the floor.
He's the only candidate on this list who has already proven he can close out a full Sixth Man of the Year campaign. Verdict: Buy.
2. Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons — instant heat off the catch
Beasley signed with Detroit in the 2024 offseason after several seasons building a reputation as one of the league's purest volume shooters. He doesn't create much off the dribble, but drop him a live look and the ball is gone before the defender resets.
The question for 2026 is whether Detroit's offense generates enough clean catch-and-shoot windows to keep his name on ballots through the spring. Verdict: Consider.
3. Buddy Hield, Golden State Warriors — the sniper Golden State needed off the bench
Hield landed in Golden State in a 2024 trade, and a locker room full of shooters didn't dilute his role — it sharpened it. He's spent his whole career as a bench-scoring threat teams have to account for the second he touches the ball above the arc.
Warriors bench units live and die by pace, and Hield is built for exactly that kind of chaos. Verdict: Consider.
4. Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks — rebounding chaos with a scorer's mentality
Portis has spent years as the guy opposing benches genuinely dread, mixing offensive rebounds with pull-up threes that most bigs his size don't attempt. He's been in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation before without breaking through to a win.
Milwaukee's rotation stability into 2026 keeps him firmly in the mix, even if he's not the flashiest name on this list. Verdict: Hold.
5. Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics — the deep threat Boston trusts late
Pritchard has carved out a role as Boston's fourth-quarter release valve, a guard who can shoot from well beyond the arc without hesitation. Coaches trust him with real minutes in games that matter, not just mop-up duty against tired opponents.
A contender's bench scorer almost always gets more voter attention than a lottery team's leading man, and that works in Pritchard's favor for 2026. Verdict: Buy.
6. T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers — the sixth man who never stops moving
McConnell has built a career-long reputation as one of the league's most disruptive bench guards, the kind of player whose motor alone changes a second unit's identity. He's not a knockdown shooter, but he turns steals and hustle plays into easy buckets in bunches.
Voters have long had a soft spot for high-energy guards who make winning plays without needing the ball dominant. Verdict: Buy.
Comparison table
| Candidate | Team | Signature Strength | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naz Reid | Minnesota Timberwolves | Stretch-five scoring, prior winner | Buy |
| Malik Beasley | Detroit Pistons | Catch-and-shoot volume | Consider |
| Buddy Hield | Golden State Warriors | Off-ball shooting gravity | Consider |
| Bobby Portis | Milwaukee Bucks | Rebounding plus pull-up scoring | Hold |
| Payton Pritchard | Boston Celtics | Fourth-quarter shot-making | Buy |
| T.J. McConnell | Indiana Pacers | Hustle-driven playmaking | Buy |
See who else is cashing in this season
Compare bench scorers against the league’s highest-paid names.
Where to watch the race unfold
- Track bench minutes trends monthly, not single-game box scores — one hot night doesn't move a Sixth Man of the Year ballot.
- Follow team win totals closely — voters consistently lean toward bench scorers on playoff-bound rosters over lottery teams.
- Check award ladder movement around All-Star weekend in 2026, when the narrative usually shifts hardest before final ballots go out.
FAQ
Who is the frontrunner for the 2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year?
Naz Reid enters 2026 as the strongest repeat threat after winning the award in 2023-24 for the Minnesota Timberwolves. His shooting and floor-stretching at center still carry Minnesota’s bench offense.
Is Naz Reid a repeat Sixth Man of the Year candidate for 2026?
Yes, Naz Reid is a repeat candidate after winning the award in the 2023-24 season. He’s the only player on this year’s shortlist who has already closed out a full Sixth Man of the Year campaign.
How many times has a player won Sixth Man of the Year?
Lou Williams and Jamal Crawford share the record with three Sixth Man of the Year wins each. Williams won in 2015, 2018, and 2019, while Crawford won in 2010, 2014, and 2016.
What stats matter most for Sixth Man of the Year voting?
Voters weigh scoring punch, shooting efficiency, and whether a player’s minutes swing winnable games over raw box-score volume. Team context matters too — bench scorers on playoff-bound rosters tend to get more attention than those on lottery teams.
Has a Golden State Warriors player ever won Sixth Man of the Year?
Golden State has not produced a Sixth Man of the Year winner in the modern era, which is part of why Buddy Hield’s 2026 case draws attention. He’d be the first Warrior to break through if his shooting volume holds up.
When was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award created?
The NBA introduced the Sixth Man of the Year award in the 1982-83 season, with Bobby Jones as the first winner. It’s been handed out every season since.
Can a player who starts games win Sixth Man of the Year?
A player is only eligible if he comes off the bench in more games than he starts during the season. That rule keeps the award focused on true reserves rather than starters resting a handful of games.
Who won the last Sixth Man of the Year award before the 2026 race?
Naz Reid won the award for the 2023-24 season, becoming the first Minnesota Timberwolves player to take home the trophy. That win is a big reason he opens 2026 as the favorite to repeat.
One last thing
Lou Williams is the only player to win Sixth Man of the Year back-to-back in the modern voting era, taking it in both 2018 and 2019. Nobody on the 2026 shortlist has repeated yet — if Naz Reid pulls it off, he joins a list with exactly one other name on it.
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