Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon’s case for Sixth Man of the Year
Throughout the season, it has become more and more evident how vital Malcolm Brogdon is going to be to a deep Boston Celtics postseason run.
No matter how injured-plagued the Celtics have been this season, Joe Mazzulla has never turned to Brogdon for a place in the starting lineup. It is a completely new role for the former Pacers guard who started in every game in which in played over the last four seasons of his professional career. Not only has he been incredibly efficient in his new role, but his biggest issue coming into the campaign, his health has not factored in much if at all this season.
Brogdon has bought in 100% to his new position in Boston, continuing to influence every game in the way he has with his previous teams when healthy. His ability to play the game at his own pace, and utilize his quick first step to get to the basket no matter who is guarding him has added a whole new level of the Celtics offense compared to the 2021-22 campaign.
Currently of Sixth Man of the Year candidates, the Boston Celtics guard has the second highest odds to hoist the silverware behind New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley. According to BetMGM, Brogdon is a +240 to win the award while Quickley is currently sitting well in front of the pack at -350. The Celtics won three of the first four Sixth Man of the Year awards, but have not had a player earn this hardware since Bill Walton following the historic 1985/86 campaign.
Like many individual awards throughout the association at the conclusion of the regular season, it is always difficult to establish a criteria. Although there is not an exact definition for what should be taken into consideration for this award, it is clear a team’s “sixth-man” should be someone that consistently comes off the bench and delivers at a high level on both ends of the floor. Brogdon fits that bill nearly flawlessly.
reverse bucket 🔁@MalcolmBrogdon7 got nifty with it in tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/XI32H1ut5H
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 1, 2023
In games in which Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown are missing, Brogdon has the ability to run the offense through him. There have been a multitude of games this season that he has been the exact spark plug Boston needed to keep the opposition at arms length. Not only is he one of the best at creating his own shot, but Brogdon constantly frustrates defenses with his mastery at drawing fouls. Other than Brown and Tatum, Brogdon has the highest usage percentage of any rotational player on the Cs over 22%. He has scored 23.8% of the C’s points this season behind only the NBA’s best duo.
Despite the fact that he may not be the odds-on favorite to win the award right now, Brogdon has arguably been the most influential bench player in the NBA this season. The former NBA Rookie of the Year ranks fifth in bench scoring while sitting situated in the top-three in 3-point shooting among bench players. Compared to many of the other candidates, Brogdon is a true sixth man. Bobby Portis, and Quickley have at least started in 18 of the club’s games this season while Brogdon has never been on the floor for the opening tip once.
Brogdon’s shooting efficiency combined with his ability to dictate the pace of the game while on the floor make him one of the favorites for Sixth Man of the Year.
He is top-five in five different major statistical categories among the bench leaders around the league including field goal percentage and efficiency. Portis, and Quickley qualify in the top-five in just three of those major statistical categories among the association’s bench leaders combined. Brogdon has 49 contests so far this season in which he has netted double figures including 17 games of 20 or more. Boston’s No. 13 is the definition of consistency. He has had just 21 games this season where he has shot under 40% from the field while piecing together 17 different outings of a shooting percentage over 60%.
Malcolm Brogdon thriving in new role for him on Boston Celtics
For someone who has never been a bench asset on a team before, this campaign has been incredibly impressive. His humble personality has fit in perfectly with this year’s Boston Celtics team.
Just like John Havlicek during his early years as a Celtic, Brogdon has embraced the opportunities he has been given, making the most of his bench role on a championship contender. In a season in which the league announced that this award would be named in honor of a Celtic legend, it would only make sense for one of Boston’s own to bring this trophy home.