Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Jamal Crawford has predicted the next winner of the award.
6MOY may not be as prestigious as Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year, but it still has an important history.
NBA legends James Harden, Manu Ginobili and Lou Williams won the Bench Player of the Year award.
Crawford, perhaps the best sixth man of all time, thinks he will be next with the New York Knicks.
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The Knicks have Josh Hart and Jordan Clarkson, who are strong candidates for the 6MOY award.
Hart started 77 games last season and is expected to be replaced by Mitchell Robinson.
Clarkson won the award in 2021 with the Utah Jazz and should do well enough to win it again.
Crawford now expects Clarkson to win for the second time in a row as Mike Brown gives Clarkson an opportunity to grow.
“I like Jordan Clarkson in New York,” he said. “Officially, you can be successful in any role off the bench, but you need success on the team to win the award.
“I think the Knicks are ready to make a run in the East, especially with the injuries in Boston and Indiana.
“New York has a new coach and I think he’s going to utilize the bench a lot. I think Jordan Clarkson will get the green light to do what he does.”
“I think he’s going to be like a sixth starter. He’s going to have the numbers and the wins and he’s won before.
“When you do well in that market, everything is amplified, so we had Jordan Clarkson win this year.”
After significant offseason additions, the New York Knicks currently have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.
The Knicks signed Jordan Clarkson and Gershon Yabusele in free agency to strengthen their second unit.
| position | starter | bench |
| point guard | jalen brunson | Miles McBride |
| shooting guard | Mikal Bridge | jordan clarkson |
| small forward | and anunoby | josh hart |
| power forward | Karl Anthony Towns | Gershon Yabusele |
| center | mitchell robinson | Ariel Hakpolti |
They also agreed to a one-year deal before 2023 6MOY Malcolm Brogdon decided to retire in his place.
This leaves Mike Brown with an impressive starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mitchell Robinson.
In addition to Clarkson and Yabusele, Brown could also have Josh Hart and Myles McBride off the bench.