The Minnesota Timberwolves have formidable strength in their frontcourt, boasting two of the league’s elite big men. However, the talent doesn’t stop there, as their backup center Naz Reid has just been declared the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, a first in the history of the franchise.
Naz Reid secured the prestigious award after a close race against Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings and Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks. The competition was intense, with Reid receiving 45 out of 100 first-place votes, just slightly edging out Monk who garnered 43. Both contenders received an equal tally of second-place and third-place votes, but Reid finished ahead by a mere 10 points.
Others like Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers and Bogdan Bogdanovic also attracted first-place votes, illustrating the competitiveness of this year’s award. Reid’s win is particularly notable as he becomes only the third undrafted player to ever receive this accolade, joining the ranks of John Starks (1996-97) and Darrell Armstrong (1998-99).
Despite not being picked in the 2019 NBA Draft after a standout freshman year at LSU, Reid, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound center, proved his mettle by signing with the Timberwolves as a free agent. His exceptional 41.4% shooting from beyond the arc this season has made him an invaluable asset off the bench. Reid, stepping in primarily behind All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, took the starting role in 14 games following an injury to Towns. This trio’s dominance helped propel the Timberwolves to a 56-26 record, their second-best ever, and a third-place finish in the Western Conference.
The awards season kicked off with Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers winning Most Improved Player. The upcoming announcements include Clutch Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and later, the Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP awards.