Author of a new big perf out of the bench tonight, Pacers nugget Bennedict Mathurin continues to build his record in the race for the title of best rookie, but also 6th man of the year. A rare combination in NBA history since only one player has won the best substitute trophy when he was in his first year in the Big League.
Reference: Ben Gordon
The former Bulls fullback is the first rookie to win the 6th Man of the Year award. He is also the last. Indeed, no one else has achieved this feat. Selected through the third choice of the 2004 Draft by the Bulls, Ben Gordon evolved during almost all of his first season off the bench (except the first three games) behind the duo Kirk Hinrich – Chris Duhon on the backcourt. His stats that year? 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2 average assists in 24.4 minutes at over 40% 3-point success, with some great offensive explosions in the lot: 35 points in… 23 minutes once morest Charlotte, three other performances at 31 units, or even 29 pawns to give the victory once morest the Heat which was then the best team in the East. Because yes, through his production and his clutch side, Gordon also helped the Bulls win games alongside his 2004 Draft companion Luol Deng. A real renaissance for the Bulls who went from 23 to 47 wins in the space of just one season, and who returned to the Playoffs for the first time since the departure of Michael Jordan in 1998.
In his rookie year, Ben Gordon hits the game-winning floater with 0.1 seconds left at MSG to take down the #Knicks 88-86.
Gordon finished with 17 points @CalhounColonel @schmuyle @Licatacs #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/uloeOviTJD
— Huskies in the Pros (@HuskyPros) January 28, 2022
The other rookies who had at least one vote in the race for the 6th man
Since his induction in 1983, the 6th of the year trophy has only ended up once in the hands of a rookie. Nevertheless, other beginners have managed to become embedded in the race by collecting a few votes at the end of their first campaign with the big boys. Here is the list (which is clearly not dreaming), via this ultra practical site that is Basket-Reference.
- Channing Frye (2005-06) : 12.3 points (47.7% shooting) and 5.8 rebounds in 24.2 minutes, 65 games played (14 started)
- Charlie Villanueva (2005-06) : 13 points (46.6% shooting) and 6.4 rebounds in 29.1 minutes, 81 games played (36 started)
- Michael Beasley (2008-09) : 13.9 points (47.2% shooting) and 5.4 rebounds in 24.8 minutes, 81 games played (19 started)
- Marcus Thornton (2009-10) : 14.5 points (45.1% shooting, 37.4% 3-pointers) and 2.9 rebounds in 25.6 minutes, 73 games played (17 starting)
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (2013-14) : 10.2 points (36.3% from 3-point range) and 1.5 rebounds in 23.1 minutes, 81 games played (1 as a starter)
- Nikola Mirotic (2014-15) : 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 20.2 minutes, 82 games played (3 as a starter)
- Kyle Kuzma (2017-18) : 16.1 points (45% shooting, 36.6% 3-pointers) and 6.3 rebounds in 31.2 minutes, 77 games played (37 starting)
More recently, even though they didn’t have a vote in the race for the 6th man, we’ve seen rookies like Tyler Herro, Coby White and Immanuel Quickley let loose some crazy off the bench in their rookie suits, while a certain Marvin Bagley III had a productive first campaign from a stats point of view (15 points and more than 7 rebounds on average) in 2018-19 in Sacramento.
Speaking of the Kings, the oldest may remember Walt Williams, selected in 7th position in the 1992 NBA Draft by Sactown. In his first year in the NBA, Williams averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.1 steals in just over 28 minutes of play, with just 26 starts in 59 games.
Finally, mention also to nice names like Kevin McHale (1980-81, in Boston), Sam Cassell (1993-94, in Houston) and Manu Ginobili (2002-03, in San Antonio), who all evolved out of bench during their first NBA season, without necessarily panicking the counters of course, but contributing to the victorious run of their respective teams towards the supreme title.
The Bennedict Mathurin case
Can Bennedict Mathurin succeed Ben Gordon to become only the second all-time rookie to win the title of 6th of the Year. After more than a month of competition, the scenario is in any case to be considered. Not at all frightened by the big NBA scene, the Pacers back brings a very big offensive boost to Indiana with his 19 points on average (44% shooting, 42% from afar, 82% throwing with almost six attempts per game) in just under 28 minutes of play. And above all, like Gordon at the time, he contributed strongly to the surprise start to the season for the Pacers, currently fourth in the East (!) with 10 wins in 16 games when they were promised the bottom of the Conference.
Can this good individual and collective dynamic last? That’s the big question. As we know, many rookies face a wall – the Rookie Wall as we say in the jargon – in the middle of the season when fatigue begins to set in once morest the frantic pace of the NBA. Ben Mathurin will have to dodge it to hope to be in the race for the title of 6th man of the year following 82 games, in addition to that for the rookie of the year. But for now, the Pacers’ super-loving fullback has all the arguments to succeed Ben Gordon and potentially write history by making a magnificent double (PS: Gordon finished second in the ROY behind Emeka Okafor in 2005).
Benn Mathurin this season:
— 1st in points off the bench
— 1st in points by a rookie
— 1st in 3PM by a rookie
— 1st in 15-point games by a rookie
— 1st in 15-point games off the bench19 PPG on over 42 3P%. pic.twitter.com/5NctWbKmcM
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 22, 2022
Historically, the 6th man of the year trophy is more reserved for players who have a little bottle than for those who have just landed in the NBA. Logical knowing that the best rookies of a Draft class are often starters in weak teams, while the others have limited playing time off the bench. Nevertheless, while the role of 6th man has taken on more importance over the years until it has almost become a sixth holder, more and more talented youngsters might take the path of Ben Mathurin.
