Hoops Habit
Fansided

2015-16 HoopsHabit NBA Awards

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton competes in the dunk contest the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton competes in the dunk contest the NBA All Star Saturday Night at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Sixth Man of the Year: Will Barton, Denver Nuggets

Votes: 30.8%

Position: Guard/Forward

Age: 25

Slash Line: .432/.345/.806

Season Averages: 28.7 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.4 3PM

One of the most pleasant surprises of the 2015-16 NBA regular season was Denver Nuggets swingman Will Barton. He’d shown flashes of brilliance with the Portland Trail Blazers, but after shining with Denver for 28 games in 2014-15, Barton had a chance to break out.

According to HoopsHabit’s voters, that’s exactly what he did.

Barton wins HoopsHabit’s 2015-16 Sixth Man of the Year award behind the strength of his well-rounded and versatile production. The athletic dynamo vastly improved his jump shot, making a massive jump from 23 3-point field goals made on 27.1 percent shooting in 2014-15, to 112 at 34.5 percent in 2015-16.

That helped Barton average a career-high 14.4 points in just 28.7 minutes of action per game.

This was the closest race for an award, as Jamal Crawford, Andre Iguodala, and Enes Kanter all received a significant number of votes. Both were deserving candidates, but in the end, it was Barton who emerged victorious as the best reserve in the NBA this season.

Bright things are in the 25-year-old’s future.

Others Receiving Votes: Jamal Crawford (23.1 percent); Andre Iguodala (19.2 percent); Enes Kanter (15.5 percent); Victor Oladipo (3.8 percent); Tristan Thompson (3.8 percent); Hassan Whiteside (3.8 percent)

Next: Most Improved Player