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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Sixth Man Of The Year Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 6, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) keeps a ball in bound against Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Thunder beat the Bucks 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) keeps a ball in bound against Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Thunder beat the Bucks 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 23, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) poses for portraits during Oklahoma City Thunder media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Enes Kanter

If Jamal Crawford’s candidacy was all about inflated numbers and Andre Iguodala’s was all about on-court impact, Enes Kanter’s 2015-16 season represented a happy medium between the two. It only got him third in Sixth Man of the Year voting, but this big man is poised to put up eye-popping bench numbers in his second full season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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OKC is set to become the Russell Westbrook show, but Kanter figures to be one of the main benefactors from Kevin Durant‘s departure. The 24-year-old center will get plenty of touches off the bench, racking up offensive boards and plenty of easy, efficient buckets in the process.

Last season, Kanter averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in just 21.0 minutes per game. This season, he’ll probably need to play more often than that, which could make him a nightly double-double threat. Sure he’s a bit of a stat sheet stuffer, but isn’t that what this award is all about anyway?

One possible caveat: Steven Adams‘ injury in Monday’s preseason game could force Kanter into the starting lineup, but hopefully that isn’t the case for too long. If head coach Billy Donovan brings Kanter off the bench behind Domantas Sabonis — as he did in the preseason opener — the 6’11” backup is a safe bet to be in the running here.

Next: Top 10 Candidates For 2016-17 Defensive Player Of The Year

Kanter’s defense probably hurt him in the voting last year, but if he can step up in the wake of KD’s departure and put up big numbers for a 45- or 50-win Oklahoma City team, it’ll be hard to deny him the 2016-17 Sixth Man of the Year Award.