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

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 26, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks (10) during Media Day at Zion Bank Basketball Center. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Alec Burks

People forget this, but Alek Burks was one of the early frontrunners in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation last year, when he averaged 13.3 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting from downtown for the Utah Jazz. His season only lasted 31 games, but if he can stay healthy in 2016-17, he might be a dark horse pick for this award.

For starters, the Jazz should be under the spotlight more than ever before after a terrific offseason addressing areas of need. If Utah has better injury luck than last year, they’re poised to make the leap in the Western Conference, and Burks can be a huge part of that putting up points off the bench.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder said it's unclear whether Alec Burks will play during the preseason. He's still rehabbing from offseason surgery.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) September 27, 2016

He was a widely overlooked Sixth Man candidate in 2013-14, when he averaged 14.0 points per game on .457/.350/.748 shooting splits in 66 games off the bench. If he can replicate those numbers again in 2016-17 with a little more efficient three-point shooting, he’ll be a leading vote-getter this year.

The biggest obstacle for Burks, aside from Utah’s improved depth, is his inability to stay healthy. He’s played a grand total of 58 games over the last two seasons, missing extended time with a shoulder injury, a fractured left fibula, and now, offseason ankle surgery.