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2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 10 Sixth Man Of The Year Candidates

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) points the the bench after making a three pointer in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Rockets won 111-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) points the the bench after making a three pointer in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Rockets won 111-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sixth Man of the Year
Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) shoots the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Wilson Chandler

Based on the raw numbers, it seems like Wilson Chandler should be much higher up this list. His 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season are among the most well-rounded stat lines on this list, especially on 46.1 percent shooting from the field.

Unfortunately, his fluctuation between the bench and the starting lineup for the Denver Nuggets hurts his case. Of his 71 games played this season, Ill Will only filled the sixth man role in 48 of them. That’s enough to technically qualify him for Sixth Man of the Year, but puts him at a disadvantage compared to the other candidates.

In the games Chandler came off the bench, his averages slightly dipped to 15.0 points per game on 45.3 percent shooting, as opposed to 16.6 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting with the starters.

His frustration with his ever-changing role probably won’t win him much favor with the voters either. Chandler looked like a frontrunner for this award early in the year, but inconsistency has pretty much removed him to the fringe of the conversation.