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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
Mar 31, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) shoots over Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) during the second half at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Zach Randolph

Up to this season in his career, Zach Randolph had started in all but 37 of his 478 games with the Memphis Grizzlies. In 2016-17, he made the full-time switch to bench duty, serving as sixth man in 68 of his 73 appearances for the team.

The switch helped preserve with effectiveness of this 35-year-old veteran and his dwindling athleticism, allowing Z-Bo to feast on opposing second units and put up 14.1 points and 8.8 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game.

Though he only shot 44.9 percent from the field and made just 22.3 percent of his 1.3 three-pointers per game, Randolph was often the Grizzlies’ biggest X-factor while also paving the way for bigger minutes for starter JaMychal Green.

Z-Bo’s numbers don’t quite stack up to his competition, even on the seventh-seeded team in the West, but he should finish somewhere in the top-five of voting for something of a resurgent season in more limited minutes off the pine.