Indiana Pacers: Domantas Sabonis’ case for Sixth Man of the Year

Domantas Sabonis has been a big bench contributor for the Indiana Pacers. His career numbers this year are worthy of Sixth Man of the Year consideration.

In a difficult race for the Sixth Man of the Year that includes the likes of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, Domantas Sabonis is quietly posting career-bests in just about every major statistical category. He’s been a big reason why this Indiana Pacers team has made noise and held their own against the league’s top teams.

The 22-year forward/center has been the most efficient player off the bench this year, posting a 22.0 player efficiency rating in 69 games. He’s also second in the league in rebounds per game for players off the bench, averaging 9.3 rebounds per contest.

His resiliency this year has been his most valuable asset, missing only 8 games. The advanced statistics show that when Sabonis is on the floor for the Pacers, they have a lineup that ranks in the top 5 in overall net rating, according to NBA.com.

Moreover, he’ s a top-10 player in the league in screen-assists, a hustle-stat that won’t always show up on the stat sheet. He’s also in the top-10 for defensive rebound percentage and overall rebound percentage. These types of contributions are reflected in both the Pacers’ 45-32 record, and in this highlight reel against the New York Knicks when he had a career night back in November, going a perfect 12-for-12 from the field and joining a short list of players who’ve scored 30 or more points off the bench this year.

What Sabonis brings is a spark-plug off the bench that picks up right where the starting lineup leads off, and he can play very well alongside Myles Turner down low. Just ask Pacers’ captain Thaddeus Young. He’s taken on the role of primary bench scorer, and the offense seems to run through him at times now that Victor Oladipo’s season has been cut short.

His 14.1 points per game aren’t the highest of all the league’s best bench contributors, but his overall impact on the game can’t go unnoticed, as Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley noted in January, adding that Sabonis has the “strongest case” for Sixth Man in B/R’s midseason awards:

"“His per-36-minute numbers—21.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists—suggest he not only deserves a starting gig, but potentially could emerge as a star if given one.”"

Only Montrezl Harrell of the Los Angeles Clippers has posted a better field goal percentage (61.5 percent) than Sabonis (58.6 percent) off the bench this season among those who consistently see playing time.

He looks to be in much more of an offensive groove with Indiana now that he’s bumping bodies in the paint and taking defenders off the dribble. Back in his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was being used as a stretch four, and his shot percentages suffered as a result.

What the Pacers have molded Sabonis into is an athletic, versatile forward who can continue to flourish in his role and maybe even become a starter down the road. He’s very regularly showed that he can perform on a high-level against the league’s most talented teams. This year, he should, at the very least, get a few nods for Sixth Man of the Year.