Season stats: 19.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG in 29.2 MPG; .575/.000/.663
Last 3 weeks: 19.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG in 28.2 MPG; .554/.000/.662
The only constant between versions 1.0 and 2.0 of the Sixth Man of the Year Ladder, Montrezl Harrell is putting up career-best numbers for the LA Clippers in a contract year and he could be one of the most attractive free agents in a thin crop next summer.
The last time a 6-foot-7 center made this much of an impact on the NBA, Wes Unseld was throwing two-handed over-the-head outlet passes for the Baltimore Bullets in the 1970s. But Harrell has picked up his scoring pace over the last three weeks, averaging nearly 20 points per game, and is at a career-high 19.0 points per game on the season.
He’s also playing a career-high 29.2 minutes per game as the guy taken in the second round by the Rockets in 2015 has established himself as an undersized 5 who bulls his way to the basket. Harrell is making 70.9 percent of his attempts at the rim — which make up 60 percent of his attempts — while he’s taking 30.4 percent from three to 10 feet.
Harrell is a small-ball 5, but he’s not a floor stretcher; he’s missed all 12 of his 3-point attempts this season and is just 5-for-44 (11.4 percent) in his career. But while Harrell is limited in his height as a post defender, his 7-foot-4 wingspan compensates somewhat, allowing him to challenge and block more shots than a player his height would be expected to.
After finishing third behind teammate Lou Williams and Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis in the Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, Harrell is the early leader to take the trophy this time around.