The race for the 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award has been an interesting one all season as many names were mentioned as deserving recipients. Recently, the league officially announced the three finalists for the award. The finalists are Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis. However, Los Angeles Clippers wing Norman Powell believes he should have been a finalist for the award.
Norman Powell isn’t happy with the 6MOY snub
“I think it’s BS, to be honest… playing with four HOFers, limited touches… I think it sucks… at the end of the day, main focus is to win a championship”
(Via @LawMurrayTheNU ) pic.twitter.com/rLMW9dpdWA
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 23, 2024
During the regular season, Powell averaged 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Furthermore, he shot 48.6% from the field and 43.5% from the three-point line. Last season, Powell finished fourth in voting for the 6MOY award.
In March, the California native talked about what winning the award would mean for him.
“It would be amazing. It would be a lot for me,” said the eighth-year veteran out of UCLA. “It would be recognition for the importance for the team and being able to step up and help the team win and just a testament to all my hard work throughout the years. I feel like I’ve always been an underdog, having to earn my stripes and my spot. Even when I do really well one season, the next season it’s not automatically given. I’ve got to work to get it and prove myself.
Los Angeles Clippers Contributor on Award Snub: “I Think It’s BS”
Norman Powell’s 6MOY Campaign
Throughout his career, Powell has improved as a scorer and now has a reputation as one of the best bench scorers in the league. This season, Powell ranked third in total points off the bench. The two players ahead of him? 6MOY finalists Monk and Portis. With the Clippers, Powell is a natural scorer. He can create his own shots and score from anywhere on the court. Powell is an efficient scorer, especially from the perimeter. When compared to the three 6MOY finalists, Powell has the most efficient scoring season. Furthermore, Monk is the only one who averaged more points per game during the regular season than Powell.
1st in minutes played off the bench.
1st in games with 10+ points off the bench.
2nd in 3PM off the bench.
2nd in PPG off the bench.
2nd in clutch points off the bench.
Set the franchise record for most threes off the bench in a single season.That’s SIXTH NorMAN 🗣️🗣️🗣️ https://t.co/UQlIs9jfTL
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 16, 2024
The Last Word on Norman Powell
Powell enjoyed a good season with the Clippers and was one of the most impressive bench players in the league. However, Powell is arguably the most one-dimensional player of the four candidates. Powell is the most efficient scorer of the four, but his defense is solid at best. Additionally, he is not much of a playmaker or rebounder, whereas Monk, Reid, and Portis check off at least one of those boxes. Still, it is understandable for Powell to be frustrated with his exclusion from the 6MOY award race.
