James Harden and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Awards by Team

James Harden, 2011-12 NBA Sixth Man of the Year

The Oklahoma City Thunder‘s James Harden has won the 2012 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. The award is given each year to the league’s best player off the bench.

Bobby Jones, “Gentleman of the NBA” and member of the champion 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers, won the first.

The Celtics‘ Kevin McHale (2) and Bill Walton won the next three as Boston went to the Finals three years in a row (’84, ’85, ’86).

But it’s the Phoenix Suns who have best utilized their first man off the bench in the past 30 years. They have four awards, the most.

Here are the Sixth Man of the Year Awards by team and chronologically.

McHale, Ricky Pierce (Bucks) and Detlef Schrempf  (Pacers) are the only two-time winners.

Thanks to my source, basketball-reference.com, where you can see the award winners’ stats.

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UPDATED LIST: Apr. 23, 2013 to include the New York Knicks’ J.R. Smith, winner of the 2013 Sixth Man of the Year. Well deserved. Original post above from May 10, 2012.

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR BY TEAM

1.	Phoenix Suns	4	Leandro Barbosa	2006-07
			Rodney Rogers	1999-00
			Danny Manning	1997-98
			Eddie Johnson	1988-89
2.	New York Knicks	3	J.R. Smith	2012-13
			John Starks	1996-97
			Anthony Mason	1994-95
2.	Boston Celtics	3	Bill Walton	1985-86
			Kevin McHale	1984-85
			Kevin McHale	1983-84
2.	Dallas Mavericks	3	Jason Terry	2008-09
			Antawn Jamison	2003-04
			Roy Tarpley	1987-88
5.	Chicago Bulls	2	Ben Gordon	2004-05
			Toni Kukoc	1995-96
5.	Indiana Pacers	2	Detlef Schrempf	1991-92
			Detlef Schrempf	1990-91
5.	Milwaukee Bucks	2	Ricky Pierce	1989-90
			Ricky Pierce	1986-87
5.	Philadelphia 76ers	2	Aaron McKie	2000-01
			Bobby Jones	1982-83
9.	Atlanta Hawks	1	Jamal Crawford	2009-10
9.	Charlotte Hornets	1	Dell Curry	1993-94
9.	Detroit Pistons	1	Corliss Williamson	2001-02
9.	Los Angeles Lakers	1	Lamar Odom	2010-11
9.	Memphis Tigers	1	Mike Miller	2005-06
9.	Oklahoma City Thunder	1	James Harden	2011-12
9.	Orlando Magic	1	Darrell Armstrong	1998-99
9.	Portland Trail Blazers	1	Clifford Robinson	1992-93
9.	Sacramento Kings	1	Bobby Jackson	2002-03
9.	San Antonio Spurs	1	Manu Ginobili	2007-08

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR, CHRONOLOGICAL

2012-13	J.R. Smith	New York Knicks
2011-12	James Harden	Oklahoma City Thunder
2010-11	Lamar Odom	Los Angeles Lakers
2009-10	Jamal Crawford	Atlanta Hawks
2008-09	Jason Terry	Dallas Mavericks
2007-08	Manu Ginobili	San Antonio Spurs
2006-07	Leandro Barbosa	Phoenix Suns
2005-06	Mike Miller	Memphis Tigers
2004-05	Ben Gordon	Chicago Bulls
2003-04	Antawn Jamison	Dallas Mavericks
2002-03	Bobby Jackson	Sacramento Kings
2001-02	Corliss Williamson	Detroit Pistons
2000-01	Aaron McKie	Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00	Rodney Rogers	Phoenix Suns
1998-99	Darrell Armstrong	Orlando Magic
1997-98	Danny Manning	Phoenix Suns
1996-97	John Starks	New York Knicks
1995-96	Toni Kukoc	Chicago Bulls
1994-95	Anthony Mason	New York Knicks
1993-94	Dell Curry	Charlotte Hornets
1992-93	Clifford Robinson	Portlans Trail Blazers
1991-92	Detlef Schrempf	Indiana Pacers
1990-91	Detlef Schrempf	Indiana Pacers
1989-90	Ricky Pierce	Milwaukee Bucks
1988-89	Eddie Johnson	Phoenix Suns
1987-88	Roy Tarpley	Dallas Mavericks
1986-87	Ricky Pierce	Milwaukee Bucks
1985-86	Bill Walton	Boston Celtics
1984-85	Kevin McHale	Boston Celtics
1983-84	Kevin McHale	Boston Celtics
1982-83	Bobby Jones	Philadelphia 76ers

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