NBA award predictions: Will the Sixers finally get recognized?

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Sixers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Sixers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)
(Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)

2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Prediction

2. Norman Powell, Clippers

3. Malcolm Brogdon, Celtics 


Tyler Herro joining the Heat’s starting five opens up the Sixth Man of the Year race considerably… and the award will probably go to a very similar player in Jordan Poole. This award has long been reserved for high-scoring guards. Poole just received his $140 million payday and the Warriors will make every effort to feature him in possibly the NBA’s most potent offense.

Poole has all the style and flash we’ve come to associate with this award: Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams, JR Smith, James Harden. These guys put on a show. Poole has just as much substance as style, too. He has learned a lot from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, becoming a player who can dominate equally with or without the basketball.

Golden State is going to win a lot of games and, fresh off the NBA championship, all eyes will be glued to the Warriors’ national TV schedule. There are some truly elite bench players this season (one could argue Norman Powell and Malcolm Brogdon are better overall players right now), but Poole will probably score the most points. He will do so efficiently, and he will do so with spunk.