The Big Lead

Boston Celtics star named NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Voting results for the first NBA award for the 2024-25 season are out, and a Boston Celtics player has been named Sixth Man of the Year.

By Divij Kulkarni

Apr 13, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts after making a three-pointer during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Apr 13, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts after making a three-pointer during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images / Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
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The NBA playoffs are well and truly on, with the regular season well and truly behind us. However, there is still one thing fans have their eyes on: the end-of-season awards for 2024-25.

The MVP and Defensive Player of the Year races have both been hotly contested this season, but an underrated battle has taken place for Sixth Man of the Year. And now, the winner has been announced, making this the 5th time in league history that a Boston Celtics player has won the prestigious trophy.

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Payton Pritchard has run away with the 6MOY race, garnering 82 first-place votes, 69 more than Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons. Ty Jerome of the Cleveland Cavaliers has come in third, with his breakout season earning him a nomination, but not the award itself.

Pritchard has been a true menace off the bench for the Celtics this season, averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 28.4 minutes per game across 80 games. He also shot 40.7% from three-point range despite getting up nearly 8 attempts per game.

These are impressive numbers and they show why he deserved to win the award. Boston won over 60 games again, too, ending the year with a 61-21 record, with Pritchard being an integral part of making that happen.

The reigning champions are sure to need their explosive bench guard in the playoffs, and he started the postseason with an excellent 19 points in a Game 1 win against the Orlando Magic. Winning this award will serve as further motivation as Pritchard aims to help his team retain its NBA title.

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