We are only two weeks into the NBA season, and sixth men around The Association are already trying to make their case as to why they should be considered for the prestigious Sixth Man of the Year award. The sixth man has a more important role than ever in today’s NBA, with a lot of them getting more opportunities while star players rest or even during crunch time.
As of this moment, Cam Thomas is one of the most important players on the Brooklyn Nets, and he made sure to let people know early with his 36-point performance on opening night. But where does this performance, and his outings since, place him in the sixth man hierarchy? Will he even be a sixth man for the rest of the year?
Caesars Sportsbook has just released updated odds for the award, so let’s go through the top 5 to see if Thomas can crack the list.
T5. Malik Monk
After being a key contributor in helping the Kings light the beam on a plentitude of occasions last season, Monk has gotten off to the best start in his seven-year career here in 2023-24.
The former Kentucky Wildcat averages 15 points per game, ranking fourth on the team. If he continues this scoring for the rest of the year, it would be the highest-scoring output of his career. Monk is also shooting 40.6% from three-point range this year, which would also be the highest percentage of his career.
If the Kings can churn out a similar season to last year, Monk will be a strong contender for the award since winning plays a massive factor in who receives the award.
Right now, Monk is tied for 5th with a +1200 chance to win the award. If Monk can’t win this award, he might still have a shot at Dunk of the Year after the hops he showed off on opening night against the Jazz.
De'Aaron Fox with the steal before Malik Monk throws down a POSTER DUNK pic.twitter.com/OjHRO48FEL
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) October 26, 2023