Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves has just been named the NBA’s 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year, receiving the John Havlicek Trophy for the first time in his career. Reid, averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, was a big part of the Timberwolves’ success this season.
Reid’s best ability, despite his defensive prowess and overall efficiency, is his availability. Playing in 81 out of 82 games this regular season, Reid left a small sample size for what this team looks like without him. Fortunately, for both Reid and the Timberwolves, they play much better with him on the court.
Reid is also seeing the most minutes of his career, and rewarding Minnesota with the best play of his career. This season, he averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks while averaging a career low in personal fouls.
He’s also improved in his shooting, averaging career highs in three point percentage, free throw percentage and effective field goal percentage.
And while he is averaging a career high in turnovers at 1.4 per game, that’s efficient only playing an average of 24.2 minutes per game. His impact on the Timberwolves is apparent, as they currently lead the Phoenix Suns 2-0 in their round one series. Reid is averaging 8.5 points, two rebounds and an assist in the first two games.
Despite Reid’s clear and present impact on the Timberwolves’ success, it was a close race this season. He received only two first place votes more than Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings. Bobby Portis Jr of the Milwaukee Bucks was the next closest, but it essentially came down to a toss up between Reid and Monk. Reid finished with 10 more points than Monk, who finished with 261 more votes than Portis Jr.
