NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Odds (2025-26)

The following post features NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds (2025-26).

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, oddsmakers have released their Sixth Man of the Year (SMOY) odds, providing an early look at which players are considered the top contenders for a season-long futures bet.

Read: NBA Defensive Player Of The Year Odds

Related: NBA Most Improved Player Odds

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year race offers a unique betting opportunity, allowing bettors to back bench players poised for high usage and significant scoring production off the bench.

So, how is the NBA Sixth Man of the Year race shaping up for 2025-26? Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Last season, Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics captured the Sixth Man of the Year award, securing a decisive victory with 82 of 100 first-place votes over runner-up Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons) and Ty Jerome (Cleveland Cavaliers). Pritchard’s win was driven by record-breaking scoring volume off the bench for the championship-contending Celtics. He averaged a career-high 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, leading all NBA reserves in total points scored. Crucially, Pritchard set a new NBA record by sinking 246 three-pointers off the bench, proving his indispensable value as an elite three-point specialist and energy contributor for one of the top teams in the league.

Sixth Man of the Year Award

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, which grants the winner the John Havlicek Trophy, is bestowed annually upon the best performing non-starting player during the regular season. To be eligible, a player must come off the bench in more games than they start. The winner is selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters who cast first, second, and third-place votes. This award heavily favors bench players who demonstrate starter-level production, high scoring volume, and impactful energy while contributing to a winning team’s success.

Sixth Man of the Year Award Odds (2025-26)

Below is a table displaying the odds for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. All odds were sourced on Oct 4, 2025. Click here for the very latest odds (via OddsChecker).

Player Spotlights

De’Andre Hunter (Cleveland Cavaliers, +950)

Hunter is an intriguing candidate because his ability to win the award directly conflicts with his starting aspirations. Hunter finished fourth in voting last season primarily for his production off the bench for the Hawks. While he is expected to start the season due to Max Strus’s injury, his optimal role—and the one where his scoring is maximized—is widely considered to be as the super-sub wing. At +950, the betting scenario here is that once Strus returns around December, the Cavaliers recognize Hunter’s higher efficiency off the bench and permanently slot him back into the reserve role, where his volume scoring and two-way play will quickly place him atop the voting.

Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves, +1000)

Reid is a proven commodity, having won the award in 2023-24 and finished fifth in voting last season. He is a rare Sixth Man who is a stretch big, providing a unique skill set of size, shooting (near 40% from three), and interior scoring. The betting case at +1000 is that he has stabilized his role as the team’s third-leading scorer and primary big man reserve, averaging over 27 minutes last season. While he no longer has the surprise factor, Reid’s combination of consistent, high-volume production (averaging a career-high 14.2 PPG last season) on a Western Conference contender makes him a safe and reliable futures pick.

Jordan Clarkson (New York Knicks, +1200)

Clarkson is the veteran floor general and a former winner of the award (2021), now joining the New York Knicks as a critical bench addition. The betting narrative at +1200 is based on his history of high-usage, microwave scoring and the Knicks’ need for a dedicated creator to run their second unit. Clarkson has historically averaged over 16 points off the bench, and in a system that often struggles for non-Jalen Brunson creation, he is guaranteed the freedom to hunt his shot. If he can maintain his scoring volume (around 17 PPG) while contributing to a competitive Knicks team, his veteran appeal and proven ability to fill the sixth man role make him a strong contender.

Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers, +1500)

Sharpe is a high-upside wing whose role is still somewhat uncertain, making him a riskier bet. He averaged a career-high 18.5 points last season but struggled with efficiency and defensive consistency, leading to him being benched mid-season. The betting proposition at +1500 is that Coach Chauncey Billups will deploy him as a high-volume sixth man to maximize his athletic scoring gifts without burdening the starting lineup. If Sharpe fully buys into the reserve role and focuses his elite athleticism on improving his defensive impact alongside his established scoring, his star potential offers a high-reward narrative typically favored by MIP voters—though he must meet the Sixth Man criteria.

Anfernee Simons (Boston Celtics, +1500)

Simons is the most debated candidate, as his true role is still being determined after his high-profile trade from Portland. The betting scenario at +1500 is that the Celtics will utilize him as a super-charged scoring reserve to cover the loss of star power this offseason. Simons is a prolific scorer who averaged over 19 PPG in Portland, and while he will compete for minutes with Payton Pritchard (the reigning SMOY), he has the potential to seamlessly fit the “super-sub” mold that Celtics award winners (like Malcolm Brogdon and Pritchard) have occupied recently. If he embraces the bench role, his high scoring ceiling on a strong East team makes him an excellent value choice.

Sixth Man of the Year Award Winners (2015-Present)

The table below highlights every NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner since 2015.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while De’Andre Hunter and Naz Reid lead the race as the top bench players, the real betting value lies with Jordan Clarkson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, who offer strong returns by dominating the key metrics of scoring volume and elite usage required to win the John Havlicek Trophy.