Everything's in Place for Explosive Isaiah Thomas to Win 6th Man of the Year
Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Thomas has found his own personal basketball oasis—located, appropriately, in the middle of the desert.
And now, the offseason's biggest little free-agent bargain has a path to the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award laid out in front of him that, even at this early juncture, looks like one he's ready to sprint down.
Thomas' game is ideally suited to the pursuit. He scores in bunches and boasts a career average of 19.1 points per 36 minutes. Notably, that figure has increased every year, topping out at 21.1 last season with the Sacramento Kings.
If his 23 points in 20 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 29 are any indication, we're likely to see even more production from Thomas this season.
Worthy Contender, Competitive Field
We want sixth men to provide a spark, to change the game's pace, to add an element of barely controlled chaos to the proceedings. In that regard, Thomas fits the prototype...with one tweak: He's not just a gunner.
Thomas averaged 6.3 assists per game last year, and his ability to get into the lane off the dribble makes him nearly as dangerous a passer as he is a scorer. Even if he has to share ball-handling duties with the Suns' deep guard rotation, Thomas is likely to dwarf the 3.2 assists last year's winner, Jamal Crawford, averaged in 2013-14.
And for what it's worth, Crawford is keeping tabs on his competition:
"Tryna b like u lol RT @JCrossover: Ok lil bro @isaiah_thomas with the no look shot, I see you..
— Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) October 30, 2014"
Crawford could see his role grow for this year's Los Angeles Clippers, as the team's startling lack of wing depth could call for big minutes from the defending sixth-man champ. But he isn't the only guy who'll have something to say about this year's Sixth Man award; there are plenty of other worthy contenders.
Taj Gibson was a monster for the Chicago Bulls last year, averaging 13 points and 6.8 rebounds while providing fantastic defense. Like Thomas, he got off to a hot start in his season opener, piling up a team-high 22 points in a dominant win over thew New York Knicks.
New additions Nikola Mirotic, Aaron Brooks and Doug McDermott mean the Bulls bench is drastically improved, but mainstay Gibson has stood out specifically, per Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com.
"The one constant in the group is Gibson," Friedell wrote. "He's the one Thibodeau has been raving about throughout training camp. He's the one teammates have been praising over and over during the offseason."
Toss in a healthy Ryan Anderson in New Orleans and former All-Star Andre Iguodala now taking on a reserve role in Golden State, and you've got two more serious contenders.
There's also Manu Ginobili, who redefined the position during the mid-2000s and who, if I were in charge, would already have a Eurostepping statue in front of the AT&T Center.
Thomas won't want for competition.
Fitting the Bill
His game gives him an edge, though. He's younger than the other candidates, plays faster and finds himself in an ideal situation. What's more, recent voting on the award proves there's a bias toward little guys.
It hasn't always been that way. Kevin McHale collected two awards in the 1980s, and Detlef Schrempf earned a pair in the following decade. Cliff Robinson, Anthony Mason and Toni Kukoc are among the many frontcourt players who won the award in years past.
But over the last 10 seasons, guards have dominated. Eight out of the past 10 winners have been backcourt players, with Mike Miller (2005-06) and Lamar Odom (2010-11) standing out as the only non-guards to break through. Even those two, you'll note, possess guard skills.
The sixth-man role now conjures up a specific image: a trigger-happy small who comes in and provides instant offense. Confining and stereotypical though the new norm may be, it benefits Thomas' chances.
So do his circumstances in Phoenix.
The pace and three-centric approach head coach Jeff Hornacek favors is only part of it. And the chance to play with Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe is a boon in itself as well.
But what's most interesting is the mild resistance to a limited role Thomas revealed in his conversation with Grantland's Zach Lowe. Upon being asked how he felt about logging fewer minutes as part of a deeper rotation, Thomas said:
"Honestly, I want to play. I want to play as much as I can. But at the same time, I want to win. That was my biggest priority this offseason—the style of play, what my role was going to be on the team, and also my best chance of winning. If it's all about winning, everything else will fall in place. I work very hard, and when my opportunity is given, I'm going to take full advantage of it.
"
There's diplomacy there, and Thomas is careful to prioritize winning above all. He wants to play, though, and he's still on the lookout for opportunities, for chances to prove himself.
Thomas is hungry—rare for a player with a new contract in an ideal situation. And while his desire for more might seem problematic, it's actually a great thing for him and the Suns. As much as anything, his refusal to be satisfied could draw out even more manic intensity and killer-instinct offense.
The only thing better than a star sixth man is a star sixth man who still feels like he has something to prove.
Awards voters and terrified defenses everywhere are on notice: Thomas is primed to explode.
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