He basically broke the mold. When the dust finally settled on the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the conversation surrounding the Sixth Man of the Year 2025 wasn’t about who scored the most points. It was about who changed the gravity of the game from the second the clock hit the six-minute mark in the first quarter.
Payton Pritchard didn’t just win an award; he staged a takeover.
For years, this specific trophy felt like it belonged to the "microwave" scorers—guys who could roll out of bed and drop 20 while barely breaking a sweat. Think Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford. But the 2025 race felt different. It was grit. It was efficiency. It was a 6-foot-1 guard from Oregon making everyone realize that bench impact is about more than just a box score.
The Night Everything Changed for the Sixth Man of the Year 2025
I remember watching a late-season matchup where the Celtics were resting their starters. Pritchard didn't just fill in; he dominated. He ended that season with career highs across the board: 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. Honestly, the most staggering stat was his 246 three-pointers off the bench. That’s an NBA record.
You’ve got to appreciate the audacity it takes to hunt those shots.
He secured 82 out of 100 first-place votes. That isn't a close race; it’s a landslide. While names like Malik Beasley and Ty Jerome were floating around as finalists, nobody really touched the impact "FastPP" had on a nightly basis. He wasn't just a backup. He was the insurance policy for a championship-caliber roster.
Breaking Down the Finalists
The voting committee usually looks for a specific archetype. In 2025, the finalists were:
- Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics): The eventual winner who redefined bench shooting.
- Malik Beasley (Detroit Pistons): A veteran presence who provided massive spacing for a young Pistons core.
- Ty Jerome (Cleveland Cavaliers): A surprise entry who kept the Cavs' offense fluid when the stars sat.
Jerome, in particular, was a fascinating case. Most people didn't even have him on their radar in October. By April, he was a staple in the Sixth Man of the Year 2025 conversation because he simply didn't make mistakes. But Pritchard’s volume was just too high to ignore.
Why the "Microwave" Era Might Be Over
The 2024-25 season signaled a shift. If you look at the guys who didn't make the final cut—guys like Naz Reid or Malik Monk—they were still incredible. Reid actually finished fifth in the voting despite coming off a win the previous year. He even boosted his stats to 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds, but the narrative had moved on.
People are starting to value "winning impact" over "raw totals."
Pritchard’s plus-minus numbers were often better than some starters in the league. It's kinda wild when you think about it. He was shooting 47.2% from the field and over 40% from deep. That level of efficiency from a reserve is rare. Usually, bench guys are "volume shooters," meaning they take a lot of bad shots to get their points. Pritchard took the right shots.
The Modern Benchmark
What makes a great sixth man today? It’s a mix of three things:
- Positional Versatility: Can you guard multiple spots?
- Spacing: Can you hit 38% or higher from three-point land?
- Playmaking: Can the offense run through you, or are you just a finisher?
Pritchard checked every box. He even had a few games where he flirted with triple-doubles. Honestly, that’s what separates the 2025 winner from the winners of the early 2010s. The game is too fast now for a one-dimensional scorer to win this award.
The "Snub" Conversations
Every year, someone gets left out. In the Sixth Man of the Year 2025 race, a lot of folks in Sacramento felt Malik Monk was overlooked again. Monk has been a bridesmaid for this award so many times it's starting to feel personal. He’s the quintessential spark plug. But the Kings’ overall record and his slight dip in shooting efficiency mid-season probably hurt his case with the national voters.
Then there was Buddy Hield.
Hield had a legendary Game Seven performance for the Warriors in the 2025 playoffs—dropping 33 points—but the award is a regular-season honor. His regular-season consistency wasn't quite at the level of the finalists. It's a reminder that this award is a marathon, not a sprint. You can't just have a hot month; you have to be the heartbeat of the second unit for 82 games.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Landscape
As we move into 2026, the 2025 results have set a high bar. We’re already seeing players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaime Jaquez Jr. trying to replicate that Pritchard-esque impact. Alexander-Walker, in particular, has been hovering around 20 points per game for the Hawks lately.
If you're a betting person or just a fan trying to track the next winner, look at the "minutes played" stat. Pritchard averaged 28.4 minutes in his winning year. That’s the sweet spot. You need enough time to make an impact, but not so much that the voters start considering you a "starter who just happens to come off the bench."
Actionable Insights for Following the Award:
- Watch the Shooting Splits: A 6th Man who shoots under 42% from the field rarely wins anymore, regardless of their scoring average.
- Team Success Matters: Historically, the winner comes from a top-4 seed in their respective conference.
- Track the Clutch Minutes: Check who is on the floor in the final five minutes of a close game. If the "Sixth Man" is finishing games, they are a lock for the ballot.
Analyze the rotation patterns of top teams like the Thunder or the Spurs. These teams are currently developing "super-subs" who are designed to win this award by 2027. The blueprint is there. Pritchard wrote it. Now everyone else is just trying to read it.