I never understood the league’s obsession with “The Sixth Man.” Many define it as that player who comes off the bench and contributes at a high level, often playing “big” minutes. For some, “The Sixth Man” invokes feelings of “the little man” or “the man who doesn’t get enough credit.”
Just drop it.
For me, “The Sixth Man” is simply a player who is good, but isn’t good enough to start over another individual at his starting position.
Some of you will probably say, “But Feed, he could be a starter!”
To you all, I answer: “Then why does he start on the bench?”
Many others will say “But Feed, the player thrives off the bench, and enjoys his role as ‘The Sixth Man’!”
To you I ask: what does this say about him as a competitor?
In Meet the Fockers, the audience finds Gaylord Focker, the over-loved, slightly insecure male nurse, back at his parents’ home. There, the audience learns that his parents keep a “wall of achievement” where they have attached every award Gaylord earned as a child, whether it was a fifth place ribbon or a Certificate of Participation.
For me, “The Sixth Man of the Year Award” is not too different.
I see this award as an “MVP for second tier players.” Essentially, after the MVP, there are all of the other starters across the league. These players are ranked in order of second best to worst. After the worst starting player, we find “The Sixth Man of the Year." I will concede that “The Sixth Man”...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
