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NBA Announces 7th Man Award; LA Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell is Front Runner

NEW YORK, NY MARCH 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers looks on against the New York Knicks on March 24, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY MARCH 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers looks on against the New York Knicks on March 24, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The NBA has announced a new 7th Man of the Year Award and the LA Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell has become the favorite to win it.

In a surprising decision on Sunday night, the NBA announced that they will introduce a new regular season award; the Seventh Man of the Year. This award will go to the second most important bench player in the league. Montrezl Harrell is the early favorite to win the award.

Lou Williams has been considered a lock for Sixth Man of the Year since about early December, so introducing this award brings back some excitement for the rest of the league since none of them can catch Lou. There was some concern that Harrell and Williams would cancel each other out on Sixth Man votes, but the addition of this new award should prevent that from happening.

Harrell being the favorite is no real surprise. He has been in talks for Sixth Man as well as Most Improved Player all season, so having him actually able to take home some hardware will be great to see.

The big man has been stellar off of the bench for the Clippers. Many nights his energy sparks the team and he has helped to will them to victory on several occasions. We have covered his success this season ad naseum.

On the year off of the bench, Harrell is putting up a career-high 16.6 points on 61.7% shooting, 6.6 rebounds. 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks.

Other players who are contending for the award are Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers, Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets, Derrick Rose of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat. Each has been in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation at some point this season, so them moving to the new Seventh Man Award makes the most sense.

Oh, and by the way: Happy April Fools!

Unfortunately for Trezz, there is no award and the big man likely won’t be getting any hardware this season. He’s been extremely important to this team as they fought for a spot in the playoffs, but Lou’s play off the bench has just been too great.

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