Keldon Johnson Wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year
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The NBA on Wednesday named San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson the 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year, marking the second major individual honor for the 62-20 club in three days. Teammate Victor Wembanyama earned Defensive Player of the Year on Monday.
Johnson came off the bench in all 82 regular-season games, averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 23.3 minutes. He shot 51.9% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 79.4% at the foul line. His 1,081 points set a single-season franchise record for a reserve, eclipsing the previous mark held by Manu Ginóbili, the Spurs’ only other Sixth Man winner.
According to the team, Johnson was the league’s lone player this season to appear in every game without making a start.
Voting results
The 24-year-old received 63 first-place votes and appeared on 96 of 100 ballots, finishing with 404 total points. Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. placed second with 34 first-place votes and 331 points, while Denver Nuggets wing Tim Hardaway Jr. was a distant third with 45 points and no first-place selections.
Timberwolves center Naz Reid (42 points) and Thunder wing Ajay Mitchell (29) rounded out the top five. Rockets guard Reed Sheppard (28) was the only other player to appear on more than three ballots. Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu, Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili, Spurs guard Dylan Harper and Raptors guard Jamal Shead also received votes.
Delayed ballot timeline
Ballots were distributed last Thursday and due the following evening after the league reviewed appeals from several players who fell short of the 65-game eligibility requirement. By then, the Heat had already lost their play-in game, a contest in which Jaquez shot 5-for-14. At least one voter—Bill Simmons of The Ringer—publicly acknowledged switching his top vote from Jaquez to Johnson despite the award covering only regular-season performance.
Johnson becomes the third Spur to capture a postseason award this year, joining Wembanyama and Ginóbili in the club’s Sixth Man history.
Source: Hoops Rumors
