Keldon Johnson Wins Spurs’ First NBA Sixth Man Award

The San Antonio Spurs' New Bench Star: Keldon Johnson Wins Sixth Man of the Year

The San Antonio Spurs have a new star on the bench. Keldon Johnson played every game of the season, never starting, and scored over 1,000 points from that role. That makes him the first Spurs player to reach that milestone as a reserve.

The league’s voters honored Johnson with the Sixth Man of the Year award. He shares this honor with former Spurs legend Manu Ginobili, who won it in 2008. For Johnson, this is his first individual NBA trophy.

In a short interview on ESPN, Johnson said that after years of starting he now enjoys coming off the bench. He says his focus is to watch the game, enter when needed, and make a difference for his team.

Other finalists included Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., who led all reserves in scoring, and Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr., who made the most 3‑pointers among backups. Both players finished in the top ten for the award.

Johnson’s achievement is part of a two‑year streak. He has played in 159 games over the last two seasons, all as a substitute. No other player has done that many games without starting.

The Spurs’ coaching staff praised Johnson’s mindset. He said he had to control his ego and put the team first, but once he did that, “the sky was the limit.”

The NBA announced several other awards that season. Victor Wembanyama became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander was named Clutch Player of the Year. The league will later reveal winners for Sportsmanship, Most Improved Player, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and MVP.