NBA Official: San Antonio Spurs wing Keldon Johnson named Sixth Man of the Year

The NBA officially announced on Wednesday that San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson has been named the 2025/26 Sixth Man of the Year. The 26-year-old Johnson becomes only the second player in Spurs history to receive this honor, following Manu Ginobili in 2008.

In this vote, Johnson won by a landslide: according to the league's published results, he received a total of 63 first-place votes, 28 second-place votes, and 5 third-place votes, for a total score of 404 points. Miami Heat forward Jaime Hex Jr. came in second with 34 first-place votes, 51 second-place votes, and 8 third-place votes (331 points), while Denver Nuggets wing Tim Hardaway Jr. came in third with 7 second-place votes and 24 third-place votes (45 points).

In addition, Timberwolves center Naz Reed, Thunder wing Ajay Mitchell, Rockets guard Reed Shepard, Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, Timberwolves guard Eywynn Dossam, Raptors forward Sandro Mamuklashvili, Spurs guard Dylan Harper, and Raptors guard Jamal Shedd also received some votes.

Johnson played every single one of the 83 regular season games off the bench, averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23.3 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 51.9% and a three-point percentage of 36.3%. The Spurs finished with a 61-20 record, ranking second in the Western Conference, and Johnson's crucial role off the bench cannot be ignored.

After being confirmed as the winner, John couldn't hide his joy. He told ESPN, "I'm a little excited. This is a fantastic achievement and the result of a long period of hard work."

“I’ve been a starter for a long time, and now it’s my turn to come on as a substitute. I will continue to analyze the game, come on as a substitute, and do my job.”

“I want to be a part of the San Antonio Spurs. To truly contribute to the team, coming off the bench is probably my best option. It was tough at first; I had to control my pride and put the team first. After that, everything became much easier.”

Image source: Internet/NBA official website