Inside The Celtics

Celtics Discuss Malcolm Brogdon's Sixth Man of the Year Candidacy

Having Malcolm Brogdon as their sixth man has a lot to do with why the Celtics believe they're better this season.

Bobby Krivitsky

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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Wednesday night against the Raptors, Malcolm Brogdon came off the bench to lead the Celtics in scoring, delivering 29 points, including two free throws that helped them seal their 97-93 win.

The former Virginia Cavalier entered Wednesday's matchup against Toronto averaging 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 25.9 minutes per contest.

While the former second-round pick who went on to win Rookie of the Year for his work in the 2016-17 campaign hasn't been a starter his entire career, he has for most of it.

But his adjustment to his role on a Boston team that's as deep as any in the NBA has helped keep the Celtics on the shortlist of title contenders and Brogdon in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.

After Boston bested Toronto in the first half of its two-game miniseries against the Raptors, Brogdon expressed the following about adapting to coming off the bench.

"The Celtics, Brad, they were very upfront about that, coming off the bench, and I was all for it, am all for it. And I knew it would be a very fluid situation. And for me, it's about understanding that, embracing it and continuing to embrace it for 82 games and the playoffs. I feel like that's what I've done. That's what I've tried to do to the best of my ability.

"As far as the rest of the team, as far as us being successful, this is exactly what I thought. I thought I'd be coming to a championship team, (and) that's what we have here. So, we've got to keep pushing, I think we're trending in the right direction and exactly where we should be."

And for his performance this season and how he's embraced sliding from starter to second unit, from his head coach to his teammates, Brogdon's colleagues are campaigning for him to take home the Sixth Man of the Year Award.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla conveyed the following after Wednesday's win against Toronto.

"It would mean a lot. The humility that he brings to our team. He takes pride in the second unit. And in order to be a great team, you have to have people like that, and we have that from top to bottom, and different guys do different things. Malcolm has come in here with patience, humility, and understanding, and credit to the locker room for embracing and empowering him, and I hope he gets it; he deserves it. When he plays at a high level, we're really good, and our depth is a huge strength of ours."

As for Brogdon, whose nickname is "The President," he gave an honest, diplomatic, and team-first answer about what winning Sixth Man of the Year would mean to him.

"It'd be great. I think it'd be a testament to the team. I think we've got guys on this team that are accomplishing a lot this year. We've got two All-Stars, probably two All-NBA guys, Derrick might make (an) All-Defensive team, so it'd be another award for the team, for sure. But that's not my focus, that's not the team's focus. I thought we built some more good habits tonight; that was what's most important."

Brogdon later stated, "I want to win at the highest level, and that’s winning a championship. So being in Boston, being a Celtic, fits me perfectly."

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Reacts to the Celtics Clinching the Two Seed in the East

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Raptors: Boston's Defense Propels Hosts to Victory in Low-Scoring Affair

Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Opens Up About Dealing with Trade Rumors

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'

[Film Room] What the Celtics Did to Slow Down Giannis Antetokounmpo in Blowout vs. Bucks

The Celtics are Proud of Their Growth, Including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Maturation: 'I think We're a Better Team'

Former Warriors' Director of Performance Keke Lyles Shares His Perspective on Load Management, Changing Stephen Curry's Movement Patterns, And What's Helped Jayson Tatum's Durability

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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