Inside The Celtics

Malcolm Brogdon Discusses Winning Sixth Man of the Year: 'I'm In a Really Good Situation'

Malcolm Brogdon averaged the most points per game among players without a start this season and nearly shot his way into the 50/40/90 club.

Bobby Krivitsky

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Malcolm Brogdon started every game he played in the previous four seasons before coming to Boston. But team success requires personal sacrifice. In this case, on a title contender that came within two wins of capturing the Larry O'Brien Trophy a year ago, that meant spearheading the second unit.

Brogdon embracing that role helped the Celtics finish the campaign 57-25, the second-best record in the NBA. From a personal standpoint, he produced 14.9 points, the highest scoring average among players who didn't start in a single game this season, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest.

He also nearly shot his way into the 50/40/90 club for the second time in his career, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, knocking down a career-best 44.4 percent of the 4.4 threes he hoisted, the fourth-highest accuracy rate in the NBA, and converting on 87 percent of his free throws.

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Brogdon's also brought balance to Boston, utilizing his size as a six-foot-five, 229-pound guard with an underrated first step to consistently get into the paint, often leading to points at the rim or quality looks beyond the arc for him and his teammates.

The Celtics pairing that dynamic of another guard who helps them maintain an up-tempo approach with the second-highest three-point attempt rate resulted in the fourth-highest scoring offense in the NBA this season, generating 117.9 points per game.

That also says nothing of Brogdon's versatility on defense, where his size and intelligence have allowed him to fit seamlessly into the defending Eastern Conference champions' switch-heavy scheme.

That combination of individual impact and team success translated to him joining Mike Miller as the only two in league history to win NBA Rookie of the Year and earn Sixth Man honors in a career.

Friday, at morning shootaround as the Celtics aim to take a 3-0 lead on the Hawks, the Georgia native expressed the following about earning the John Havlicek Sixth Man of the Year award.

"Just happy. A lot of sacrifice this year; a lot of hard work, building up to this year. A lot of excitement (and) anticipation, not for the award but for this season. This team, this group of guys, this organization has been what I thought it would be and what I wanted it to be. I'm in a really good situation. This team, this organization, (and) my teammates have been the biggest part of the reason why I won that award. So, it's a team award, everybody's sacrificing, we all have, I think a bigger goal in mind, but this is recognition for me and for the group."

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Thursday, while praising Brogdon for his willingness to sacrifice for the betterment of the team, C's head coach Joe Mazzulla conveyed the following.

"Each guy has had to sacrifice or put something aside for the better of this team, and when you have the depth and talent that we have, you can’t be in the position that we are without it," stated the first-year bench boss.

"I thought Malcolm taking on the identity of the second unit, getting with the patience of sometimes finishing halves, sometimes not; sometimes finishing games, not finishing games. I thought just he handled it with an open mind. He handled it with humility and kind of regardless of what his sub pattern was or what he was doing, he just played. And we’re grateful for that."

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David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick White, who paired 26 points with stellar on and off-ball defense in Boston's 119-106 Game 2 victory, earning MVP chants and a film review, said of Brogdon's willingness to sacrifice:

"We came here wanting to win, so we knew there were going to be sacrifices. Obviously, Malcolm could start on a lot of teams in this league, and he does a lot of great things for us as soon as he comes into the game. (He) kind of settles us down if we need him to, (he) can do a lot of different things offensively that have been special for us. It's a big addition to have on our team this year."

Further Reading

Malcolm Brogdon Becomes the Third Player in Celtics History to Win Sixth Man of the Year

The Latest on the Celtics' Hopes for a Top 2nd-Round Selection

[Film Room] Derrick White's Assertiveness Leads to 26 Points, MVP Chants as Celtics Take 2-0 Lead

What the Celtics Say They're Focused on as Series Moves to Atlanta

Celtics Discuss Derrick White Stepping Up in Game 2 Win: 'We Need Him to Continue to Play at this Level'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hawks in Game 2: Swarming Defense and 64 Paint Points Propels Boston to 2-0 Lead

The Celtics Discuss Their Game 1 Win vs. the Hawks: 'We Can't Take Our Foot Off the Gas'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Win vs. Hawks: Championship-Caliber Defense Propels Hosts in Series Opener

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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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