Knicks' Immanuel Quickley Opens as Sixth Man Award Betting Favorite
Opening odds from BetOnline have a high IQ.
New York Knicks point guard Immanuel Quickley has been tabbed as the early favorite for the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year at 5-1 odds, barely besting out defending winner Malcolm Brogdon of Boston (7-1).
Norman Powell (10-1, LA Clippers), Bobby Portis (12-1, Milwaukee), and Malik Monk (14-1, Sacramento) round out the top five. The Knicks' bench was well-represented in the first odds of the season: Josh Hart (25-1) was tied for the eighth-best odds with Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana) and Cam Thomas (Brooklyn) while metropolitan newcomer Donte DiVincenzo was among the dark horses at 66-1.
Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS
Quickley was the runner-up for last season's bench honor behind Brogdon after a career-best season saw him average a career-best 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds over 81 appearances. He also proved himself to be effective filler in the New York starting five, averaging 22.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 21 such appearances in relief of RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, and Quentin Grimes.
The preseason honor comes as questions have risen about Quickley's future, ones that could place him in a trade as the Knicks seek to bring in an established superstar. Quickley is reportedly seeking nine figures as he seeks his first post-rookie contract, which could put the Knicks in a bit of a financial bind as they're also working with $100-plus million deals with Barrett, Brunson, and Julius Randle.
For the time being, however, Quickley is the headliner of a strong second unit in New York. Though Obi Toppin has been traded to Indiana, the Knicks also have assurance in the returning forms of Hart, Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride, and Jericho Sims, all of whom will battle for time in Tom Thibodeau's nine-man rotation.
