Spurs' Keldon Johnson named NBA Sixth Man of the Year - ESPN

SAN ANTONIO — Spurs forward Keldon Johnson made the most of the club's decision to move him to the bench two seasons ago, earning the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award, the league announced Wednesday.

Johnson became the first Spur in franchise history to score at least 1,000 points off the bench in a season for an organization that produced a Hall of Fame sixth man in Manu Ginobili. Johnson's 1,081 points off the bench this season ranked as the second-most in the NBA.

«I feel like it's just a testament to the hard work, the dedication that I've had to myself, to doing what I love to do,» Johnson told ESPN. «It hasn't always been easy. But it never deterred me, never steered me away. I just found a way to be the best Keldon Johnson each and every day. Being Sixth Man of the Year is just a testament to that, to my supporting cast, to the Spurs and how much they've trusted and believed in me.»

Coming off a 2022-23 campaign in which he led a 22-60 Spurs squad in scoring with a career-high 22 points per game, Johnson sat down one morning in Dallas before a team meeting with former coach Gregg Popovich, who informed the seventh-year veteran of the club's intention to bring him off the bench. Over the first four years of his career, Johnson had started in 205 games.

Johnson admitted that «for sure» his ego took a hit upon hearing about his role change, but he trusted that Popovich was making the best decision for the team.

«He has sacrificed more than anybody on this team in my opinion in terms of stats and playing time and has outshone everybody on the team because he's the soul of this team,» said Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who on Monday was named Defensive Player of the Year. «He brings energy, no matter what time of the