San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson named 2025-26 Kia Sixth Man of the Year, 6th Man award winners list since 1983

San Antonio Spurs guard-forward Keldon Johnson has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year, earning the John Havlicek Trophy.

— Keldon Johnson played in all 82 games, all off the bench, becoming only the second NBA player in the last decade to do that. He became the first Spurs player to score 1,000 points as a reserve in a season. And all year long, San Antonio touted him as the best backup in the league.

Johnson was announced Wednesday night as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, joining Manu Ginobili in 2008 as the only Spurs to win that award. It’s the first individual NBA award for Johnson, who was part of the U.S. Olympic team that won gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. were the other finalists. Jaquez led all reserves in scoring and double-digit games for the Heat, while Hardaway led all reserves with 205 3-pointers and was fourth in scoring for the Nuggets.

Hardaway and Jaquez tied for ninth in 2024. Hardaway was also fifth in 2021, 10th in 2017 and tied for 13th as a rookie in 2014.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award history: Full List of Winners from 1983-2026.

The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the league's best performing player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute (or sixth man).

Since its inception, the award has been given to 30 players. The most recent recipient is Tyler Herro. Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams are the Most times winners of the award (three times).

Take a look back year-by-year list of every NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winner in NBA history.

Below is the all-time list of winners of the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

2026 — Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

2025 — Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

2024 — Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves

2022-23 — Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics

2021-22 — Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

2020-21 — Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz

2019-20 — Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers

2018-19 — Lou Williams, LA Clippers

2017-18 — Lou Williams, LA Clippers

2016-17 — Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets

2015-16 — Jamal Crawford, LA Clippers

2014-15 — Lou Williams, Toronto Raptors

2013-14 — Jamal Crawford, LA Clippers

2012-13 — J.R. Smith, New York Knicks

2011-12 — James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder

2010-11 — Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers

2009-10 — Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks

2008-09 — Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

2007-08 — Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

2006-07 — Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns

2005-06 — Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies

2004-05 — Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls

2003-04 — Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks

2002-03 — Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings

2001-02 — Corliss Williamson, Detroit Pistons

2000-01 — Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 76ers

1999-00 — Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns

1998-99 — Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic

1997-98 — Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns

1996-97 — John Starks, New York Knicks

1995-96 — Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls

1994-95 — Anthony Mason, New York Knicks

1993-94 — Dell Curry, Charlotte Hornets

1992-93 — Clifford Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers

1991-92 — Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers

1990-91 — Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers

1989-90 — Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks

1988-89 — Eddie Johnson, Phoenix Suns

1987-88 — Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks

1986-87 — Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks

1985-86 — Bill Walton, Boston Celtics

1984-85 — Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

1983-84 — Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

1982-83 — Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers

_________

NBA.com