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NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings as $160M Wing Looks Primed to Dethrone Naz Reid (Nov. 2, 2025)

The 2025-26 NBA season is off to a blistering start with plenty of high-scoring performances through the first few games. While the superstars are performing according to expectations, we will be looking at the league’s most productive bench players.The NBA Sixth Man of the Year award has changed over the last few years. Previously, it was normally awarded to the highest scorer off the bench. Now, players with the best impact off the bench have a better chance.Following a summer of roster shuffles, new candidates have emerged for the award as players gradually find their footing. Jerami Grant has emerged as an early favorite, while second-round pick Ajay Mitchell has also put the league on notice with a stellar jump in his sophomore season.Here’s how they and other bench players stack up in the first edition of Sportskeeda’s weekly Sixth Man of the Year rankings.NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings for Nov. 2, 20251) Jerami GrantNBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: ImagnGP 6 | 20.7 PPG 3.0 RPG 1.2 APG 1.5 SPG 0.7 BPG | FG 50% 3-PT 41.7% FT - 88.6%No other reserve has had a better impact on their team's success than Jerami Grant this season. Grant has filled in for Deni Avdija on the Portland Trail Blazers and is doing a stellar job, averaging 20 points off the bench.He is also recording the best shooting splits of his career, sitting at 50-41-88 through six games. Grant is recording a staggering 71.7 TS%. He has also shown the ability to switch onto the perimeter, giving the Trail Blazers fluidity in defense.He signed a five-year, $160 million extension with the team in 2023 and is living up to the deal's value. If Grant continues his run and Portland makes the playoffs, the Sixth Man of the Year award will be his to lose.2) Ajay MitchellNBA: Sacramento Kings at Oklahoma City Thunder - Source: ImagnGP 6 | 18.5 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.8 APG 1.3 SPG 0.2 BPG | FG 46.1% 3-PT 33.3% FT - 100%Drafted at No. 38 in 2024, Ajay Mitchell has made a surprising jump in the 2025-26 season, much to the delight of the reigning champions. Filling in for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell is recording 18.5 points, shooting 46%, including 33.3% from 3-PT range.That's not all, he is also posting a defensive rating of 98.9, making him an elite two-way player. The Thunder added no new players to the roster this summer, but might still end up with the Sixth Man of the Year.3) Simone FontecchioNBA: Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat - Source: ImagnGP 5 | 13.8 PPG 2.6 RPG 1.8 APG 0.6 SPG 0.2 BPG | FG 60% 3-PT 59.3% FT - 83.3%Miami Heat fans were distraught after the team traded veteran forward Duncan Robinson for Simone Fontecchio this summer. Much to everyone's surprise, Fontecchio hasn't only filled Robinson's role, but he has outdone him, emerging as one of the league's best 3-point shooters.Through five games, he is shooting a staggering 60% from the field, including 59.3% from 3-point range. Backed by the spark his shooting provides, the Heat are one of the league's scoring leaders, recording 125.4 points per game.As Robinson continues to struggle in Detroit, Miami is slowly emerging as the clear winner of this trade. Under Erik Spoelstra, Fontecchio is beginning to look like the NBA's most potent offensive catalyst.4) Anfernee SimonsNBA: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers - Source: ImagnGP 6 | 15.5 PPG 2.7 RPG 1.7 APG 0.8 SPG 0.3 BPG | FG 43% 3-PT 40% FT - 77.8%Anfernee Simons has faced a drastic shift this summer, going from the Trail Blazers' primary playmaker to a reserve in Boston. Despite his reduced role with the former NBA champs, Simons has adapted well, providing the Celtics with a solid scoring punch off the bench.He is recording 15.5 points and stretches defenses well, shooting 40% from 3-point range. Even more impressive is Simons' ability to get to his spots and create his own shot; he has also been solid at getting his teammates involved.5) John CollinsNBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors - Source: ImagnGP 5 | 11.8 PPG 5.8 RPG 1.0 APG 1.2 SPG 0.6 BPG | FG 58.5% 3-PT 33.3% FT - 72.7%Much like Simons, John Collins has also had to endure a massive change of scenery, going from being a primary option in Utah to a reserve with the Clippers. For the first time in his eight-year NBA career, Collins finds himself in a winning situation and has done well to adapt to his role.He is essentially doing for the Clippers what Naz Reid did for the Timberwolves last season. Collins' efficiency inside and ability to knock down the occasional 3-pointer have greatly benefited his team. Moreover, Collins seems to have taken a sizeable leap on defense, recording a career-best defensive rating of 102.4.Honorable mentions:Onyeka Okongwu: Averaging 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks (3-3)Tari Eason: Averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Houston Rockets (3-2)Aaron Wiggins: Averaging 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds for the OKC Thunder

Sameer Khan •
NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings as $160M Wing Looks Primed to Dethrone Naz Reid (Nov. 2, 2025)

The 2025-26 NBA season is off to a blistering start with plenty of high-scoring performances through the first few games. While the superstars are performing according to expectations, we will be looking at the league’s most productive bench players.The NBA Sixth Man of the Year award has changed over the last few years. Previously, it was normally awarded to the highest scorer off the bench. Now, players with the best impact off the bench have a better chance.Following a summer of roster shuffles, new candidates have emerged for the award as players gradually find their footing. Jerami Grant has emerged as an early favorite, while second-round pick Ajay Mitchell has also put the league on notice with a stellar jump in his sophomore season.Here’s how they and other bench players stack up in the first edition of Sportskeeda’s weekly Sixth Man of the Year rankings.NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025-26 Season: Latest Power Rankings for Nov. 2, 20251) Jerami GrantNBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: ImagnGP 6 | 20.7 PPG 3.0 RPG 1.2 APG 1.5 SPG 0.7 BPG | FG 50% 3-PT 41.7% FT - 88.6%No other reserve has had a better impact on their team's success than Jerami Grant this season. Grant has filled in for Deni Avdija on the Portland Trail Blazers and is doing a stellar job, averaging 20 points off the bench.He is also recording the best shooting splits of his career, sitting at 50-41-88 through six games. Grant is recording a staggering 71.7 TS%. He has also shown the ability to switch onto the perimeter, giving the Trail Blazers fluidity in defense.He signed a five-year, $160 million extension with the team in 2023 and is living up to the deal's value. If Grant continues his run and Portland makes the playoffs, the Sixth Man of the Year award will be his to lose.2) Ajay MitchellNBA: Sacramento Kings at Oklahoma City Thunder - Source: ImagnGP 6 | 18.5 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.8 APG 1.3 SPG 0.2 BPG | FG 46.1% 3-PT 33.3% FT - 100%Drafted at No. 38 in 2024, Ajay Mitchell has made a surprising jump in the 2025-26 season, much to the delight of the reigning champions. Filling in for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell is recording 18.5 points, shooting 46%, including 33.3% from 3-PT range.That's not all, he is also posting a defensive rating of 98.9, making him an elite two-way player. The Thunder added no new players to the roster this summer, but might still end up with the Sixth Man of the Year.3) Simone FontecchioNBA: Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat - Source: ImagnGP 5 | 13.8 PPG 2.6 RPG 1.8 APG 0.6 SPG 0.2 BPG | FG 60% 3-PT 59.3% FT - 83.3%Miami Heat fans were distraught after the team traded veteran forward Duncan Robinson for Simone Fontecchio this summer. Much to everyone's surprise, Fontecchio hasn't only filled Robinson's role, but he has outdone him, emerging as one of the league's best 3-point shooters.Through five games, he is shooting a staggering 60% from the field, including 59.3% from 3-point range. Backed by the spark his shooting provides, the Heat are one of the league's scoring leaders, recording 125.4 points per game.As Robinson continues to struggle in Detroit, Miami is slowly emerging as the clear winner of this trade. Under Erik Spoelstra, Fontecchio is beginning to look like the NBA's most potent offensive catalyst.4) Anfernee SimonsNBA: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers - Source: ImagnGP 6 | 15.5 PPG 2.7 RPG 1.7 APG 0.8 SPG 0.3 BPG | FG 43% 3-PT 40% FT - 77.8%Anfernee Simons has faced a drastic shift this summer, going from the Trail Blazers' primary playmaker to a reserve in Boston. Despite his reduced role with the former NBA champs, Simons has adapted well, providing the Celtics with a solid scoring punch off the bench.He is recording 15.5 points and stretches defenses well, shooting 40% from 3-point range. Even more impressive is Simons' ability to get to his spots and create his own shot; he has also been solid at getting his teammates involved.5) John CollinsNBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors - Source: ImagnGP 5 | 11.8 PPG 5.8 RPG 1.0 APG 1.2 SPG 0.6 BPG | FG 58.5% 3-PT 33.3% FT - 72.7%Much like Simons, John Collins has also had to endure a massive change of scenery, going from being a primary option in Utah to a reserve with the Clippers. For the first time in his eight-year NBA career, Collins finds himself in a winning situation and has done well to adapt to his role.He is essentially doing for the Clippers what Naz Reid did for the Timberwolves last season. Collins' efficiency inside and ability to knock down the occasional 3-pointer have greatly benefited his team. Moreover, Collins seems to have taken a sizeable leap on defense, recording a career-best defensive rating of 102.4.Honorable mentions:Onyeka Okongwu: Averaging 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks (3-3)Tari Eason: Averaging 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Houston Rockets (3-2)Aaron Wiggins: Averaging 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds for the OKC Thunder

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