2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: Payton Pritchard Widens His Lead

After opening at 50/1, Boston's Payton Pritchard has surged to shorter than 2/1 to win 6MOY.

Jared Hochman - Content Manager at Covers.com
Jared Hochman • Content Manager
Nov 19, 2024 • 13:19 ET • 4 min read
NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds Payton Pritchard
Photo By - Imagn Images. Pictured: Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard dribbles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets.

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are an annual exercise in chaos, with violent odds moves and volatility that none of the other major NBA futures can replicate.

This season has already been no different: The current leader in the NBA odds for 6MOY was at +5000 when the season tipped off — and Payton Pritchard is now shorter than 2/1 — while the preseason favorites has plummeted to the point they're off the board at some outlets. 

Here are the latest odds to win Sixth Man of the Year, after roughly a month of NBA action.

2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds

Player bet365 FanDuel BetMGM
Celtics Payton Pritchard +180 +190 +170
Warriors Buddy Hield +550 +500 +450
Pacers Bennedict Mathurin +900 +900 +900
Timberwolves Naz Reid +1200 +1100 +1600
Warriors Jonathan Kuminga +1400 +1400 +1200
Rockets Tari Eason +2000 +5000 +4000
Hornets Tre Mann +2000 +1800 +2000
Cavs Caris LeVert +2500 +2200 +2800
Rockets Amen Thompson +3000 +3200 +2800
Bucks Bobby Portis +3000 +3100 +3500
Mavericks Dereck Lively II +3000 +3100 +2500
Knicks Miles McBride +3300 +3200 +5000

Odds as of 11-19


NBA Sixth Man of the Year favorites

Payton Pritchard came scorching out of the gate, averaging a career-high 16 points and 27.6 minutes per game through the first two weeks of the season, which saw his odds drop as short as 4/1 — he's continued his strong play, averaging 15.5 points and 28.2 minutes for the Celtics, and is now as short as +170... when he opened the season at +5000.

Behind the Celtics' rising star is a great redemption story in Buddy Hield, who is averaging almost 17 ppg and shooting 49% from the field (and 46% from three) with the 10-3 Warriors, opening the year at +2000 and now sitting in the +450 to +550 range.

Pacers sophomore wing Bennedict Mathurin is the only other player shorter than 10/1, while reigning 6MOY Naz Reid is as long as 16/1 to repeat.

Preseason favorite Malik Monk, however, highlights some notable droppers over the first month of the season, sitting in the 35/1 range (at best) now, while Jonas Valanciunas was as short as 8/1 two weeks ago... and is now around +5000.

At BetMGM, the public has also jumped on the Pritchard train, as he leads the sportsbook with 15.1% of the tickets and 15.3% of the handle, making him the book's biggest liability for the award.

Shop around for 6MOY odds

Sixth Man of the Year odds are likely to fluctuate heavily throughout the year, but that doesn't just apply to week-to-week within one book — there are likely to be major discrepancies between books at any given time. 

Consider the following: 

  • Jonas Valanciunas (+5000 at bet365, OTB at BetMGM/FanDuel)
  • Tari Eason (+2000 at bet365, +4000 at BetMGM, +5000 at FanDuel)
  • Malik Monk (+3500 at bet 365, +6600 at BetMGM, OTB at FanDuel)

There will always be some variance between books based on their analytical models and the handle taken on each player; but contrasts like this are extreme, even for a market as volatile as 6MOY. 

The lesson, as always: Shop around and ensure you're getting the best price on your futures bet. That unit will be sitting on the sidelines all season — you'll want a top return on it. 


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Understanding NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. We'll use 2022-23's 6MOY race as an example: 

As the season progressed, with Immanuel Quickley having been a huge favorite, his odds had a minus (-) sign ahead of the number: 

  • Immanuel Quickley -300

This means that a bettor needs to wager $300 to win $100. Other candidates with worse odds would have a plus (+) sign ahead of the number. Early in the season, before any clear favorite is established, betting options will be listed as such: 

  • Russell Westbrook +650

Here, a bettor stands to profit $650 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.


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NBA 6MOY betting trends

Here are some trends you'll want to keep in mind when betting on NBA Sixth Man of the Year: 

  • Guards have absolutely owned this award recently, winning 6MOY in 10 of the past 12 seasons.

  • Naz Reid's 2024 win marked only the fourth 6MOY win by a center in its 41-year history (Montrezl Harrell '20, Roy Tarpley '88, and Bill Walton '86).

  • Both Jamal Crawford ('10, '14, '16) and Lou Williams ('15, '18, '19) are recent three-time winners, so voter fatigue may matter less in this market. 

How is NBA Sixth Man of the Year decided?

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year is awarded to the league's best bench player each season. A variety of factors go into evaluating who the top reserve is:

Consistent statistical impact

The 6MOY must consistently provide a significant impact on the game whenever entering from the bench. This impact should be palpable and discernible in terms of offensive, defensive, or playmaking contributions.

Scoring prowess

The candidate should display an ability to contribute significantly to the team's scoring efforts. This can be evidenced by an impressive points-per-game average, especially in crucial moments of the game. Scoring tends to be the single most important stat for Sixth Man voting.

Versatility

The awardee should demonstrate the capability to adapt to various game situations. This encompasses two-way play, as well as adaptability to different styles and opposing lineups.

Role-player mentality

The recipient must exhibit a selfless approach to the game, willingly accepting their role as a substitute player and deferring to stars, while able to fill a variety of needs for team success.

Impact on team success

The award recipient should have a discernible impact on the team's overall success during the regular season, especially in terms of on-off metrics that measure a player’s impact on their team’s bottom line, and value relative to potential replacements.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year history

Year NBA 6MOY Winner
2023-24 Naz Reid
2022-23 Malcolm Brogdon
2021-22 Tyler Herro
2020-21 Jordan Clarkson
2019-20 Montrezl Harrell
2018-19 Lou Williams
2017-18 Lou Williams
2016-17 Eric Gordon
2015-16 Jamal Crawford
2014-15 Lou Williams
2013-14 Jamal Crawford
2012-13 J.R. Smith
2011-12 James Harden
2010-11 Lamar Odom
2009-10 Jamal Crawford
2008-09 Jason Terry
2007-08 Manu Ginobili
2006-07 Leandro Barbosa
2005-06 Mike Miller
2004-05 Ben Gordon

NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds FAQ

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Jared Hochman Content Manager at Covers.com
Content Manager

Before Jared Hochman joined the Covers team in 2020, he worked for newspaper outlets such as the Chronicle Herald and The Coast, worked in marketing for SkipTheDishes and Vivid Seats, and previously ran a magazine. A journalism graduate from the University of King's College in, Halifax, N.S., "Hoch" brings more than a decade of experience in sports betting, having worked as a freelance handicapper, making appearances on Monumental Sports Network and the Sharp 600 podcast, and now also filling in occasionally as host of Covers' NHL Puck Props. 

Awarded Covers' company MVP for 2023, Jared is an avid bettor of MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA, while also wagering on some soccer and WNBA. His best advice for sports bettors? Price shop — something he does daily across 10 different sportsbook apps.

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