Handing out leaguewide awards to the San Antonio Spurs
By Ty Jager
Sixth Man of the Year - Keita Bates-Diop
It's astounding how reliable Keita Bates-Diop was for the Spurs this season, playing the second most games (67) behind Tre Jones for the Silver and Black.
The 27-year-old had one of his best seasons coming off the bench for the Spurs, offering versatility and filling in for injured starters. If there was a starter out, you could rely on Pop to turn to Bates-Diop as a replacement. If you said KBD had a poor season, you probably didn't watch his game.
Bates-Diop finished the season shooting an excellent 50.8% from the field and an impressive 39.4% from three. Alongside his shooting splits, he committed limited mistakes, rarely fouling (0.9 FPG) or turning the ball over (0.8 TOPG). When Bates-Diop was on the floor, he was always impactful.
But being one of the most consistent players off the bench and an overall net positive is what warrants him taking home the Sixth Man of the Year award. Bates-Diop is a key player that understands his role and plays it well, and Spurs fans should hope the team brings him back.