More individual awards poured in for the San Antonio Spurs as just days after Victor Wembanyama was voted Defensive Player of the Year, Keldon Johnson was named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Announced as the winner of the award by the league Wednesday, the 26-year-old Johnson was recognized for his standout performance as a reserve this season. The award was established to honor those players who are not starters but have impactful value from a bench role.
Johnson came off the bench in all 82 regular games and averaged 23.3 minutes per game while delivering consistent production.
His impact off the bench helped the Spurs to a 60-win season and to No. 2 seed in the West. He averaged 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 51.9% from the field.
Spurs Forward’s Well-Deserved Honors
The latest award caps a successful transition for Johson, who has embraced a reduced starting role in the past two seasons. His 159 games are the highest anyone has gone without starting a game in that period.
He is the longest-tenured member of the current roster having been drafted in 2019. His role from the bench both as a player and emotional leader is valuable to a side finding winning form once again in a long while.
The 26-year-old Spurs star beat strong competition from Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. for the honor.
GettySAN ANTONIO, TX – NOVEMBER 16: De’Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate with Keldon Johnson #3. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
Johnson pulled away thanks to his contribution to a dominant Spurs team. He set a franchise record with 1,081 points scored off the bench and ranked second league-wide in total bench points.
Johnson now joins Spurs legend Manu Ginobili as the only players to win the award for the franchise. Ginobili won his in 2008, while this is the first individual honors for Johnson.
Less Gloom for the Spurs Over Wembanyama
Johnson’s celebration won’t be a long one as the Spurs look ahead to Game 3 of their first round series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
San Antonio didn’t take full advantage of their home court as the Blazers tied the series one game apiece Tuesday.
The biggest concern, however, is the fresh injury concerns for Wembanyama.
The French star has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol after he suffered a hard fall when he collided near the basket. He struck his head on the court and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Reports after the game suggest that he will undergo further testing, but the NBA has a strict rule for head injuries like this that involves at least 10 days of monitoring if the concussion is deemed serious.
That means there is a strong chance that Wembamya might be out of the series until a possible Game 7.
The 22-year-old Spurs star delivered a historic 35-point playoff debut in Game 1, but was not much help as the Spurs fell in Game 2.
Head coach Mitch Johnson and the staff will now be evaluating adjustments. The team has played without Wembanyama for some games this season, but the playoffs can be unforgiving at times. The Spurs will need the contributions from their Defensive Player of the Year winner and the MVP candidate.
Game 3 tips off Friday with Wembanyama’s status in doubt.
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