Milwaukee Bucks: Considering George Hill’s Sixth Man of the Year challengers

Dennis Schröder

Sixth Man of the Year has historically gone to players who score the most points off the bench in a season. And it’s under those parameters where Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schröder fits the bill for a prototypical Sixth Man candidate.

But to say that’s all the German international has done this season would be doing a disservice to the career year Schröder’s been enjoying for a Thunder team that has outperformed expectations and stands 33-22, good for sixth in the Western Conference at the All-Star break.

Schröder is averaging 19.3 points on .472/.387/.844 shooting splits, 4.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds through his 54 appearances on the season, which includes just one start.

As UPROXX’s Robby Kalland recently outlined, there have been plenty of circumstances behind how Schröder is turning in his most efficient season (57.6 true shooting percentage), and refining the type of role he’s historically had both in Atlanta and Oklahoma City has brought out the best in the 26-year-old.

And the production the seven-year guard has put up throughout the year has led to him having the highest raw plus-minus (256) of any reserve player this season. Schröder’s +6.5 net rating rates as the second highest number on the Thunder, standing behind veteran guard Chris Paul.

That’s a pretty irrefutable case and it’s hard to imagine Schröder being overlooked for Sixth Man of the Year consideration when award ballots are handed out to voters in due time.