The 2025-26 NBA 6th Man of the Year odds have shaken out about 20 games into the season, opening the door to excellent opportunities! Let’s explore the prices, so I can share my picks to win the top bench player award.
Here are the latest betting odds and my best NBA 6th Man of the Year predictions.
NBA 6th Man of the Year 2025-26 Betting Odds
The following NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are courtesy of Bovada:
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. (MIA) | +270 |
| Ajay Mitchell (OKC) | +850 |
| Reed Sheppard (HOU) | +875 |
| Jerami Grant (POR) | +1400 |
| Onyeka Okongwu (ATL) | +1600 |
| Quentin Grimes (PHI) | +1600 |
| Naz Reid (MIN) | +2100 |
| Ayo Dosunmu (CHI) | +2800 |
| Aaron Wiggins (OKC) | +3000 |
| Josh Hart (NYK) | +3000 |
| Anfernee Simons (BOS) | +3500 |
| Kel’el Ware (MIA) | +4000 |
| Collin Gillespie (PHX) | +5000 |
There have been some major changes in the NBA Sixth Man odds at NBA betting sites since the beginning of the season. Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter was the co-favorite at +900, but due to injuries, he has had to start every game. The only rule for this award is that you have to start fewer games than you come off the bench.
The new favorite is Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+270), who has an implied probability of 27% to win this award. He was over +2500 to start the season. Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell (+850) is next, followed by Houston’s Reed Sheppard (+875).
The odds then drop to Portland’s Jerami Grant (+1400), Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu (+1600), and Philadelphia’s Quentin Grimes (+1700). Minnesota’s Naz Reid (+2100) has dropped from +900. There are some interesting sleepers down the board, such as New York’s Josh Hart (+3000) and Phoenix’s Collin Gillespie (+5000).
You can find up-to-date 2025-26 NBA 6th Man of the Year betting odds at Bovada by navigating to Basketball > NBA Awards & League Leaders > 6th Man of the Year.
NBA 6th Man of the Year Favorites
Let’s dive deeper and analyze the most likely players to win the NBA 6th Man of the Year award in 2025-26:
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (+270)
Jaquez Jr. has bounced back after a disappointing sophomore season. His scoring has improved from 8.6 points to 16.5 points, rebounds from 4.4 to 6.4, and assists from 2.5 to 5.4. The former UCLA product is also shooting 52.7% from the field.
Give Jaime Jaquez Jr. his flowers
After a sophomore season marred by injury, he’s bounced back and has looked better than ever
He’s a frontrunner for Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 16.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists with just 0.8 TOs on 57% TS pic.twitter.com/I40a9Emiw4
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) November 23, 2025
The Heat have been playing at the league’s fastest pace, and it has unlocked Jaquez Jr., who also dealt with injuries last season. Jaquez Jr. will stay on the bench now that Tyler Herro is back, but he gives the team a balance when Herro or Norman Powell need to take a breather.
However, I don’t know if I agree with Jaquez Jr. being so far ahead of the competition. He is definitely one of the favorites in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds, but I’m not sure if he should be favored by this much from a betting perspective.
Ajay Mitchell (+850)
Mitchell is a revelation for the dominant Thunder. The Belgian-American guard played just 36 games for the Thunder last season, although he missed three months with a toe injury. This season, Mitchell is averaging 15.9 points and 3.8 assists.
AJAY MITCHELL LOB TO ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN!! #ThunderUp
— SleeperThunder (@SleeperThunder) November 27, 2025
Mitchell has started five games this season, but has come off the bench in the other 14. He’ll likely be on the bench full time once Jalen Williams makes his debut due to a wrist injury. But the Thunder can afford to ease Williams back into the lineup with Mitchell playing as well as he has.
You’re getting Michell’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds at a deal at +850, as I believe he should be around +500-600. If he continues this play and the Thunder continue to light up the league, Mitchell has a great shot at this award!
Reed Sheppard (+875)
You could argue that Houston’s success this season will be determined by Sheppard, especially after Fred VanVleet went down with an ACL tear. The Rockets need outside shooting, and the former Kentucky star has provided that!
A memorable night for @reed_sheppard!
🚀 31 PTS (career high)
🚀 9 REB (career high)
🚀 5 AST
🚀 4 3PM
🚀 2 BLK
🚀 HOU WHe becomes the second youngest player in Rockets history to record 30+ pts, 8+ reb and 5+ ast in a game, trailing only Alperen Sengun! pic.twitter.com/DNCSC0573D
— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2025
Sheppard is averaging 14.3 points and 3.3 assists, and he is also shooting 45.5% from three-point land on 6.2 attempts in just 24.9 minutes! He isn’t afraid to let it fly, and it’s paying off for the Rockets, who are third in the NBA championship odds.
If Sheppard can sustain this pace, the Rockets’ ceiling is elevated. You require three-point shooting in today’s NBA, and Sheppard, along with Tori Eason, has led Houston to the top of the NBA in that category. It’s going to be a fun race at the top of the Western Conference, and the 21-year-old sharpshooter will have a lot to do with Houston’s success.
NBA 6th Man of the Year Contenders
Next, let’s take a look at two players who could challenge the top tier of favorites!
Jerami Grant (+1400)
Grant is an interesting option in these 2025-26 NBA Sixth Man odds. He has been moody at times, and has looked like he wants to be traded. But he is a steady veteran presence on a young Portland team, putting up 19.2 points on 45% shooting, including 39.6% from beyond the arc.
The 31-year-old has even embraced coming off the bench for the first time since the 2019-20 season, when he started 24 of 71 games for Denver. He doesn’t rebound much, and he’s not as good defensively as he used to be. But if their half-court offense breaks down, Portland can go to Grant to get a bucket.
The Trail Blazers are in a play-in spot, and if Grant helps them end their four-year playoff drought, +1400 could feel like a bargain on Grant’s odds.
Onyeka Okongwu (+1600)
I’ll take Okongwu over Philadelphia’s Quinton Grimes who’s at +1700, just based on efficiency. Okongwu is averaging 16.4 points to 16.2 for Grimes. But he shoots better from the field (52.2% to 44.6%) and three-point land (41.4% to 38%), although Grimes has the edge at the free-throw line (84.7% to 77.2%).
Onyeka Okongwu is an ABSURDLY good passer. pic.twitter.com/sy2C5wcmXt
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) November 19, 2025
The Atlanta forward has improved by leaps and bounds, especially with his outside shooting, as the 6’10” forward is no longer just an inside scorer. Because of his size and athleticism, Okongwu is a plus defender for the Hawks, and he’s a good passer.
He’ll have to figure out how he fits when Trae Young returns from injury, but the Hawks have been playing outstanding basketball since Young has been injured. Okongwu is a big part of that.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025-26 Sleepers
There is strong betting value on a couple of underdogs for your NBA 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year picks! While they have long odds, this award is usually very hard to predict early in the season and could end up with a longshot.
-
Josh Hart (+3000)
Hart has settled into a bench role with the Knicks after starting all 77 games last season, but he was 50/50 the season before, so this isn’t new for the veteran. He is averaging 10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.
He is the ultimate “glue guy” for the Knicks, and Hart can be found hustling all over the floor, diving for loose balls, and going for every single rebound. Like many of these players, Hart sometimes finishes the game for his team, proving his worth as more than a sixth man.
At +4000, the former Villanova player presents good value in these NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds!
-
Collin Gillespie (+5000)
Gillespie is probably the least-known name in this group of players I’m analyzing, but he has played a considerable role for the surprising Suns. He played just 33 games last season, starting nine, and averaged 5.9 points.
• 11th Ranked PG in Pennsylvania ➡️ College All-American
• Undrafted ➡️ NBA Game Winners
Keep sleeping on Collin Gillespie and he will keep proving you wrong
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) November 22, 2025
This season, Gillespie, who also played at Villanova, is averaging 12.1 points, shooting 41.3% from the three-point line. He is also a legitimate playmaker with 5.2 assists. That allows Devin Booker to move off the ball more with Gillespie on the floor.
Much like his fellow Villanova alumni, Hart, Gillespie could be worth a flier at +5000. The Suns are in a playoff spot after many pundits counted them out. If they stay in a playoff spot, the 26-year-old guard has to get a look here!
NBA 6th Man of the Year 2025-26 Predictions and Betting Pick
I’m going for the value and taking Ajay Mitchell at +850 for my 2025-26 NBA Sixth Man of the Year prediction! He has been consistent, and the fact that the Thunder are so dominant could play into the voting. Boston’s Payton Pritchard won last year as a solid contributor to a 61-win team.
I do think there will be a drop off for Jaquez Jr., who’s overpriced early in the season, and it could come down to Mitchell and Sheppard. Either player would be a great pick, but I’m rolling with Ajay Mitchell at +850!
Where to Bet on the NBA Sixth Man of the Year?
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