Lamar Odom Wins 6th Man Award

The NBA has announced that the Los Angeles Lakers’ Lamar Odom has been named winner of the 2010-11 NBA Sixth Man Award as the league’s best player in a reserve role. Odom, the first Lakers player to win the award, came off the bench in 47 contests and appeared in all 82 games.

Odom received 513 of a possible 585 points, including 96 of a possible 117 first-place votes.  Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished second with 244 points for the second consecutive season. Thaddeus Young of the Philadelphia 76ers finished third with 76 points.

The Daily Sports Herald had previously projected Odom as the league's best 6th man, given the tear that he has been on throughout the year.  Indeed, the versatile Odom truly has had a breakthrough season, as he appears more comfortable than ever with his role in Phil Jackson's rotation.

As a reserve, Odom averaged 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 28.4 minutes; he recorded 12 double-doubles as a sub. Overall, Odom averaged 14.4 points on .530 shooting, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 32.2 minutes. He recorded 28 double-doubles on the season, scored in double digits 63 times, and netted at least 20 points 14 times.

But perhaps the primary reason for his improved play has been the confidence boost that he gained over the summer with Team USA at the FIBA World Championships, where he earned Coach K's trust as the number one big in the rotation.

In order to be eligible for this award, players must to have come off the bench in more games than they started. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Below are the voting results for the 2010-11 NBA Sixth Man Award:

Voting Results
Lamar Odom  (LA Lakers) -- 513 points
Jason Terry     (Dallas) -- 244 points
Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia) -- 76 points
Glen Davis     (Boston) -- 75 points
Jamal Crawford  (Atlanta) --  51 points
Lou Williams   (Philadelphia) --   26 points
James Harden   (Oklahoma City) --  19 points
George Hill     (San Antonio) --  18 points
Marcin Gortat (Phoenix ) -- 11 points
J.R. Smith     (Denver) -- 7 points
Tony Allen   (Memphis) -- 3 points
Ty Lawson   ( Denver) -- 3 points
O.J. Mayo    ( Memphis) -- 3 points
Toney Douglas  (New York) -- 2 points
Matt Bonner (San Antonio) -- 1 point
J.J. Reddick  (Orlando) -- 1 point

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com