Whenever you bet on NBA futures, it's important to remember that odds aren't always reflective of reality. As incredibly talented and accurate as linemakers tend to be, they are also at the behest of the market. And if one player or team is receiving a lion's share of the action, they have no choice but to adjust their odds accordingly so they're not on the hook for ultra-ultra-ultra lucrative payouts if the flood of investments prove to be correct. This is exactly what's at play in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year race.
Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers enters this discussion as the odds-on favorite to win NBA Sixth Man of the Year at most of the top online sportsbooks. You can see for yourself in the table below, which features the latest NBA online betting odds from BetOnline:
| SMOY Winner |  |
|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook | +140 |
| Jordan Poole | +300 |
| Malcolm Brogdon | +550 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | +1200 |
| Norman Powell | +1400 |
| Malik Monk | +1600 |
| Bogdan Bogdanvoic | +2300 |
| Bobby Portis | +3600 |
| Christian Wood | +4200 |
| Malik Beasley | +5000 |
Of course, despite what these online NBA betting odds say right now, you will want to double-check them until you actually make your pick. These odds to win NBA Sixth Man of the Year are accurate entering Thursday, January 19. The vote for this award will not take place until sometime in April, and the winner won't be revealed until weeks later. This gives linemakers plenty of time to adjust their NBA Sixth Man of the Year betting odds.
Changes in NBA betting lines needn't be concerning to you, though—so long as you link up with the right sportsbook. Luckily, that's why we have our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. We provide the lowdown on all the top odds providers, so you'll have no issue spotting the best online NBA betting sites in 2023.
Who are the best bets to win Sixth Man of the Year this season? Does Russell Westbrook deserve to be in the discussion, let alone lead the field? Are there any sleeper names you should be keeping an eye on? You can find all the answers to these questions below!
Russell Westbrook is Overpriced to Win NBA Sixth Man of the Year
If Russell Westbrook (+140) didn't play for the Los Angeles Lakers, he wouldn't be nearly this high up on the Sixth Man of the Year ladder.
Has he been better since moving to the bench after the first few games of the season? Absolutely. But he continues to score at a below-average clip while committing too many turnovers and playing questionable defense. The Lakers also continue to lose the minutes in which he's on the court.
There is still time for Westbrook to gain momentum in this race, and it helps his case that the Lakers are playing better. For now, though, his status as the odds-on favorite is a function of the Lakers fanbase flocking to put money on him.
What Happened to Jordan Poole's Sixth Man of the Year Odds?
Jordan Poole (+300) entered the season as the odds-on favorite to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Some sportsbooks even had him paying out worse than even money. He was, by many measures, considered a virtual lock after his breakout campaign that helped the Golden State Warriors win a title last season.
However, much of that shine has faded in recent months. Poole has struggled to hold on to the rock and hasn't shot the ball well from beyond the arc. On the bright side, he remains one of the most tantalizing finishers and creators at his position, and he has the scoring average to buoy his Sixth Man of the Year case. So while he may not deserve to be the favorite anymore, he is absolutely in the discussion.
Better Dark Horse Bet to Win NBA SMOY: Bobby Portis Jr. or Bogdan Bogdanovic?
Bobby Portis (+3600) has quietly cobbled together a stellar campaign off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks. He is knocking down threes at an astronomical clip and has even flashed an efficient floor and post game when they feed him touches in the half-court.
Still, the NBA hasn't had a Sixth Man of the Year winner average fewer than 15 points per game since Lamar Odom took home the honor in 2011. At 13.3 points per contest, Portis will need to beef up his scoring.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (+2300) has no such issue. He's clearing 15 points per game while swishing threes at an enviable clip. He's also providing more value than Portis as both a passer and playmaker. The fact that he's a 23-to-1 candidate actually feels weird—and is probably a nod to the time he missed with a knee injury to start the season.
Official NBA Sixth Man of the Year Prediction
And our NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner is...Malcolm Brogdon (+550) of the Boston Celtics.
In a field this crowded, contributing to team success is going to matter. And while Brodgon doesn't have the traditional scoring credentials (14.1 point sper game), he comes pretty damn close while shouldering a fairly significant playmaking workload for what is currently a league-best Celtics team.
Granted, Bogdan Bogdanovic (+2300) would actually be our pick if playing time didn't matter. But it does. He's already missed more than 20 games on the season. Without an injury to Brogdon or Normal Powell (+1400) or Malik Monk (+1600), we fear that Bogdanovic is fighting a losing battle among voters who will heavily weight total minutes played.
OSB Prediction: Malcolm Brogdon (+550)
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