San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili earned 123 of 124 first-place votes on Monday to win the NBA sixth man of the year award. Last year’s winner, Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, came in second. Dallas’ guard Jason Terry finished third in the voting.

As reported by ESPN: 

“I really don’t care about coming from the bench if that helps the team to win a championship,” Ginobili said.

Ginobili was a regular in the Spurs starting five until mid-way through last season, when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided the team would be better served having him come off the bench. 

The former second round pick from Argentina led the Spurs in scoring this season, averaging a career-best 19.5 points per, in addition to 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

To qualify for the sixth man award, a player must come off the bench more often than he starts. Ginobili came off the bench in 51 of the 74 games he played this season. 

Spurs guard Michael Finley is among Ginobili’s teammates who are appreciative of the unselfish role he plays.

“He’s one of the better players in the NBA, who just happens to come off the bench. Any other team in the league, he’d probably be starting, but for him to come off the bench and put his ego aside it just shows what kind of team we have, and more importantly what kind of player and All-Star he is.” 

“That is what I’m going to remember when I retire, the rings I have,” Ginobili said. “Not the fact that I played 28 minutes or 33 or my name being called in the starting lineup. That’s not going to make the difference in 10 to 15 years.”

Ricky Pierce was the last sixth man winner to lead his team in scoring, averaging 23 points per in 1990.

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  Nick Kappel is a staff member for the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey.

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