Knicks JR Smith wins NBA’s “Kia Sixth Man of the Year” [photos]

New York Knicks JR Smith won Sixth Man of the Year for 2013. Smith received 72 of 121 first-place votes, 484 points. Jamal Crawford (31 1st-place votes) finishes second with 352 points. JR went into this season with a mindset that he wanted to start. But Knicks head coach Mike Woodson had other plans:

“I just felt the best for this team was J.R. coming off the bench. … He accepted the role in grand style.”

Of course JR’s teammates were there to support him including his old Denver Nuggets teammates, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin.

Earl the III also led the NBA in scoring among reserves, 18.1ppg, in 30+ point games (7) and in  20+ point games (29) off the bench. The Knicks have won the Atlantic Division title for the first time since 1994 and are currently up 1-0 in round one of their playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

The maturation of JR Smith continues. I’m glad he went with a classic suit for the ceremony. Congratulations JR, hard work pays off. I’m assuming JR, who is a free agent this summer, will be looking for more cash but, I can’t see him leaving the Knicks franchise. He has a coach that gets him and has maximized his game.

photos via NBA