NBA Awards 2019: 3 reasons why Montrezl Harrell should win the Sixth Man of the Year award

#2 Harrell possesses the athleticism as well as stats to back up his case for the award

Montrezl Harrell recorded career-highs in almost every aspect of the game.

Having played in all 82 games for the Clippers this season, the 25-year-old averaged a career-high 16.6 points per game (over 5 ppg better than his previous career-best) and pulled down 6.5 boards per game (another career-high) while playing 26 minutes per game.

He and Williams combined to average a league-high 53.4 points per game in bench points. Moreover, he had three games with at least 24 points, as he ended his brief postseason campaign with a sturdy scoring average of 18.8 points per game against the ruthless Warriors defense.

During the regular season, Harrell's plus/minus stat indicated that he was 7.1 points better than the average NBA player over 100 possessions and accordingly, ranked ninth in the entire NBA – between No. 8 James (7.5) and No. 10 Irving (7.1).

“I tell my guys, throw it up there,” he said. “I’ll catch it. If I don’t, it’ll be my turnover before it’s yours.”

Standing at 6-feet-8 and 240 pounds, Harrell is a tough center, who sets solid screens, rolls hard to the rim and finishes with thunderous jams.