San Antonio Spurs Star Keldon Johnson Wins NBA Sixth Man Of the Year Award
When you think of the San Antonio Spurs this season, your mind instantly goes to the towering, gravity-defying phenom that is Victor Wembanyama. But while the French prodigy was busy swatting shots into the third row, another Spur was quietly putting together a masterpiece of a season, completely reinventing his career in the process. Enter Keldon Johnson.
On Wednesday night, the NBA officially named Johnson the 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year. It is a massive milestone for a guy who, not that long ago, wanted absolutely nothing to do with coming off the bench.
Overcoming the Ultimate Ego Check
Let’s rewind a bit. Johnson wasn’t drafted to be a career role player, and for a long time, he wasn’t one. He was a full-time starter, a guy averaging 22 points a night just a couple of seasons ago, and even secured a gold medal with Team USA. So, when legendary Head Coach Gregg Popovich pulled him aside midway through the 2023-24 campaign to tell him he was being moved to the second unit, Johnson was understandably crushed.
In his own words, he sulked. He let his ego get bruised. Who wouldn’t? It takes a massive swallow of pride to go from being the main event to the opening act. But that’s where the human element of this game truly shines. Johnson eventually looked in the mirror, checked his ego at the door, and decided that if he was going to be a backup, he was going to be the absolute best backup on the planet.
Breaking Records and Taking Names
And boy, did he ever deliver. Johnson played all 82 games this season, and did all his damage as a reserve. Averaging a rock-solid 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in just over 23 minutes a night, he became the spark plug the Spurs desperately needed.
But the real cherry on top? Johnson racked up 1,081 bench points this season, shattering the franchise record previously held by none other than San Antonio royalty, Manu Ginóbili. Anytime you are breaking a record set by Manu in a Spurs jersey, you know you are doing something right. Ginóbili won this exact award back in 2008, making Johnson only the second player in franchise history to take home the hardware.
Leaving the Competition In the Dust
This wasn’t a pity vote, either. Johnson flat-out earned it. He comfortably beat out the Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the Denver Nuggets’ Tim Hardaway Jr., securing 63 of the 100 first-place votes from the global media panel. While Jaquez had a fantastic year leading all reserves in scoring, the narrative, consistency, and sheer impact that Johnson brought to a surging 62-win Spurs team simply couldn’t be ignored.
A Championship Core Brewing in Texas
The beautiful thing about Johnson accepting his role is what it means for the future of San Antonio basketball. By embracing the second unit, he allowed the Spurs’ starting five to gel perfectly around Wembanyama, setting the foundation for a legitimate championship contender.
Basketball is a team sport, but it’s built on individual sacrifices. Keldon Johnson gave up his starting spot, swallowed his pride, and in return, etched his name into NBA history. For a guy who initially hated the idea of sitting on the pine, Johnson has masterfully flipped the script. He didn’t just win an award; he won the respect of the entire league.
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