Tyler Herro averaged 20.7 points as the league’s top scorer off the bench.
NEW YORK – Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro has been named the 2021-22 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year for his contributions in a reserve role, the NBA announced today. This is the first Sixth Man honor for Herro, who becomes the first player to win the annual award with the Heat.
Herro received 488 total points (96 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love finished in second place with 214 points (three first-place votes). Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson finished in third place with 128 points (one first-place vote).
Tyler Herro is the first player to win the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award with the Miami Heat.
More ➡️ https://t.co/d8ElEthWGu
Voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Orkvo29AYR
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 3, 2022
Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. To be eligible for the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, a player had to have come off the bench in more games than he started.
In his third NBA season, Herro averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 32.6 minutes in 66 games (10 starts). His scoring average of 20.8 points as a reserve was the highest in the NBA. He became the fifth player to average at least 20.0 points off the bench (minimum 50 games as a reserve) since starts began being tracked in the 1970-71 season, joining Thurl Bailey (1987-88), Eddie Johnson (1988-89), Ricky Pierce (1989-90, 1990-91) and Lou Williams (2017-18, 2018-19).
Herro’s eight 30-point games off the bench were tied for the third most since the 1970-71 season and his 20 25-point games were tied for the fourth most. He ranked 20th in the NBA in free throw percentage (86.8), 21st in points per game, 26th in three-point field goal percentage (39.9) and 32nd in three-pointers made (175).
What a way to celebrate #TylerTuesday!
Finally, it’s official – @raf_tyler is your @Kia NBA 6th Man of the Year! #6MOTYLER pic.twitter.com/NxOBOcRugK
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 3, 2022
Setting a single-season franchise record with 1,162 points off the bench, Herro helped the Heat finish with a 53-29 record and earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2022 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel. Miami is currently facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Game 2 to be played on Wednesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
Herro, 22, the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 175 games over three seasons with the Heat. In the 2019-20 season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and set a Miami single-game playoff rookie scoring record with 37 points against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
A lot of major steps taken professionally and personally – this season has been bigger than the award for @raf_tyler [SOUND UP] #6MOTYLER pic.twitter.com/A02dgTZCAK
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 3, 2022
Herro will be presented with a special edition 75th Anniversary commemorative trophy today in celebration of the honor, gifted in addition to the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award trophy, which he will receive later. The commemorative trophy, composed of a solid crystal basketball, features the NBA 75 logo 3D laser etched and suspended within its center.
The voting results for the 2021-22 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award are below. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP. Complete ballots for each voter will be posted at PR.NBA.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards.
announcement of all end-of-season awards.
Player (Team)
1st Place Votes (5 Points)
2nd Place Votes (3 Points)
3rd Place Votes (1 Point)
Total Points
Tyler Herro (Miami)
96
2
2
488
Kevin Love (Cleveland)
3
58
25
214
Cam Johnson (Phoenix)
1
27
42
128
Jordan Clarkson (Utah)
0
7
6
27
Luke Kennard (LA Clippers)
0
2
6
12
Bogdan Bogdanović (Atlanta)
0
3
1
10
Kelly Oubre Jr. (Charlotte)
0
0
9
9
De’Anthony Melton (Memphis)
0
0
4
4
Montrezl Harrell (Charlotte)
0
1
0
3
Immanuel Quickley (New York)
0
0
2
2
Brandon Clarke (Memphis)
0
0
1
1
Tyus Jones (Memphis)
0
0
1
1
Maxi Kleber (Dallas)
0
0
1
1
Below is the all-time list of winners of the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
2021-22 — Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (Voting)
2020-21 — Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz (Voting)
2019-20 — Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers (Voting)
2018-19 — Lou Williams, LA Clippers (Voting)
2017-18 — Lou Williams, LA Clippers (Voting)
2016-17 — Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets (Voting)
2015-16 — Jamal Crawford, LA Clippers (Voting)
2014-15 — Lou Williams, Toronto Raptors
2013-14 — Jamal Crawford, LA Clippers
2012-13 — J.R. Smith, New York Knicks
2011-12 — James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
2010-11 — Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers
2009-10 — Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks
2008-09 — Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks
2007-08 — Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
2006-07 — Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns
2005-06 — Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies
2004-05 — Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls
2003-04 — Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks
2002-03 — Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings
2001-02 — Corliss Williamson, Detroit Pistons
2000-01 — Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00 — Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns
1998-99 — Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic
1997-98 — Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns
1996-97 — John Starks, New York Knicks
1995-96 — Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls
1994-95 — Anthony Mason, New York Knicks
1993-94 — Dell Curry, Charlotte Hornets
1992-93 — Clifford Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers
1991-92 — Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers
1990-91 — Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers
1989-90 — Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks
1988-89 — Eddie Johnson, Phoenix Suns
1987-88 — Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks
1986-87 — Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks
1985-86 — Bill Walton, Boston Celtics
1984-85 — Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
1983-84 — Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
1982-83 — Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers
