NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds 2026-27: Ajay Mitchell the Early Favorite

Robert Criscola - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Robert Criscola • Betting Analyst 11+ years betting experience
Updated: Oct 19, 2026 , 12:27 PM ET • 4 min read

Ajay Mitchell is the early choice at Polymarket to win Sixth Man of the Year in 2026-27.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds Ajay Mitchell
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Ajay Mitchell of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds are on the board at Polymarket, one of our best prediction market apps.

Ajay Mitchell is favored in the very early stages of the market, but these odds are bound to move often as the season gets underway.

Let's take a look at the latest NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds.

Sixth Man of the Year odds 2026-27

Player Polymarket
Probability
Thunder Ajay Mitchell 17%
Grizzlies Jerami Grant 15%
Pistons Isaiah Joe 15%
Pistons Daniss Jenkins 15%
Hawks Aaron Wiggins 15%
Magic Nikola Vucevic 13%
Heat Tim Hardaway Jr. 13%
Celtics Payton Pritchard 9%
Spurs Dylan Harper 6%
Timberwolves Ayo Dosunmo 6%

Odds as of 10-19.

This market remains in its still relatively early stages, with limited trading volume contributing to sharp swings in percentages. At times, some prices may look unusual compared to more mature markets. The following serves primarily as a look at an emerging market and the information it's signaling, rather than as trading advice at current prices.

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Sixth Man of the Year favorites

Ajay Mitchell (17%)

During the 2025-26 season, Mitchell appeared in 57 games, averaging 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest while playing a key role in Oklahoma City’s playoff run. Mitchell is expected to remain the Thunder’s leading bench spark. However, occasional starts and possible workload management could influence his production throughout the season.

Jerami Grant (15%)

Jerami Grant could emerge as a Sixth Man of the Year contender if he embraces a high-scoring role off the bench with the Memphis Grizzlies. The veteran forward averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 57 appearances with the Trail Blazers last season, demonstrating the offensive firepower needed to make an impact in the award race.


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NBA Sixth Man of the Year opening odds

  • Payton Pritchard: 97%

  • Jrue Holiday: 15%

  • Keldon Johnson: 15%

  • Nikola Vucevic: 15%

  • Dylan Harper: 8%

  • Ace Bailey: 4%

  • Ajay Mitchell: 4%

  • Anfernee Simons: 4%

  • Ayo Dosunmu: 4%

  • Bobby Portis: 4%


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NBA 6MOY betting trends

  • Guards have absolutely owned this award recently, winning 6MOY in 10 of the past 13 seasons.

  • Naz Reid's 2024 win marked only the fourth 6MOY win by a center in its 41-year history (Montrezl Harrell '20, Roy Tarpley '88, and Bill Walton '86).

  • Both Jamal Crawford ('10, '14, '16) and Lou Williams ('15, '18, '19) are recent three-time winners, so voter fatigue may matter less in this market. 

How is the NBA Sixth Man of the Year decided?

The NBA Sixth Man of the Year is awarded to the league's best bench player each season. A variety of factors go into evaluating who the top reserve is:

Consistent statistical impact

The 6MOY must consistently provide a significant impact on the game whenever entering from the bench. This impact should be palpable and discernible in terms of offensive, defensive, or playmaking contributions.

Scoring prowess

The candidate should display an ability to contribute significantly to the team's scoring efforts. This can be evidenced by an impressive points-per-game average, especially in crucial moments of the game. Scoring tends to be the single most important stat for Sixth Man voting.

Versatility

The awardee should demonstrate the capability to adapt to various game situations. This encompasses two-way play, as well as adaptability to different styles and opposing lineups.

Role-player mentality

The recipient must exhibit a selfless approach to the game, willingly accepting their role as a substitute player and deferring to stars, while able to fill a variety of needs for team success.

Impact on team success

The award recipient should have a discernible impact on the team's overall success during the regular season, especially in terms of on-off metrics that measure a player’s impact on their team’s bottom line, and value relative to potential replacements.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year history

Year NBA 6MOY Winner
2025-26 Spurs Keldon Johnson
2024-25 Celtics Payton Pritchard
2023-24 Timberwolves Naz Reid
2022-23 Celtics Malcolm Brogdon
2021-22 Heat Tyler Herro
2020-21 Jazz Jordan Clarkson
2019-20 Clippers Montrezl Harrell
2018-19 Clippers Lou Williams
2017-18 Clippers Lou Williams
2016-17 Rockets Eric Gordon

NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds FAQ

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Robert Criscola - Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Robert M. Criscola’s road to becoming a Covers publishing editor began with an internship at Metro New York, which eventually turned into a freelance job at MetroBet covering many sports from a wagering angle, including horse racing. He continued to focus on “The Sport of Kings” by writing for shapperdacapper.com, danonymousracing.com, and informer.fanxt.com before joining the team at the TwinSpires Edge in 2019 as a regular contributor and weekend editor. “Crisco” began writing game previews for Covers in 2022 and joined the editing team in 2023.

His best advice for sports bettors? Bet with your head, not over it.

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