Kurt Helin
1. Andre Iguodala, Warriors
2. Lou Williams, Rockets
3. Eric Gordon, Rockets
This was a tough one. Iguodala is only scoring 7.6 points per game this season, with 4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per night, numbers traditionally too low for this award, but his defense and secondary playmaking are key to Golden State’s success with their second unit (and he plays with the first unit a lot). Lou Williams is putting up much better numbers, 17.7 points per game, but he racked up a lot of those scoring buckets for a Lakers team that had nobody else. In the end, the contributions to winning mattered more to me.
Note: Helin has an official ballot this year.
Dan Feldman
1. Andre Iguodala, Warriors
2. Lou Williams, Rockets
3. Eric Gordon, Rockets
Andre Iguodala has been the NBA’s best reserve for the last three years, but he hasn’t contributed the most to his team the previous two regular seasons due to injury and holding back for the playoffs. This year, he deserves this award. Iguodala was solid most of the year and then really stepped up when Kevin Durant got hurt. Iguodala protects the ball incredibly for someone who generates so many efficient shots for teammates and himself, and he’s an excellent defender.
Lou Williams barely edged his Rockets teammate, Eric Gordon, due mostly to his stellar play with the Lakers. Honorable mention: Greg Monroe, James Johnson and Joe Ingles.
Dane Carbaugh
1. Eric Gordon, Rockets
2. Lou Williams, Rockets
3. Enes Kanter, Thunder
It’s sort of unfair here because the Rockets are going to win this award no matter what after trading for Lou Williams. Gordon is still my guy at this spot because he made the James-Harden-as-point-guard thing work so well as the season started. Gordon used to be in consideration for top contracts, so having him come off the bench, fully healthy and ready to fire from 3-point range is pretty unfair. I’ll take that any day if I’m a Rockets fan. Did I mention Gordon is locked in through 2019-20? We could be witnessing the dawning of a new Manu Ginobili in Texas.