NBA 6th Man of the Year Odds, Predictions for 2026: Dylan Harper Leads a Deep Field

The 2026-27 NBA season is approaching, and the award races around the league are going to be as interesting as ever. One of the most competitive races could be NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Unlike Most Valuable Player or Defensive Player of the Year, where the preseason favorites are generally established stars and some of the best players in the league, Sixth Man of the Year can be difficult to project. Roles change, injuries alter rotations and young players take significant leaps. The field is often a blend of young players who could break out and veterans whose roles could change quickly.

The latest NBA 6th Man of the Year odds from FanDuel reflect that uncertainty. There are several notable names across the league with a realistic shot based on the preseason market, and some make more sense than others.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds

Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs is the favorite at +700, and it makes sense why. On nearly any other team in the league, Harper would be an easy starter and, in some cases, potentially the face of the franchise. But San Antonio is loaded, especially at guard, with De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the backcourt. That's part of why Harper spent most of his rookie season coming off the bench despite quickly establishing himself as one of San Antonio's best young players, despite being in the headlines all season as a starting-caliber piece.

Harper then averaged 18.0 points per game in the NBA Finals, showing just how much his offensive role had grown by the end of the postseason. There's also precedent in San Antonio. Keldon Johnson won Sixth Man of the Year last season after averaging 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds while coming off the bench in all 82 games.

But another young guard on a rival team, Ajay Mitchell, might be Harper's biggest challenger. Mitchell is second in the preseason odds at +800 after averaging 13.6 points, 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds last season. He's poised for another big breakout and is part of a contending team as well.

Behind them are Reed Sheppard (+1600), Anthony Black (+2000), Aaron Wiggins (+2500), Ace Bailey (+2500), Damian Lillard (+2500) and Scoot Henderson (+2500) among the notable names near the top of the board.

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Best NBA Sixth Man of the Year Bets

While Harper and Mitchell are the favorites, I don't think they're necessarily the best value plays.

There's a realistic scenario in which either ends up starting for a significant portion of the season. An injury to a guard ahead of them in the rotation could force that change, or they could simply become too good for their respective teams to keep out of the starting five.

That's why Anthony Black at +2000 is my pick.

Black broke out last season, averaging career highs of 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He also started 40 games, largely because of injuries around Orlando's roster, but he enters this season with a chance to become the centerpiece of the Magic's second unit. That's exactly the type of player that can thrive in this award race. Black has already shown he can handle starter-level minutes, but Orlando can strategically use him as a reserve star who drives the offense when the first unit comes off the floor.

He also impacts the game beyond scoring. At 6-foot-7, Black has the size and versatility to defend multiple positions while functioning as a scorer, ball-handler and facilitator. Sixth Man of the Year often goes to the reserve with the biggest scoring numbers, but Johnson's win last season also showed that contributing to a high-level winning team can matter.

If Black helps Orlando take another step while putting up strong numbers as the leader of the second unit, he'll have a compelling case.

Prediction: Anthony Black (+2000)

At significantly longer odds than Harper and Mitchell, Black offers a much better potential payout while still having a clear path to major bench minutes. He's already shown he's a good NBA player, and among the early NBA 6th Man of the Year odds, he stands out as one of the most intriguing values entering training camp.