Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns has been named the winner of the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man Award, honoring the league?s top player in a reserve role, the NBA announced today.
Barbosa received 578 out of a possible 635 points, including 101 of a possible 127 first-place votes, from a panel of 127 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs finished second with 269 points and Jerry Stackhouse of the Dallas Mavericks placed third with 210 points.
The fourth year guard from Brazil becomes the fourth Suns player to win NBA Sixth Man honors, joining Eddie Johnson (1988-89), Danny Manning (1997-98) and Rodney Rogers (1999-00). Since the award?s inception in 1982-83, the Boston Celtics are the only other franchise to have had a winner on even three separate occasions ? Kevin McHale (1983-84 and 1984-85) and Bill Walton (1985-86).