New York Knicks' J.R. Smith won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award on Monday, according to the Associated Press.
Smith spent the season providing points off the bench for the Knicks. While initially reticent about the role, Smith averaged 18.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game to help the Knicks win their division and earn the second seed in the 2013 NBA playoffs.
"I just wanted to show everybody that I could be a team guy and it's all about the team," Smith told reporters at the Knicks' press conference on Monday.
Smith averaged 33.5 minutes per game during the regular season, despite being a reserve. Behind teammate Carmelo Anthony, Smith was the Knicks' second-best scoring option. He provided an offensive spark throughout the season and averaged 22 points per game in March and April, where the Knicks went 20-8.
Smith continued his hot streak on Saturday by recording 15 points and 5 rebounds in 32 minutes, helping the Knicks defeat the Boston Celtics 85-78 in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs.
Smith, the 18th overall pick of the 2004 NBA draft, has averaged 13.2 points and 25.4 minutes per game in his eight-year professional career. This has been his best season to date.
Smith earned 72 first-place votes from a panel of 121 sports writers and broadcasters to win the Sixth Man award; Los Angeles Clippers' Jamal Crawford finished second with 31 first-place votes.
This is the second straight year a New York Knicks player has earned an NBA award; center Tyson Chandler won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season.
Smith and the Knicks will play on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA's first round playoffs. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. EST on TNT.
