Top 5 contenders for Sixth Man of the Year

There are a number of players in the NBA who specialize in the most important task on the basketball court, which is to put the ball through the hoop. Many of them play as starters since they also have other abilities that separate them from the pack - but some of them, due to physical limitations on their part, or roster strength, have to play from the bench.

This year, we have seen excellent performances from a number of substitutes coming into games. The usual suspects like Lou Williams and Eric Gordon have been great as usual at the scoring-playmaking role, but there is a new entrant to our top 5 list.

The following players have been excellent in their roles, and deserve a shout-out for their impact this season:

(a) Dwyane Wade

(b) Tyus Jones

(d) Rudy Gay

(e) Domantas Sabonis

We wind down our list of top candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year award as follows:

#5 Michael Beasley

New York Knicks v Brooklyn Nets — Beasley guarded by DeMarre Carroll

When we talk about the best scorers in the game, Michael Beasley is not the first name to come to mind. But the ability he has shown through the course of his 10-year NBA career to put the ball through the hoop has forced the likes of Kevin Durant to shower praise on him:

"He can score from anywhere. He can score on anybody. He can use both hands, but there's something else that separates. You know what I'm saying? I think that's just the difference, the mental part of it. And he's got the foundation of his game set; it's just time to build on top of it."

As Durant correctly pointed out, Beasley has the foundation of his game set. Now he's backing up his case as an above-average NBA player with his ongoing campaign for the New York Knicks - Beasley is averaging 13.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on 50.8 percent shooting from the floor and an excellent 41 percent shooting from 3-point range.

He has scored 20+ points in 20 games this season, leading the Knicks to some credible victories. It looks like he's set for a mid-level contract this summer in free agency.

#4 Kyle Kuzma

Los Angeles Lakers v Los Angeles Clippers — Kuzma scores against the Clippers

In addition to being in the running for Rookie of the Year honors, Kyle Kuzma is also in contention for an award not reserved just for players in their first season in the league. Out of 76 games that he's played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kuzma has started 36 - a total that makes him eligible for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Kuzma has 17 double-doubles for the season and has scored more than 20 points in a commendable total of 25 games. He is averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the floor and 36.8% shooting from behind the 3-point arc.

In most games, Kuzma is thrown on in the first half as a substitute, and in games when he gets hot, he is kept in for the entire match. He's won the Lakers a minimum of four games with his scoring prowess, and on his night he is a handful for any defender.

The most refreshing aspect of Kuzma is his supreme self-confidence - it helps him to keep shooting even on bad days, and change the complexion of his box score stats from ugly to passable most of the time.

#3 Kelly Oubre Jr.

San Antonio Spurs v Washington Wizards — Kelly Oubre blocks a shot by Brandon Paul

Kelly Oubre Jr. is possibly the best two-way player starting on the bench in the NBA, currently. He made his name at Kansas and his first couple of seasons with the Washington Wizards primarily as a defensive stopper, and the uptick that we've seen in his offensive production warrants his placement at #3 on this list.

Oubre has the ability to guard four positions on the floor, and he often does that to close out games for the Wizards. Oubre has season stats of 11.9 points and 4.5 rebounds on shooting percentages of 40.8% and 33.8% from the field and from 3-point territory - he could improve both figures handily without much effort.

#2 Eric Gordon

Houston Rockets v Washington Wizards — Gordon goes for a layup

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is even hotter this season than he was last year when he averaged 16.2 points per game for the Houston Rockets on 37.2 percent shooting from downtown.

Gordon is currently averaging 18.2 points per game on an improved field goal percentage of 43.0 percent. With Chris Paul also in the side now, Gordon is having to play lesser of a playmaking role in this new, improved version of the Rockets team who also happen to have more 3-point shooters this season waiting to net the open looks generated by CP3 and The Beard.

In the time that Chris Paul spent on the sidelines, Gordon matched his point production with over 20 points a game in those starts. He is at his physical peak now, and his knockdown shooting ability combined with his driving game make him a nightly threat to defenders.

#1 Lou Williams

Minnesota Timberwoves v Los Angeles Clippers — Williams drives to the basket

Lou Williams is the runaway favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. It will be the second time Williams wins this award, but this time around, he has been downright sensational for the Clippers, who are unlucky to be outside a playoffs spot despite having a record well clear of the .500 mark.

Williams' stats speak for themselves: He's averaging 22.7 points and 5.3 assists per game while playing 32.8 minutes a night. In many a clutch game this season, he has been the sole reason for the Clippers' victories - they had quite an impressive record during the time that Blake Griffin was still on their roster but was down with injury.

Williams dropped 50 points on the Golden State Warriors in an encounter this season. In addition, he has scored 40+ points in 3 games, 30-39 points in 13 games and 20-29 points in a whopping 32 games this season. He has 7 double-doubles for the season, and the trophy is his to lose.