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SPORTS Friday 26 april 2024

Minnesota’s Naz Reid wins NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award,

edging Malik Monk in close vote

By BRIAN MAHONEY 39 second-place votes and
AP Basketball Writer 10 third-place votes, giving
NEW YORK (AP) — Naz Reid Reid a total of 352 points to
was having a productive Monk’s 342.
season as a reserve when Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis
the Minnesota Timber- Jr. finished third. Norman
wolves needed him in the Powell of the Clippers was
starting lineup while play- fourth and Atlanta’s Bog-
ing without All-Star Karl-An- dan Bogdanovic rounded
thony Towns. out the top five.
Reid was excellent in that Reid was undrafted out of
role, too, helping the Tim- LSU in 2019, originally join-
berwolves to the second- ing the Timberwolves with
best season in franchise his- a two-way contract that
tory. summer. The fan favorite
Reid was rewarded with played his way into a multi-
the NBA’s Sixth Man of the year contract extension last
Year on Wednesday, edg- summer, then rewarded
ing Sacramento’s Malik the Wolves this season with
Monk in a close vote to be- 843 points off the bench,
come the third undrafted second-most in franchise
player to win the award for history.
the league’s best reserve. Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) works around Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed He twice reached 30 points
Reid averaged career Gueye during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 12, 2024, in and had 20 or more 14
highs of 13.5 points and 5.2 Minneapolis. times, both career bests,
rebounds in 81 games. The Associated Press and said the award was
forward-center came off to keep the momentum plenty of times en route to 10-3 from March 16 to April special for the fans who
the bench 67 times, getting going, anyway,” Reid said a 56-26 record to earn the 10 while Reid started 12 have supported him since
a feel for the game in the in an interview on TNT af- No. 3 seed in the Western of the 13 games. He aver- the beginning of his career.
early minutes before get- ter the award was an- Conference. They have aged 17.1 points on 45.4% “They’ve seen me work
ting his chance to impact nounced. “Either we got a 2-0 lead over the Phoe- shooting during that span. from Day 1. Since the mo-
it. to have the mentality to nix Suns in their first-round Reid got 45 first-place votes ment I got here I changed
“I kind of joke around with come back in the game, or series. Towns was hurt in to 43 for Monk from a panel my body, I changed my
my teammates a little bit, to push the lead forward.” March and missed the next of 99 reporters and broad- mentality, I changed the
but it’s kind of a saying The 6-foot-9 Reid helped 18 games. Yet the Wolves casters who cover the direction I wanted to go in
where I feel like we have the Timberwolves do that hardly slowed down, going league. Both players had life,” Reid said.q

Not every WNBA draft pick will make her team’s roster. Here’s why

By The Associated Press why being among those 36 leading scorer, was picked see a favorite college play- ers that are currently on
The WNBA draft is over, and draft picks doesn’t ensure first overall by the Indiana er on the court. the roster, but also a ton of
superstars like No. 1 pick a roster spot: most of the Fever, and she’ll certainly “You can be a great col- women’s basketball play-
Caitlin Clark are heading spots will be taken by re- get a chance. The same lege player and not make ers overseas that have
toward surefire pro careers. turning players. is likely true for Stanford’s a WNBA roster,” ESPN WNBA been honing their skills and
Not all 36 selections from his Only 19 of the 2023 picks Cameron Brink (No. 2, Los analyst LaChina Robinson waiting for opportunity to
year’s draft will have such played at least one game Angeles) and national said last year. “You’re not break into the WNBA.”q
assurances. The league has in the WNBA last season. champion South Carolina only competing with play-
144 coveted roster spots Since 2018, 142 of 216 draft star Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3,
among 12 teams, and oth- picks (65.7%) have played Chicago).
er options for pro careers in in a WNBA game at some Last year, only seven of 12
women’s basketball either point in their career. second-round picks and
in the U.S. or overseas are The high mark was 28 of the three of 12 third-round picks
scarce. 36 draftees in 2019. saw any regular-season ac-
It’s a sharp contrast from Players have tried to carve tion. That suggests nothing
men’s prospects who don’t out a WNBA chance by is guaranteed for NCAA
make NBA rosters. They playing professionally over- Tournament standouts like
have more opportunities, seas, but those jobs are UConn’s Nika Mühl (drafted
including more overseas also at a premium. Brittney No. 14, Seattle Storm) and
opportunities and playing Griner’s nine-month incar- Iowa’s Kate Martin (No. 18,
in the G League. ceration in Moscow along Las Vegas Aces).
The NBA also has 30 teams with the war in Ukraine Why does it matter?
with 15 players allowed on have led to the elimination Of course, it’s disappointing
the regular season roster, of dozens of potential jobs for players who come so
so there are more spots in Russia. close to fulling their WNBA South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, left, poses for a photo with
available. Will the top college stars dreams but get squeezed WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected third
Why don’t all WNBA draft make it in the WNBA? out because of numbers. It overall by the Chicago Sky during the first round of the WNBA
picks make team rosters? Clark, the former Iowa play- also can be a big deal for basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York.
There’s a simple reason er and the NCAA’s career fans who no longer get to Associated Press