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. Each player was awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. In order to be eligible for this award, players had to have come off the bench in more games than they started.

 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).

 A reserve in 62 of 80 games played this season, Barbosa averaged 18.1 points, 4.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds.  He posted career highs in scoring, assists, steals (1.20), three-point field goals made (190) and minutes played (32.7). Barbosa scored 20 or more points in 33 games this season, surpassing his total from his first three seasons combined (13).

 Barbosa set new individual game career highs in points (32. vs. Charlotte on March 7 and again vs. Houston on March 12), rebounds (10 vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 17), assists (12 vs. Memphis, Nov. 11) and three point field goals (seven vs. Charlotte, March 7). He also notched three consecutive double-doubles (Nov. 11 vs. Memphis, Nov. 17 vs. Philadelphia and Nov. 18 at Utah) after not notching a single one in his first 196 career games.

 Below are the voting results for this year’s NBA Sixth Man Award and the all-time list of winners:

2006-07 NBA SIXTH MAN VOTING

Player, Team                                      1st          2nd          3rd           Pts

Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix                   101        24           1             578

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio                   18          50           29           269

Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas                       7            40           55           210

David Lee, New York                         --           3             13           22

Kyle Korver, Philadelphia                    1            2             8             19

Antonio McDyess, Detroit                    --           2             11           17

Corey Maggette, L.A. Clippers            --           1             3             6

Luther Head, Houston                          --           --            4             4

Chucky Atkins, Memphis                      --           1             1             4

Matt Harpring, Utah                             --           1             1             4

Josh Childress, Atlanta                         --           1             --            3

Chris Duhon, Chicago                          --           1             --            3

Jose Calderon, Toronto                        --           1             --            3

J.R. Smith, Denver                               --           --            1             1

ALL-TIME NBA SIXTH MAN AWARD WINNERS

                                          1982-83        Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers

                                          1983-84        Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

                                          1984-85        Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

                                          1985-86        Bill Walton, Boston Celtics

                                          1986-87        Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks

                                          1987-88        Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks

                                          1988-89        Eddie Johnson, Phoenix Suns

                                          1989-90        Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks

                                          1990-91        Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers

                                          1991-92        Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers

                                          1992-93        Clifford Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers

                                          1993-94        Dell Curry, Charlotte Hornets           

                                          1994-95        Anthony Mason, New York Knicks

                                          1995-96        Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls

                                          1996-97        John Starks, New York Knicks

                                          1997-98        Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns

                                          1998-99        Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic

                                          1999-00        Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns

                                          2000-01        Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 76ers

                                          2001-02        Corliss Williamson, Detroit Pistons

                                          2002-03        Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings

                                          2003-04        Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks

                                          2004-05        Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls

                                          2005-06        Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies

                                          2006-07        Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix

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