James Harden Named NBA's Sixth Man Of The Year

OKLAHOMA CITY -

Oklahoma City's favorite bearded basketball player is not only the talk of town, but he is also making team history.

Harden was named the NBA's 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year, the first such award in Thunder team history.

He announced the news on his personal Twitter account Thursday saying, "Thanks everyone!! I appreciate all the love! 6th Man of the Year." The team has a press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon for the formal announcement.

This season Harden paced the league's bench players with a career-high 16.8 points per game this season along with 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and one steal in an average of 31.4 minutes of play per contest.

The Arizona State product helped Oklahoma City to the team's second-straight Northwest Division Title and a 47-19 regular season record.

He becomes the 26th Sixth Man of the Year since the award began in 1982-83.

Through the Thunder's first four post season games, Harden has averaged 18.3 points on 50 percent shooting and 32.3 minutes per game. He tallied a playoff career-high of 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field and 75 percent from behind the three point line in OKC's 103-97 game four win over Dallas to sweep the opening round series.

Harden also set a new career-high total of 40 points in the Thunder's April 18 road game victory over Phoenix. That night he shot 12-of17 from the field, 5-of-8 from 3-point range and also had seven rebounds and four steals.

Last season, Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom received the Sixth Man award.

The Thunder currently await their second round playoffs opponent. The winner of the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers first round series will advance to take on the Thunder.

Entering play on Thursday, Los Angeles leads the series 3-2. If LA wins game six, they will play Oklahoma City Saturday, May 12 at 8:30 p.m. If the series goes seven games, the winner and the Thunder will likely play on Monday.

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