The annual award given to the most valuable player coming of the bench has been in existence since the 1982-1983 season.
Last year 2011-12 season the award went to guard James Harden of OKC for his phenomenal off the bench performance.
This year we are spearing off a campaign for J.R. Smith.
J.R. Smith has been an offensive dynamo and a defensive weapon for the New York Knicks in 2012-13. He has now scored 14 points or more off the bench in 18 straight games for the Knicks.
J.R. and Melo are the 1st Knicks teammates to score 30+ pts in the same game 3 times in a season since Patrick Ewing & Gerald Wilkins had 4 such games in 1986-87.
The Knicks have been on fire this season. During the Knicks current 12 game win streak, they’ve beaten 7 teams over .500. During the Heat’s 27 game win streak, they beat 6 teams over .500.
At 16.8 points per game, Smith is the second-leading scorer on the Knicks and the only player on the entire roster who has appeared in all 66 games this season. His shooting, rebounds, assists and steals are higher in wins, and his turnovers are lower. Without him, there is simply no telling where the Knicks would be right now.
Yes, his shot selection often is as questionable. But if there is one thing that can be confidently said about Smith is he brings full effort every single night.
If J.R were to win he would be following in the footsteps of veterans Knick players Anthony Mason who won the award during the 1994-95 season and John Starks who won during the 1996-1997 season.