The Associated Press
The Bounce
The Associated Press
DALLAS – Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry is the best off the bench.
Terry, an ex-Arizona Wildcat who was mostly a full-time starter before taking on a different role the past two seasons, was presented Friday with the NBA sixth man award that goes to the league’s top reserve.
“The ability to do it, but also the willingness to embrace it, is something that’s got to be a part of it,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “That’s who he is. He wants to win and he wants to part of something that’s bigger than himself, and that’s really what this is all about.”
While starting only 11 of his 74 games in the regular season, Terry averaged 19.6 points and 3.4 assists while playing about 34 minutes a game.
Only Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd played more minutes for the Mavericks, though Terry usually comes off the bench shooting.
“No doubt, I’m a guy playing with my energy,” Terry said. “Instant offense, there are no warm-up shots. Jumping into the fire, that’s a special skill set.”
Terry got 111 of 121 first-place votes in the balloting and was the clear winner with 576 points. Denver’s J.R. Smith finished second with 155 points and three first-place votes, and New York’s Nate Robinson was third with 113 points.
Nowitzki, Kidd and other teammates attended the news conference in which Terry, who is known as JET, was presented the trophy.
It came on the day between Games 3 and 4 of the Mavericks’ first-round Western Conference playoff series against San Antonio. They lead 2-1.
“He’s been a big part of this team,” said Nowitzki, the NBA’s MVP two seasons ago. “He’s a great guy in the locker room, he’s one of our emotional leaders, always firing up the crowd. He’s one of the best clutch players I’ve ever seen.”
The only time Terry had a higher scoring average was 2000-01, his second NBA season, when he averaged 19.7 points for Atlanta.