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A new favorite has distinguished himself as the league’s best bench player, as Kings guard Malik Monk sits atop the oddsboard to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

This spot had been previously held by Dallas Mavericks wing Tim Hardaway Jr., who spent months as the favorite to be the sixth man of the year. 

Monk is now a +100 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook in what has essentially become a three-player race. 

Hardaway Jr. has dropped to +175 after being a consensus favorite as recently as early February. 

Norman Powell of the championship contender Los Angeles Clippers is the only other player with odds better than 20/1, sitting with +750 odds

Monk has been the engine driving Sacramento’s second unit and has arguably been the second-most important player on a Kings team looking to make its second straight playoff appearance. 

The seven-year guard is top-five among players with at least 40 games off the bench in points per game (15.1), assists per game (5.3) and 3-pointers made per game (2.2). 

He gained favorite status after a red-hot stretch to open February. 

In eight games this month, Monk is averaging 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5 assists on 52.1 percent shooting. 

Hardaway Jr., on the other hand, has seen his production fall off a cliff this month, averaging a season-low 10.6 points on 34.2 percent shooting. 

If recent history is any indication, Monk’s play style is fitting for the NBA Sixth Man Award. 

Nine of the last 10 winners, aside from center Montrez Harrell in 2019-20, were play-making guards of Monk’s ilk, including last year’s winner Malcolm Brogdon.