1999 — Manu Ginobili over Elton Brand
This is a tough call between Ginobili, Shawn Marion, and Elton Brand, but we’ll give it to the guy who did the most in the minutes he played. Ginobili was so good off the bench they should honestly name the Sixth Man of the Year award after him. Manu averaged at least 20 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists per 36 minutes for eight straight years — he just never needed to play that many minutes in the regular season.
Still, Ginobili ranks 29th all time in win shares per 48, ahead of players like Kevin Garnett, Kevin McHale, and Hakeem Olajuwon and just behind names like Julius Erving and Bill Russell. Ginobili was unlike any other player with his style, and he always did everything asked of him and more. He was the flair on four Spurs championship teams.