This week: Eleven candidates for the Sixth Man Award, designed to honor a player for his contributions in a reserve role. In order to be eligible, a player must come off the bench for more games than he starts.

All stats through April 1.

Keon Clark • Toronto Raptors • Center-Forward Subbing in for everyone from Jerome Williams to Hakeem Olajuwon to Eric Montross, Clark posted better numbers than them all, providing needed rebounding and shotblocking inside. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 72 27 26.7 .487 7.5 1.0 0.64 1.50 11.1 Troy Hudson • Orlando Magic • Guard An energizer at the point who keeps the offense flowing with Darrell Armstrong on the bench, Hudson proved he could score when needed as well, posting a career-high 11.0 points per game. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 72 1 22.0 .437 1.8 3.1 0.69 0.08 11.0 Bobby Jackson • Sacramento Kings • Guard A likely starter for a team that doesn't have Mike Bibby and Doug Christie, Jackson is a reliable offensive weapon in addition to being the rare all-around guard who can rebound, dish and play defense. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 72 3 22.2 .442 3.3 2.1 1.00 0.15 11.2

Andrei Kirilenko • Utah Jazz • Forward

A starter for much of the season, Kirilenko barely sneaks in as a Sixth Man candidate, but his impact defensively can't be ignored; the rookie forward leads Utah in blocks and ranks second in steals. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 73 31 25.6 .458 4.8 1.1 1.44 1.86 10.5

Desmond Mason • Seattle SuperSonics • Forward-Guard

Playing for a team in constant flux due to injuries, Mason was a rock for the Sonics off the bench, averaging double-figures in scoring while developing an improved outside game to complement his ferocious dunks. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 67 12 31.7 .457 4.6 1.4 0.85 0.36 11.8

Ruben Patterson • Portland Trail Blazers • Forward-Guard

Among the league leaders in field-goal percentage, the athletic, slashing Patterson gave the Blazers efficient bench scoring (fourth on the team at 11.3 ppg) to go with his renowned defensive presence. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 67 13 23.5 .518 3.9 1.4 1.03 0.45 11.3

Quentin Richardson • Los Angeles Clippers • Guard

Never starting a game, Quentin was the quintessential sixth man for the Clips, ranking third on the team in scoring with his deadeye perimeter game and tying for the team lead in steals with merciless D. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 73 0 26.7 .432 4.2 1.5 1.00 0.27 13.6

Rodney Rogers • Boston Celtics/Phoenix Suns • Forward

The winner of this award two seasons ago while playing for the Suns, Rogers now bolsters the Boston bench, making an immediate impact as the only Celtic besides Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker scoring in double-figures. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 69 7 24.2 .471 4.5 1.4 0.94 0.30 11.9

Stromile Swift • Memphis Grizzlies • Center-Forward

Between Lorenzen Wright getting injured and Pau Gasol emerging as a rookie star, Swift had his minutes shuffled around all season, but that didn't stop him from making serious noise as a rebounder and shotblocker. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 59 14 25.9 .478 6.0 0.6 0.80 1.49 11.3

Tim Thomas • Milwaukee Bucks • Forward

A perennial Sixth Man Award contender, Thomas was again the most statistically productive Buck this side of the Big Three, providing an inside-outside threat and nearly 13 ppg. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 64 22 28.2 .424 4.3 1.5 0.89 0.44 12.7

Corliss Williamson • Detroit Pistons • Forward

Though he averaged fewer minutes than any of the Sixth Man candidates, Big Nasty made the most of his time on the floor: third on his team at 13.7 ppg and a .514 FG% that's good for a spot with the NBA leaders. G GS MPG FG% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2001-02 69 7 21.8 .514 4.1 1.2 0.64 0.35 13.7