Spurs Ginobili wins NBA's Sixth Man Award

Less than 48 hours after helping guide the San Antonio Spurs to a stunning come-from-behind double overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA playoffs, guard Manu Ginobili has another reason to celebrate.

On Monday, the NBA named Ginobili the winner of its Sixth Man Award presented by Kia Motors.

The award honors the NBA player who performed best in a reserve roll. Ginobili earlier in the season was moved from a starting role to a back-up role to give the Spurs' reserves some extra offensive firepower.

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Spurs officials say Ginobili received 615 out of a possible 620 points, including 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns finished second with 283 points, while Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished third with 44 points.

Although Ginobili has started a number of games for the Spurs this season, he was eligible for the award because he came off of the bench far more frequently.

A sixth man in 51 of the 74 games he played this season, Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring with a career-high average of 19.5 points to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.47 steals. Ginobili increased his scoring nearly 6 points per game over his career average of 13.7 entering this season.

Ginobili was the only player in the NBA to average at least 17 points in less than 32 minutes of playing time per game.

Ginobili's award is a big win for at least one local charity. Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV on behalf of Ginobili to Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives of San Antonio. Mass' organization cares for children in crisis situations.