After what has been an extremely difficult week for the LA Clippers following the unsavoury race row involving owner Donald Sterling, the franchise finally appears set for some positive news with reports suggesting that Jamal Crawford has won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award.
This is according to sources familiar with the voting process cited by respected ESPN writer Marc Stein, who further claim that the 34-year-old was set to collect the prestigious award prior to the Clippers' game five win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, but it was postponed due to the situation regarding Sterling and his punishment.
This is the second time that Crawford will have scooped sixth man honours, with his first success coming during his time with the Atlanta Hawks in 2010.
Shooting guard journeyman Crawford joined the Clippers following the end of a brief stint with the Portland Trailblazers in 2012 and quickly became an influential scorer off the bench under Vinny del Negro.
Clearly facing stiff competition from the likes of San Antonio's evergreen Manu Ginobili, Chicago's Taj Gibson and Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris, there were initial doubts as to whether Crawford would be a favourite for this award given that he has actually been called upon to start on 24 occasions this season due to the plethora of injuries suffered by Doc Rivers' crew this season.
Averaging 18.6 points per game, the former eighth-overall pick has continued to provide a crucial source of scoring for the Clippers as well as establishing himself as the leader of their second unit.
Crawford had 18 on Tuesday night as the Clippers put their emotions firmly to one side to re-take the lead in their best of seven series against Steph Curry and the Warriors just hours after NBA commissioner Adam Silver had announced the league's decision to ban Sterling for life in addition to handing him a $2.5 million fine.
