Shai Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s trophy haul keeps growing. Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City guard who is the reigning MVP and NBA Finals MVP,\u2026<\/p>\n
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s trophy haul keeps growing.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City guard who is the reigning MVP and NBA Finals MVP, was the overwhelming and nearly unanimous pick as the Clutch Player of the Year for this season, the NBA announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first of what could be several awards for Gilgeous-Alexander in the coming weeks. He\u2019s the heavy favorite to win a second straight MVP trophy \u2014 and because he\u2019s a finalist there, he\u2019s also a lock to make the All-NBA team for a fourth straight year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis award means a lot,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said on NBC Sports, which aired the award announcement. \u201cTo get this award, you have to help your team win games late and what I\u2019m about more than anything is winning games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander got 96 of a possible 100 first-place votes. Jamal Murray of Denver was second, one point ahead of Anthony Edwards of Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Edwards didn\u2019t reach the 65-game eligibility standard for most league awards like MVP and the All-NBA team \u2014 and unsuccessfully appealed for a waiver that would have put him on those ballots \u2014 but his candidacy for the clutch award wasn\u2019t affected by that rule.<\/p>\n
Instead, the finalists for the clutch award were decided by a survey of the league\u2019s coaches. That whittled the group down to 14 names, which were then placed onto the ballot that a panel of 100 reporters and broadcasters who cover the league filled out last week to decide the various awards.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a contender for the clutch award since it was added to the league\u2019s slate of trophies; he was third last season, eighth in 2024 and seventh in 2023.<\/p>\n
And now, it\u2019s his.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud I get to hoist it,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cIt means I\u2019m effective out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the fourth player to win the clutch award, which was added in tribute to Jerry West \u2014 the inspiration for the NBA\u2019s logo and the player long known as \u201cMr. Clutch\u201d as a nod to his exploits when the outcome of games was on the line.<\/p>\n
De\u2019Aaron Fox (then of Sacramento, now of San Antonio) was the first clutch award recipient in 2023, followed by Golden State\u2019s Stephen Curry in 2024 and New York\u2019s Jalen Brunson last season. Brunson was a nominee again this year, finishing fifth.<\/p>\n
Detroit\u2019s Cade Cunningham was fourth, followed by Brunson, Denver\u2019s Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia\u2019s Tyrese Maxey, the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 Luka Doncic, Houston\u2019s Kevin Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 Kawhi Leonard.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander, Brunson and Jokic are now the only players to get votes in the clutch balloting in all four seasons of the award\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n
Curry, Boston\u2019s Jayson Tatum and Dallas\u2019 Kyrie Irving saw their three-year streaks as clutch vote-getters end because of injuries; Curry missed about half the season, Tatum missed most of the season and Irving was sidelined for the entire season.<\/p>\n
For a play to be considered clutch, by the NBA\u2019s definition, these are the criteria: The score differential has to be five points or less, and the game has to be in either the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.<\/p>\n
All three of the leading vote-getters had compelling statistical arguments for the award:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 175 points in clutch times, plus was ninth with 21 assists in those situations. The Thunder went 20-7 in the 27 clutch games in which he played, and outscored opponents by 93 points in those clutch situations with him on the floor.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Edwards shot 56.5% from the field in clutch moments, the best of any of the league\u2019s 19 players that had at least 85 clutch-time points this season.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Murray was second in clutch points with 166 plus led the league with 30 clutch-time assists.<\/p>\n