Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderThe number of trophies is increasing.
Gilgeous-Alexander, The Oklahoma City The guard, the reigning MVP and NBA Finals MVP, is the Clutch Player of the Year award winner this season, the NBA announced Tuesday.
It is the first of many awards Gilgeous-Alexander will receive in the coming weeks. He’s a favorite to win a second straight MVP trophy — and because he’s a finalist there, he’s also a favorite to make the All-NBA team for the fourth year in a row.
“This award means a lot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said on NBC Sports, which aired the award announcement. “To get this award, you have to help your team win games late, and I’m about winning games, more than anything.”
Gilgeous-Alexander remained on top minnesota‘S Anthony Edwards And denver‘S jamal mare To win clutch prizes.
Edwards did not reach the 65-game eligibility standard for most league awards such as MVP and All-NBA Team – and unsuccessfully appealed for a waiver that would have put him on those ballots – but his candidacy for the Clutch Award was not affected by that rule.
Instead, the finalists for the Clutch Award were decided by a poll of the league’s coaches. This narrowed the group down to 14 names, which were then placed on the ballot, which was filled out by a panel of 100 journalists and broadcasters covering the league last week to decide the various awards.
Gilgeous-Alexander has been a contender for the clutch award since joining the league’s trophy list; He was third last season, eighth in 2024 and seventh in 2023.
“I’m proud that I was able to hoist it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It means I’m effective there.”
Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the fourth player to win the Clutch Award, which was added to the tribute jerry west – Inspiration for the NBA logo and player long known as “Mr. Clutch” for his exploits when a game was up for grabs.
De’Aaron Fox (then Sacramentoof now San Antonio) was the first Clutch Award recipient in 2023, followed by golden state‘S Stephen Curry in 2024 and new york‘S Jalen Brunson Last season. Brunson was the nominee again this year.
For a game to be considered clutch, according to the NBA’s definition, the criteria are: the score difference must be five points or less, and the game must be in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
All three leading vote-getters had compelling statistical arguments for the award:
– Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 175 points in clutch time, and was ninth with 21 assists in those situations. The Thunder went 20–7 in the 27 clutch games he played, and outscored opponents by 93 points in those clutch situations while he was on the court.
– Edwards shot 56.5% from the field in clutch moments, which is best among the 19 players in the league who had at least 85 clutch-time points this season.
-Murray was second in clutch points with 166 and led the league with 30 clutch-time assists.
The Clutch Award was the second award to be announced this season. of san antonio Victor Wembanyama was the unanimous winner of Defensive Player of the Year, which was announced Monday.
On Wednesday, the Sixth Man of the Year winner – either the Spurs’ keldon johnsonNuggets’ Tim Hardaway Jr.. Or miami‘S jaime jaquez jr. –will be disclosed. The league’s Sportsmanship Award winner will be announced on Thursday, followed by the Most Improved Player on Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
