Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named Clutch Player Of Year

He has earned the league’s Clutch Player of the Year Award, according to the NBA league office (Twitter link). Gilgeous-Alexander scored a league-leading 175 points on 51.5% shooting from the field in 125.1 clutch minutes played this season. He also led the league with 52 made field goals in the clutch. That’s 52.3 minutes less than Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, who ranked second with 166 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA with 16 go-ahead field goals in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime this season, including a game-winning stepback three-pointer versus Denver on March 9. The Thunder posted a 124.5 offensive rating and 23.8 net rating during clutch time, both second best in the NBA. Oklahoma City went 24-10 in clutch games this season.

Per the NBA’s “Clutch” tracking data, Gilgeous-Alexander’s average of 6.5 points in the clutch is the best in the NBA among those who played more than one clutch game, according to The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi.

Murray and Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards were the other finalists. Gilgeous-Alexander gained 96 of a possible 100 first-place votes from a media panel. Murray edged out Edwards by one vote for second place. Full results can be found here.

This is the fourth season that the league has given out a Clutch Player award. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson won it last season.