Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the runaway winner in the Clutch Player of ​the Year award balloting, revealed Tuesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander ‌received 96 of 100 first-place votes in ​balloting for the Jerry West Trophy. ⁠He had 484 total points, well ahead of Denver Nuggets standout Jamal Murray (117) and Minnesota Timberwolves star ‌Anthony Edwards (116).

Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning league MVP and is favoured to win ‌the award again this season.

But he liked ‌receiving ⁠the Jerry West Trophy too.

“This award ⁠means a lot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the Clutch Player award on NBC Sports. “To get this award, you have ​to help your ‌team win games late and what I’m about more than anything is winning games.”

Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA with 175 points that occurred ‌in clutch time, defined as games that ​were within five points in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

He ⁠shot 60.9 per cent from the field (39 of 64) during clutch time and made a league- best ‌16 go-ahead field goals.

Fourth-place Cade Cunningham (50 points) of the Detroit Pistons received one first-place vote, fifth-place Jalen Brunson (42 points) of the New York Knicks landed two and sixth-place Nikola Jokic (37 points) of Denver received one.

This was ‌the fourth season in which the award was given ​out.

De’Aaron Fox (then with the Sacramento Kings) won the 2023 award, followed ⁠by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in ⁠2024 and Brunson last season. Fox now plays for the San Antonio Spurs.

West ‌was known as “Mr. Clutch” during his stellar career (1960-74) with the Los Angeles Lakers due ​to his many late-game exploits. He died in 2024.

Published on Apr 22, 2026