Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Clutch Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season Tuesday, making him the first non-American winner in the award's brief history.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and a finalist for this year's Michael Jordan Trophy as well, received the most votes among fellow finalists Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the fourth different Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year winner in the award’s four seasons.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 21, 2026
A global media panel of 100 voters made the selection.
Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1vu3ixK1pJ
Despite Oklahoma City occasionally resting Gilgeous-Alexander in fourth quarters after building massive leads, the Thunder star's 175 total points in clutch time - the last five minutes of a contest separated by no more than five points - are the most by any player this season. Gilgeous-Alexander only took part in 27 such games - 11 fewer than Murray, whose 166 total points ranked second - but the Thunder were 20-7 in those situations.
The nominees for Clutch Player of the Year are selected using recommendations from NBA head coaches, but the winner is voted on by a 100-member media panel.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson won the Jerry West Trophy last season as the best player in the clutch over Edwards and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. The first Clutch Player of the Year was awarded in 2023 to then-Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox, followed by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry in 2024.
Gilgeous-Alexander is up against Jokic in another tightly contested MVP race, marking the third straight season the pair will finish among voters' top three. San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is also in the running to claim what would be his first Michael Jordan Trophy.
