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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reacts to winning 2025-26 Clutch Player of the Year
TL;DR
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025-26 Clutch Player of the Year award, earning 484 voting points. He led the league in clutch scoring with 175 points and 16 go-ahead field goals.
Key points
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the 2025-26 Clutch Player of the Year award
- He received 484 voting points, including 96 first-place votes
- Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in clutch scoring with 175 points
- He shot 51.5% in clutch situations
- He also led with 16 go-ahead field goals
Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City ThunderNBA
Mar 9, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after the Denver Nuggets score during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
In the fourth quarter of games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander followed one of two arcs — either he kicked his feet up to relax as the final dozen minutes played out or he tied Superman's cape around his shoulders to carry the reigning NBA champions to the finish line.
The NBA recognized the latter. Gilgeous-Alexander was named the 2025-26 Clutch Player of the Year award winner. He ran away with the trophy with 484 voting points — 96 first-place votes and one vote each for second-place and third-place.
The NBA defines the clutch as a five-point game within the final five minutes of regulation. In those scenarios, Gilgeous-Alexander was a one-man scoring machine. The walking 30-point bucket led the league in clutch scoring at 175 points on 51.5% shooting. He also led the league with 16 go-ahead field goals in those high-stress situations.
Add Clutch Player of the Year to Gilgeous-Alexander's stuffed trophy case. While the NBA's latest honor strengthens his all-time resume, he has his eyes on a bigger prize — possibly back-to-back MVP trophies. We'll see when that's announced, but in the meantime, here's what he had to say about his newest award:
On winning Clutch Player of the Year
"It’s amazing. Those moments for me growing up, watching them, are what got me most excited about the game of basketball in general. Just coming through for your team, for the fanbase, for everyone that wanted you to win and making a big time play. It was always the pinnacle of sports for me. Just being in that moment, night in and night out, and having the guys trust me, having the coaching staff trust me to go out there and make those plays, it means a whole lot. Just makes it easy on me to go out there and trust my work and be aggressive in those situations."
Q&A
How many voting points did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receive for Clutch Player of the Year?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received 484 voting points for the Clutch Player of the Year award.
What defines a clutch situation in the NBA?
A clutch situation in the NBA is defined as a game within five points during the final five minutes of regulation.
How many points did Gilgeous-Alexander score in clutch situations?
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 175 points in clutch situations during the 2025-26 season.
Who were the other finalists for the Clutch Player of the Year award?
Gilgeous-Alexander received 96 first-place votes, but the article does not specify the other finalists for the award.
