Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBA Clutch Player of the Year; is MVP next?

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 21, 2026

In addition to that league-leading scoring figure, Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Thunder to a 20-7 record in those clutch games. He shot 51.5% from the floor and added 21 assists, 16 rebounds, four steals and two blocks. The Thunder won his clutch minutes by a staggering 93 points. He was the only player in the NBA with a clutch plus-minus above 80.

Gilgeous-Alexander was named as a finalist for two major individual awards. The first was Clutch Player of the Year, which seemed in hand for the entire season. The other was the one he won a year ago: Most Valuable Player. He is a finalist for the NBA's most notable individual honor alongside Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, though an announcement for the Michael Jordan trophy has not yet been scheduled. It typically comes a bit deeper into the playoffs.

[Victor Wembanyama unanimously named NBA Defensive Player of the Year -- and it should be the first of many

Sam Quinn

For now, Gilgeous-Alexander adds a trophy he hadn't yet won, and its namesake, West, is a player Gilgeous-Alexander is chasing up the historical ladder. Gilgeous-Alexander, like West, is currently a one-time MVP and champion, though that could change on both fronts over the next few months. Gilgeous-Alexander is building a resume few guards in league history have ever matched, and this trophy is yet another to throw in his steadily growing pile.