Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named 2025-26 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year, the league announced Tuesday. The award recognizes his outstanding performance in high-pressure situations during the final minutes of close games. Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA with 175 total clutch points and averaged 6.5 points per game in clutch time this season. He similarly made an NBA-leading 16 go-ahead field goals in those critical moments. The NBA defines clutch time as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime in games where the score differential is five points or less. Despite the Thunder’s dominant season, which often resulted in blowout victories, Gilgeous-Alexander still appeared in 27 clutch games – fewer than other top scorers like Jamal Murray, who played in 38 such games. In the clutch games he did play, Gilgeous-Alexander was exceptional, helping the Thunder to a 20-7 record in those situations. His clutch plus-minus exceeded 80 points, the highest in the league. The voting process involved a global media panel of 100 reporters and broadcasters. Gilgeous-Alexander received 96 first-place votes and accumulated 484 total points, easily outpacing finalists Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards. This marks Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth different major NBA award in recent seasons, adding to his reign as MVP and NBA Finals MVP. He is the fourth different winner of the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year award since its inception in the 2022-23 season, joining De’Aaron Fox (2023), Stephen Curry (2024), and Jalen Brunson (2025). The Thunder star emphasized that the award reflects his commitment to winning games late, stating that helping his team succeed in clutch situations is central to his approach on the court.
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