Shai Gilgeous-Alexander etched another chapter into his burgeoning legacy, securing the 2025-26 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the YearCompetition·Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year award for the second straight season. The reigning MVP, who guided the Oklahoma City Thunder to a league-best 64-18 regular-season mark, topped the NBA with 175 clutch points—defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score sits within five points.
Gilgeous-Alexander's command in those pressure-packed windows proved decisive, as he paced the league in clutch minutes played (312) and powered OKC to a 28-12 record in those scenarios. His efficiency stood out: 10.2 points per 36 clutch minutes on 51/40/92 shooting splits from the field, three-point line, and free-throw stripe. Season-long dominance underpinned the feat, with 31.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game on 55.3% field goal and 38.6% three-point shooting—stats that ranked him second in scoring league-wide.
The announcement from the NBA on April 21 highlighted Gilgeous-Alexander's edge in voting, where he garnered 43 first-place votes from a 100-member media panel. That outpaced runner-up De'Aaron Fox (21 votes) and Stephen CurryPlayer·Stephen Curry (14), surpassing even his 37 votes from the prior year. Finalists Jamal Murray and Anthony EdwardsPlayer·Anthony Edwards rounded out the top contenders, but Gilgeous-Alexander's volume and impact proved unmatched. He notched 15 clutch games with 5+ points, including game-winners against the Nuggets and Clippers, cementing his reputation as the league's late-game operator.
As a former Kentucky Wildcat—the second to claim this award after Fox in 2023—Gilgeous-Alexander's hardware haul now includes consecutive Clutch Player honors since the award's inception in 2022-23. His playmaking sharpened under defensive focus, averaging 4.1 clutch assists per game and delivering a +12.4 net rating for the Thunder with him on the floor in crunch time. Media voices echoed the sentiment: ESPN's Tim Bontemps dubbed him the "NBA's clutch king," while The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor praised his "ice-cold" execution.
Teammate Chet Holmgren captured the locker-room vibe: "SGA doesn't miss."
Gilgeous-Alexander himself leaned into the trust factor that defines his role. Growing up idolizing clutch performers fueled his drive, a mindset that now translates nightly.
With the playoffs on the horizon—OKC locked in as the West's No. 1 seed—this accolade bolsters a repeat MVP candidacy built on elite scoring volume and two-way impact. The Canadian star's poise in the spotlight positions the Thunder for a deep postseason run, where clutch mastery will face its ultimate test.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder teammates on the bench during a game. (Icon Sportswire/IMAGO)
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