As they prepare for Game 3 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena, the New York Knicks received a major boost: Jalen Brunson was selected as the 2025 NBA Clutch Player of the Year. The guard broke his silence after earning the award.
“It means a lot,” Brunson said after learning he was the league’s top vote-getter for his key contributions to the Knicks during the 2024-25 season, according to reporter Ian Begley via X on Thursday.
Despite the award being largely individual, Jalen didn’t take all the credit for himself. “It’s a credit to us winning close games and my teammates and coaches having my back,” explained the 28-year-old guard.
Brunson had a standout 2024-25 regular season with the Knicks, averaging 26 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds across 65 games. His numbers in crunch time were especially impressive: he led the league in clutch situations with an average of 5.6 points and a 51.5% field goal percentage.
What is the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award?
The Clutch Player of the Year award, named after Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West, is presented to the player who “best comes through for his teammates in the clutch” during the NBA regular season. It recognizes impact in decisive moments, particularly in the final minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.
The award was first introduced in 2023, with De’Aaron Fox and Stephen Curry being the previous winners before Jalen Brunson. The voting process begins with nominations from NBA head coaches, after which a media panel selects the winner. Each voter ranks three players, awarding 5 points for first place, 3 for second, and 1 for third. The player with the highest total score wins.
How did the Clutch Player of the Year voting play out?
Jalen Brunson won the award by a wide margin. The Knicks star was the overwhelming favorite, receiving 70 of the possible 100 first-place votes. He was named second by 24 voters and third by 4. Only two of the 100 voters left him off their ballots entirely.
In the total points tally, Brunson finished first with 426 points, well ahead of Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, who had 312. The rest of the field lagged far behind: Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards placed third with 47, and Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young was fourth with 44.
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Did Jalen Brunson deserve the Clutch Player of the Year award?
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