Shai Claims First Award of the Season; See Where Jokic Finished

This marks the first of several accolades Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could potentially claim in the coming weeks. He's a strong contender for the MVP trophy, which all but guarantees his inclusion in the All-NBA team for the fourth consecutive year.

"This award means a lot," the Canadian told NBC Sports.

"To earn this, you have to help your team secure wins in crunch time, and for me, winning is the most important thing."

Gilgeous-Alexander edged out Jamal Murray of Denver and Anthony Edwards of Minnesota for this recognition.

The Oklahoma City Thunder guard amassed 484 points in the final voting tally, while Murray finished with 117 and Edwards with 116.

Nikola Jokic was also in contention. The Nuggets' center placed sixth overall, with 37 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the fourth player to win the Clutch Player of the Year award. De'Aaron Fox was the inaugural recipient in 2023, followed by Steph Curry in 2024, and Jalen Brunson last season.

This is the second award announced this season. Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio was previously named Defensive Player of the Year.

Upcoming announcements include the Sixth Man of the Year, followed by the Sportsmanship Award and the Most Improved Player.

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