Jalen Brunson basically plays basketball the way point guards did back in the 90s—not afraid of contact—and plays every minute of every game with grit and determination.

Brunson has been named the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year, securing the Jerry West Trophy with a commanding 70 first-place votes out of 100 possible ballots. Clearly, this is an award that Brunson absolutely deserves.

He becomes the third winner of this relatively new honor, following Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox, who claimed the inaugural award after the 2022-23 season, and Golden State's Stephen Curry, who took home the trophy in 2024. This victory continues the trend of point guards dominating the category, with Brunson having previously finished in the top five in voting during each of the award's first two seasons.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić placed second with 26 first-place votes, while Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards rounded out the finalists with just 2 first-place votes.

BRUNSON IS THE DEFINITION OF CLUTCH

The NBA defines clutch performance as excellence "when the game is on the line," specifically during the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score differential is within five points.

By this measure, Brunson's command of crucial moments throughout the season proved nearly unmatched. He finished just a single point behind Edwards in total clutch scoring (156 to Edwards' 157), but accomplished this feat in significantly less time. Brunson's clutch efficiency tells the true story:

• 1.15 points per clutch minute (league best among qualified players)

• 51.5% field goal percentage in clutch situations

• 28 clutch assists (third in the league)

While Jokić shot a slightly better percentage (56.2%) in the clutch and collected significantly more rebounds (50 compared to Brunson's 11), voters clearly valued Brunson's scoring efficiency and playmaking responsibility for a Knicks team that secured the Eastern Conference's third seed.

Season of Excellence

This recognition adds to what has already been a remarkable campaign for Brunson, who earned his second consecutive All-Star selection while posting season averages of 26 points, 7.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. His shooting efficiency remained impressive throughout the season, connecting on 48.8% from the field and 38.3% from three-point range.

Brunson's clutch play has continued into the postseason, where his Knicks are currently locked in a 1-1 series tie with the Detroit Pistons. The series shifts to Detroit for Game 3 on Thursday, where Brunson will have another opportunity to showcase the late-game composure that earned him the Mr. Clutch title this year.

For a Knicks franchise that has long searched for a reliable floor general and crunch-time scorer, Brunson's emergence as the league's premier clutch performer marks a significant milestone in their ongoing quest to become a true contender.