Jalen Brunson has routinely delivered in the biggest moments and is now being rewarded for his efforts.
The New York Knicks guard was officially named the 2024-25 Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year, the NBA announced on Wednesday.
“Clutch” time in the NBA is defined as the final five minutes of a game in which the margin between two teams is five points or fewer. And Brunson led the league in clutch scoring (5.6) and made field goals (1.9) this season while ranking second in total clutch points (156).
Fellow finalist Anthony Edwards led the league with 157 total clutch points. Brunson was more efficient than the Minnesota Timberwolves star, however, as he shot 51.5 per cent from the field in clutch games and was a plus-22 compared to Edwards, who was a minus-51.
Brunson was first in the clutch for total field goals (52), usage (42.4 per cent) while ranking second in made free throws (42) and third in assists (28).
All the while, the Knicks’ two-time all-star led New York to the NBA’s most productive clutch offence (11.6 points per game). In the 28 clutch games in which Brunson played, the Knicks had a 17-11 record and the fifth-best win percentage.
Brunson beat out Edwards and Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic for the award. He’s the third winner since the NBA began handing out the award, joining De’Aaron Fox — the inaugural winner in 2022-23 —and Stephen Curry, who won last year.
The 28-year-old averaged 26.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists through 65 games with New York this season. Brunson and his third-seeded Knicks return to action on Thursday as they visit the Detroit Pistons for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, tied 1-1.