Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA really leaned into sports debate culture when they decided to honor Jerry West by bestowing his name upon the league’s new Clutch Player of the Year Award in December. In case the commish and other league officials haven’t been paying attention, sports (specifically basketball) debate culture is likely at an all-time low. The conversations around a player’s greatness is under constant scrutiny in ways that could easily recoil the game’s most ardent fans. Be it the Kevin Durant “bus driver/bus rider” dialogue (we warned of this years ago), or ex-players arguing on separate shows on the same network about Nikola Jokić’s alleged stat-padding, or even the racial and cultural biases that influence MVP voting, it’s all pretty exhausting. And that’s before you enter the LeBron James GOAT vortex, which was reignited after he became the NBA’s scoring king last month.
Ordinarily, we strive to provide a sense of truth and anti-hyperbole, and we’re doing it again with this piece. Only this time, we’re somewhat entertaining basketball’s goofy discourse by giving readers a proper roadmap for conversations around one of the most easily misconceived ideas of the sport: the concept of “clutch”.
Too often, players who are your classic choke artists are confused with those who just haven’t won at the highest level, for whatever reason. Conversely, some players who tend to struggle more late in games aren’t held accountable enough. But what happens in the closing seconds goes a long way towards shaping a player’s narrative, which right or wrong, sticks to them like Spliff Star sticks to Busta Rhymes. Expect the player who wins the first ever Clutch Player of the Year Award (De’Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler and Jalen Brunson appear to be in the running) to see a significant boost in their perception as big time performer, even if they don’t actually live up to it down the road.
Sidebar: See Chauncy Billups aka “Mr. Big Shot” (insert eye roll).
So to help you navigate the sleazy world of basketball debate, we’re looking back at the seasons from 2012 through 2022 to find out who should have hypothetically won the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year Award. Please use this information wisely and remember not to engage with anyone who gets the majority of their sports opinions from yesterday’s episode of First Take or Undisputed.
How Winners Were Determined
Awardees were determined by a variety of factors:
- We looked heavily at what the NBA deems “clutch time” statistics (usually totals). That being, numbers accrued in the last five minutes or overtime of games where the score is within five points or less.
- Scoring was weighted highly, however point totals were not the only factor. Shooting percentages and plus/minus (+/-) considerably influenced these outcomes. In other words, if a player scored the most points, but had the most attempts and shot a horrible percentage (even considering that shooting percentages typically drop in a game’s waning moments), that player was no lock to finish in our top three. Assists, turnovers and defensive stats also impacted decisions.
- Statistics from the final 10 seconds of a game where the score was within three points or less — we’ll call this “winning time” — was occasionally considered. Although this was weighted less than clutch time due to the notably smaller sample size.
- Other factors, such as a team’s record in close games, overall record, game-winners or buzzer-beaters, and other ancillary circumstances from that season were taken into account.
2021-22 Clutch Player of the Year: DeMar DeRozan
2nd Place: Chris Paul
3rd Place: Joel Embiid
DeRozan was quietly fantastic in 2022, finishing second in total points (one behind Embiid) on a higher shooting percentage, with fewer turnovers and a significantly better +/-. DeRozan also led the NBA in winning time scoring (15 points). Amazingly, the USC product had two buzzer-beaters on consecutive days in two separate years–one on December 31, 2021 and one on January 1, 2022. Both three-pointers, both trailing, both on the road, both of a high degree of difficulty. That may NEVER be duplicated.
CP3 was so good in clutch time, he and four of his teammates made up five of the top six spots in the NBA in clutch +/- (Paul, Mikal Bridges, Devin Booker, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton finished 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6 respectively). Paul led the NBA in this stat and was 39 points better than the next non-Sun. He also led the league with 34 assists with only four turnovers, to go along with 80 points on 57% shooting (Embiid shot 47%; Nikola Jokić shot 49.5%). Phoenix had by far the best clutch time record in basketball and the best overall record in the NBA.
Jokić was right near the top in all the stats you’d expect (a constant theme of the last several years). The edge for third place though goes to Embiid, who was good enough to win the award most years. His 14 clutch time blocks is an absurd number. He also finished third in rebounds, which shows the impact he can still have on both ends (when he wants to). Embiid was an incredible 11-24 on clutch time three’s last season, shooting a far better percentage than the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Trae Young and Luka Dončić. Maybe this is why he should’ve won MVP.
2020-21 Clutch Player of the Year: Damian Lillard
2nd Place: Nikola Jokić
3rd Place: Chris Paul
Dame Dolla prevailed here, as he led the NBA in points and +/-, and was fourth in assists. He all but single-handedly won a game in Chicago and his breathtaking late game shot-making was on display all year. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was keeping Jokić’s name off the trophy. The Joker shot near 50% and was tied for fourth in scoring, and finished top 10 in assists, rebounds and steals (surprisingly) on a team that finished third in the West with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. missing 35 games combined during a shortened season.
This was Paul’s first year in Phoenix. He joined a team with a .466 win percentage and turned it into a team with a .708 win percentage (one game back for tops in the NBA). The Suns were 25th in win percentage in games decided by three points or fewer in 2020, but led the NBA with a 9-3 record in those same games with Paul running the show. Paul tied for sixth in scoring and seventh in assists. The Point God should’ve won MVP this season, but we digress.
Honorable mention shouts to Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook, who were both great in the clutch as teammates for the Wizards. However their high turnover numbers and sub .500 win/loss record kept them out of the top three.
2019-20 Clutch Player of the Year: Chris Paul
2nd Place: Nikola Jokić
3rd Place: DeMar DeRozan
Going on 35 years of age, CP3 joined Oklahoma City after being traded for Russell Westbrook, a deal in which the Rockets gave up additional assets to GET RID of Paul. It was seen as a rebuilding year for the Thunder and the end of the line for the future hall of famer, who was repeatedly labeled “the worst contract in basketball” by more than one outlet. Under Paul’s leadership, OKC finished with a higher win percentage and playoff seed than the previous season. Time and again, Chris took over whole games on both ends. He led the NBA in clutch scoring on 52/37/92 shooting splits, while also finishing tied for first in clutch time steals, and was top 20 in assists.
In case you thought 2022 was an accident, the Thunder were so good in big moments, Paul again did that thing where his entire squad was among the league leaders in clutch time +/- (Dennis Schroder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, CP3, Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari finished 1, 2, 3, 5, & 6).
Jokić was again worthy of winning, finishing second in scoring and rebounds, fourth in assists and was the only non-OKC player to end the year in the top 5 of clutch +/-. He was also a supreme 5-5 on winning time shots.
DeRozan led the Spurs late in games and finished fourth in scoring (on 50% shooting) and sixth in assists, with a stellar 26:4 assist-to-turnover ratio.
2018-19 Clutch Player of the Year: Kyrie Irving
2nd Place: Kawhi Leonard
3rd Place: Trae Young
Among The Association’s most clutch players for years, Kyrie takes home the hardware in 2019. He was third in total points but shot a significantly higher percentage than James Harden and Kemba Walker, who finished ahead of him. He was also fourth in +/-; nobody else who finished in the top 15 in scoring was within 29 +/- points of Uncle Drew.
Kawhi was 2nd in +/- for players in top 15 in total points, while ending the year fourth in points, shooting considerably better than Harden and Walker as well. Kawhi’s clutchness that year also made a memorable appearance in the playoffs.
Trae Young tied for league lead with five winning time field goals (one buzzer beater) and finished 11th in total points and second in assists.
2017-18 Clutch Player of the Year: LeBron James
2nd Place: DeMar DeRozan
3rd Place: Russell Westbrook
LeBron James was in outer-space in 2018. His 197 total points was most in clutch time in any season of this decade-long exercise, and he did it on nearly 56% shooting. He was also second in +/- for a Cavs team that the had most clutch time wins.
It’s seasons like this that should’ve permanently erased any notion that LeBron is not an all-time great crunch time player. The video below — that includes two playoff buzzer beaters — is enough to cement a career in the clutchness, yet it only represents one season’s work of LeBron James.
DeRozan and Westbrook tied for second in scoring, with the Toronto swingman shooting better from the field, with a far better +/-. Despite high turnover figures, Westbrook did lead everyone in clutch assists and beat the Kings on a three at the horn.
2016-17 Clutch Player of the Year: Russell Westbrook
2nd Place: Isaiah Thomas
3rd Place: John Wall
Everything fell on Russ after Kevin Durant left him high and dry to chase an easy ring in Golden State. All Westbrook did was average a triple-double (which at the time was thought to be impossible, especially for a guard) lead NBA in scoring and win MVP.
Westbrook is the hardest great player of his era to gauge historically. He’s regularly disrespected despite his accomplishments, but stat slaves often ignore his shortcomings. But Brodie was undeniably great in 2017, leading the league in clutch time scoring. He shooting percentages were nothing special, but Westbrook was and always will be a volume scorer. Finishing tied for second in clutch time rebounds and steals, with an eye-popping 27 winning time points sealed the deal for #0. Why not?
On a team whose next best player was Avery Bradley, IT led the Celtics to the top spot in the East. He was second in scoring and first in +/- en route to Boston having a fantastic 30-14 record in close games where Thomas saw the floor. “Top of the top” stuff.
People forget how good peak John Wall was. He ended the year fifth in clutch points and first in assists (by a healthy amount). Wall was also top 10 in steals and +/-, and his Wizards had the most clutch time wins in the NBA.
2015-16 Clutch Player of the Year: Stephen Curry
2nd Place: Reggie Jackson
3rd Place: Dwyane Wade
Harden is right near the top of the raw numbers, but he shot terribly from the field and from three-point range in clutch time. Meanwhile, Curry was everything this season—the first ever unanimous MVP on a record-breaking 73-9 team. But Steph was also tied for second in +/- , tied for eighth in clutch scoring (second in threes made) and led the Warriors to league best 7-2 in games decided by three points or less. And who could forget that one Saturday night in Oklahoma City?
Reggie Jackson led NBA in scoring in 2015-16, shooting decently from field and great from beyond the arc. Deron Williams and J.J. Redick were the only top 25 scorers who shot a better from three.
A historically prime clutch performer, D Wade was top six in points and assists, shot 50% from the floor (better than all but two of the top 20 scorers) and trailed only Curry and Jackson in +/- among top 10 scorers.
2014-15 Clutch Player of the Year: James Harden
2nd Place: Monta Ellis
3rd Place: LaMarcus Aldridge
And this is why Harden couldn’t win it in 2016—because he’s capable of performing at such a higher level with the game on the line. The Beard was excellent in 2015, leading the NBA in clutch scoring and tied for fourth in assists. His 48.1% shooting was higher than the likes of LeBron, CP3, Durant and Curry, and he was first in clutch threes made (at a 52% clip). The Rockets had the third best record in basketball, while Harden led the NBA in win shares.
Monta Ellis was on fire for the Mavericks in 2015, finishing second in points, tied for fifth in +/-, and he even hit this impossible shot to win a contest in Milwaukee.
LA edges out Mike Conley Jr. for third place, after posting the fourth best point total on 56% shooting for a Blazers team that was a league best 5-1 in games decided by three points or less.
2013-14 Clutch Player of the Year: Kevin Durant
2nd Place: Damian Lillard
3rd Place: LeBron James
Though his field goal percentage was unimpressive (it’d make for a great batting average though), Kevin Durant won the (actual) scoring title and led the NBA in win shares, netting him is only MVP. Additionally, he won the clutch scoring title, and was first in field goals and threes made.
KD’s overall excellence this season contributed to the decision to win the 2014 Jerry West award because Lillard’s crunch time campaign was arguably more impressive. He was fifth in scoring, shot a much higher percentage, had a better +/- and led league in winning time points (if there was ever a moment that solidified Lillard as a end-of-game monster, it was this one from the 2014 Playoffs). But considering Russell Westbrook missed 36 games and OKC still finished with the league’s second-best record, Durant gets the nod.
LeBron ended the year second in total points (yet only 12th in FGAs), beating out Monta Ellis and James Harden for the third spot.
2012-13 Clutch Player of the Year: LeBron James
2nd Place: Kobe Bryant
3rd Place: Chris Paul
Paul was seventh in points on 49.2% shooting (higher than any top 15 scorer), while Mamba led the league in total clutch points, but The King stood alone.
A 27-game win streak (seven games decided by five points or less or went into OT during the streak), a league best record, and an outstanding +125 plus/minus led the league; LeBron was just on another level. James did “that Chris Paul thing” before Chris Paul: the highest non-Heat player in +/- was sixth and trailed LeBron by a cool 50 points! He also led league in total assists by a wide margin and was third in total rebounds. The Heat were an NBA best 9-3 in games decided by three points or fewer.
2011-12 Clutch Player of the Year: Chris Paul
2nd Place: Joe Johnson
3rd Place: Kobe Bryant
CP3 tied for second in points (only two behind of Durant), was tops in assists and tied for the lead in clutch steals. These days, Lob City is viewed as an underachievement, but Paul’s clutch play helped transform the hapless Clippers’ win percentage from .390 in 2011 to .606 during his first season in L.A. in 2012.
Joe Johnson and Kobe were top 5 in scoring and +/-. but Iso Joe shot a higher percentage across the board with a less talented team around him. The +/- metric separates Kobe (+70) and a young Kevin Durant (+9), who scored the most, but shot poorly from the floor.