Jon Metler
• Betting Analyst
5+ years betting experience
Updated:
Oct 1, 2026 , 10:47 PM ET
• 4 min read
Jalen Brunson, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic headline the favorites to win the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) moves the ball to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter during game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.
Few things in sports are as thrilling as two NBA superstars going bucket for bucket in a close game in the fourth quarter, and the NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds track the players who thrive when the lights are the brightest.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t just a back-to-back NBA MVP last season; he was also the winner of the Clutch Player of the Year award after finishing with 175 clutch points, which led the NBA.
The Clutch Player of the Year award has a pretty simple formula for becoming one of the favorites on one of our prediction market apps and eventually winning the award: lead the NBA in total clutch points, and you’re more than likely going home with some hardware at the end of the season.
Track the latest NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds movement below, and find more futures markets in our NBA odds.
NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds
Check back soon for official NBA Clutch Player of the Year odds from Polymarket!
NBA Clutch Player of the Year favorites
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson won this award in 2024-25 and finished eighth in clutch points last season with 116. Nobody has repeatedly proven under the brightest lights that they’re more built for the moment than Brunson.
Brunson will find himself near the top of the board when the odds open on Polymarket, and it makes complete sense. Nothing has changed with the Knicks’ roster or coaching staff that would impact his role or ability in clutch situations.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won this award last season, but over the last three NBA Playoffs, Brunson leads the NBA in clutch points, finishing 59 points ahead of second-place Gilgeous-Alexander.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic finished third in clutch points last season with 155 and has ranked in the top four in clutch points in each of the last three seasons. Ironically, the runner-up for the award last season and the player who finished with the second-most clutch points was Jokic’s teammate, Jamal Murray.
The problem for Jokic is that he has competition for clutch points on his own team, and that could be amplified with DeMar DeRozan joining the Nuggets as a free agent. DeRozan has consistently ranked among the league leaders in clutch points during his time with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings and is well known for his fourth-quarter heroics throughout his career.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is going to find himself among the favorites in this market when the odds open on Polymarket, and a lot of that will have to do with the departure of LeBron James.
There’s no more sharing the ball in the clutch for Doncic. He is the clear 1A and alpha of this roster, and he’ll have the opportunity to take every clutch shot he wants when the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a close game.
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NBA Clutch Player of the Year betting trends
Since Clutch Player of the Year was introduced in 2023, the winner has led the NBA in total clutch points in three of the first four years the award has been given out. The only exception was Jalen Brunson in 2024-25, when he won the award despite finishing just one point behind Anthony Edwards in total clutch points.
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How is Clutch Player of the Year decided?
Like the rest of the NBA’s awards, Clutch Player of the Year is voted on by a panel of 100 media personnel at the conclusion of the regular season. Players are chosen based on varied criteria including:
Number of clutch games played
A clutch game is defined (for this award’s context) as a game that is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining. If a player’s team has been involved in a disproportionately high number of these games, voters may give their performances more weight across the wider sample.
Record in clutch games
Of course, it matters how the candidate’s team performed in those games, and if they came away with more than their share of wins, that looks impressive on a resume come ballot time.
Stats recorded in clutch time
Maybe the most important is what the player personally does to ensure his team gets the clutch win — fourth-quarter scoring is of particular importance, but all clutch stats will factor into a sound voting process.
Key or memorable plays
Intangible moments can also hold weight in a close race: A memorable highlight or game-winner that resonated in the season’s zeitgeist will help a candidate, as will a huge performance in a win against a big rival, or to seal a win in a tight race for playoff seeding.
Past Clutch Player of the Year winners
It’s a pretty exclusive list…
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 |  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2024-25 |  Jalen Brunson |
| 2023-24 |  Stephen Curry |
| 2022-23 |  De’Aaron Fox |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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NBA Clutch Player of the Year FAQ
Cade Cunningham and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the betting favorites to win the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award.
New York’s Jalen Brunson won Clutch Player of the Year this past season.
NBA media will vote at the end of the regular season, based on criteria such as fourth-quarter scoring, usage rate in clutch games, and win rate.