With the NBA in the midst of the All-Star break, now is a great time to place wagers on NBA awards that will be decided at the end of the regular season. For the third year in a row, the NBA will be naming a Clutch Player of the Year, which is given to the player that the voters believe was best in late-game situations of close affairs. Below are the current odds for the Clutch Player of the Year award on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nikola Jokic is having another incredible season and is the current favorite for the Clutch Player of the Year award. When analyzing players’ results in clutch situations this season, which is when there is five minutes or less in the game and the difference in the score is five points or less, Jokic ranks fourth in PPG (4.5) and third in total assists (20). Furthermore, Jokic is shooting a terrific 56% from the field in clutch situations, which is the best field-goal percentage among the 12 players who have attempted more than 50 shots in clutch situations this season. That being said, Jokic has been turnover-prone when the game is on the line, ranking fourth in clutch turnovers (12), so while the center is the current favorite at -105 on DraftKings Sportsbook, this is very much an open race.
A player who stands out as a great value in this market at a +650 price on DraftKings Sportsbook and has a real chance to win the Clutch Player of the Year award is Jalen Brunson. Brunson leads the NBA in clutch points this season at 5.3 PPG and he is shooting 53% from the field in these situations, which is very impressive for a point guard. Plus, Brunson ranks fourth in clutch assists (17). With the Knicks having an excellent season at 36-18 and likely finishing as one of the top seeds in the NBA, Brunson makes a ton of sense for this award, as the NBA will likely in some way want to recognize New York’s success this season.
Another player to consider is Jayson Tatum at +1600 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Similar to Brunson with the Knicks, a Celtic winning an award is logical given the defending champion’s immense success this season at 39-16 and with Tatum a long shot to win MVP, the superstar making a run for Clutch Player of the Year feels very possible. In clutch situations this season, Tatum ranks eighth in PPG (3.6). The forward has been even better as a facilitator with 22 assists, which ranks second in the NBA, compared to only six turnovers. Tatum already has a vintage game-winner against the Pelicans on his resume this season and his +1600 odds for this award simply don’t reflect how good he has been in late-game situations.
