The NBA declared on Thursday that Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry secured the Jerry West Trophy, which honors the league’s most clutch player. Among the contenders were Chicago Bulls’ Demar DeRozan and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Curry became only the second recipient of this award for his standout performances during clutch moments, defined by the NBA as games within five points with five minutes or less remaining on the clock.
Curry garnered 45 first-place votes, 18 second-place votes, and 19 third-place votes, accumulating a total of 298 points. DeRozan, on the other hand, received 34 first-place votes, 27 second-place votes, and 21 third-place votes, totaling 272 points.
Notably, DeRozan has been the leading scorer in clutch situations over the past two seasons, and this season, he surpassed the highest points scored in overtime since the 2006-07 season. Despite DeRozan’s remarkable clutch performances, the Chicago Bulls’ overall performance has not received much recognition, highlighting the need for the team to elevate itself into contention status.
Meanwhile, DeRozan’s teammate, Coby White, narrowly missed out on an NBA accolade as Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey clinched the Most Improved Player award.
As the offseason approaches, DeRozan’s contract situation remains a significant concern for the Bulls. Reports suggest that Chicago offered him a lucrative two-year deal, but DeRozan is aiming for a longer contract as he embarks on the next phase of his illustrious career.
