[Source](https://open.spotify.com/episode/34spf68TeE5uQpYWOLgHPE?si=kzYtYlgSRG-8pPUMVEzsSw&t=892&context=spotify%3Acollection%3Apodcasts%3Aepisodes)
>**Lowe:** This is a Pandora’s box. I’m sure they’re aware of the gate of hell that they’re opening by doing this, and are fine with it, but I’m already dreading all of the discourse around this award: “Clutch Shooter of the Year.” And if I’m reading this correctly, this is an actual award that people like me are gonna have to vote on? This is a thing?
>**Goldsberry:** I have one minor correction: it’s the “Clutch Player of the Year,” so it could be someone that’s very good at defense —
>**Lowe:** Yeah, I’m sure that it will be Clutch Defensive Player of the Year; “Andre Iguodala NAILED his rotations with the Warriors down 3.” No.
by lopea182
23 Comments
Just listened to the recent pod, Goldsberry also said the voters are going to choose from a pool of pre-selected candidates. Who picks those?
Fate of the universe on the line
If it were actually two way clutch it would exclusively be Giannis and Embiid competing for it (Kawhi if healthy) but Lowe is right that there’s no shot they consider clutch defense
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/zl3pqf/kevin_durant_mvp_narratives_and_the_bias_of_media/
I feel bad for my special r/nba homies who’re gonna compulsively need to post shit like this about yet another new award. They already have so much on their plate.
Klutch Sports must be loving this award.
If Dame doesn’t win it, smh fuck defense he’s the most clutch player in the league.
That last No confuses me. Is that part of the quote?
Bet the NBA will like the drama around it regardless. Its more chatter about the league.
Retroactive 2021-22 winner: DeMar DeRozan
The clutch award is a silly idea. Way to lean into the absolute dumbest part of nba discourse.
The Matt Ryan Award
Last year Jokic would have been a candidate with his clutch defense lol.
4 game winning blocks that helped us avoid the play in
the award could be oversaturated by players on mid teams, who are always in close games.
Does this mean Lebron and Rich Paul sit around a table and give the award to… Lonnie Walker? KCP? JTA?
Game 3 2017 nba finals, less than a minute left, LeBron gets the inbound pass in the corner and gets stripped by Iguodala as he goes up for 3. Clutch defensive play under the brightest lights.
Id give the award to Bam Adebayo for his block on Tatum in G1 of the ECF.
Or LeBrons chasedown on Iggy in the Finals.
Even something stupid like Smart drawing multiple offensive fouls on Harden to close the game.
There is plenty of opportunity for clutch, flashy defensive plays. Honestly the “clutch” probably is more prominent on defensive plays near the end of the game.
i’ll never understand how the entire NBA media is up in a bunch about Kyrie’s shit when Iguodala’s said extremely homophobic shit about his own daughter (hypothetically but still) and yet, we treasure him as the best possible role player of the last ten years from everyone, even supposed liberal people.
motherfucker literally also suggested in an interview Mark Jackson is blackballed as a coach *because* of his homophobia
takes two minutes to Google but hey, he’ll take the last shot or whatever.
This pod sounded like NBA paid advertising. Was weird.
I loved the episode because Zack dug up all the Dirk stats in the clutch and gave him his vote to have the award named after him.
If it’s actually meant to be Clutch Player of the Year then Dame is a lock and it shouldn’t even be close
it seems like a way to reward someone who has hit a couple big shots or game winners, maybe had a good year and made the playoffs, who would otherwise not be on any ALL NBA teams or in MVP running. Derozan, dame, someone else with cool iso plays.
I hate the way people discuss being “clutch” bc so much of it is just luck. No one is better or worse at making shots based on the time on a clock.
Aren’t these awards voted on before the playoffs?