Why Fox deserves to win Clutch Player of the Year award originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SACRAMENTO — Game 2 was on the line Monday night at Golden 1 Center.
The Kings, clinging to a three-point lead with just over two minutes to play, watched as Warriors guard Steph Curry flicked up a potential game-tying 3-point attempt.
When it clanked off the back iron, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was waiting below the rim. He boxed out Golden State center Kevon Looney to grab the board, passed it ahead to teammate Malik Monk and trailed the play to knock down a wide-open 3-pointer for a six-point lead.
The Warriors would never be within one possession again. The Kings won 114-106 to claim a two-games-to-none series lead.
Fox’s reaction? A simple thumbs up towards the Kings’ bench. It was just another day in the office for the 25-year-old guard, who has proven time and time again this season that he is the NBA’s best player with the game on the line.
The NBA will announce the winner of the first annual Clutch Player of the Year award on Tuesday evening. Last week, Fox was named one of three finalists alongside Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler.
Fox should win the award in a landslide.
In clutch time, defined by the final five minutes of a five-point game, Fox led the NBA in total points (194) while shooting 52.9 percent from the field. That clip led all 21 players with at least 70 field-goal attempts in the clutch.
Those 194 points were 35 more than DeRozan in second place, and the 11th-most clutch points ever recorded in a single season since play-by-play data became available in 1996.
Filter it down to the last three minutes of games with a three-point scoring margin, and Fox again tops the leaderboard with 103 points, 21 more than DeRozan in second place.
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He led the NBA with 26 fourth quarters of at least 10 points. He had not one, but two buzzer-beaters this season against the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls. He’s also the NBA’s leader in postseason clutch points with 13 through two games against the Warriors.
No matter how you slice it, Fox should run away with the award. If it’s not unanimous, it should be closed.
Fox, who earned his first All-Star nod and playoff appearance this season, should have his name etched on another piece of hardware before the Kings travel to San Francisco for Game 3.