Stephen Curry, 36, Wins Clutch Player of the Year — Cementing His Legacy as the Greatest Clutch Shooter in NBA History
In a season that tested the Golden State Warriors’ resilience, chemistry, and long-term viability, Stephen Curry—at 36 years old—emerged once again as the heartbeat of the franchise and the face of basketball brilliance. On Monday night, Curry was named the 2025 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, an award designed to honor the league’s most reliable force when the pressure reaches its boiling point. And with that honor, the legend of Stephen Curry ascended into a realm where only the true titans of sport dwell.
This wasn’t just another trophy. This was a legacy moment. For a player already armed with four NBA championships, two MVPs (including the first-ever unanimous selection), and the all-time three-point record, this award serves as a poignant reminder: Stephen Curry is not just a revolutionary shooter. He’s the greatest clutch shooter the game has ever seen.
A New Chapter in the Curry Legend
Entering the 2024–25 NBA season, many questioned how much gas Curry had left in the tank. The Warriors had aged. Klay Thompson battled inconsistencies. Draymond Green served multiple suspensions. Andrew Wiggins’ performance dipped. And while the young core was promising, it lacked the polish needed to win now.
But when the game was on the line, and the margins razor-thin, Curry repeatedly rose to the moment.
He led the league with 68 clutch points in the final five minutes of games decided by five points or fewer, shooting a blistering 55% from the field and an unimaginable 51% from beyond the arc in those scenarios. He didn’t just score; he orchestrated. He dictated pace. He calmed chaos.
NBA veteran analyst Doris Burke summed it up during a nationally televised game in March: “There’s no fear in him. Steph sees a tied game and thinks, ‘Perfect. Now it’s time to take over.’”
Defining Moments of the Clutch Season
What made Curry’s award-winning campaign so special wasn’t just the stats—it was the moments.
January 12 vs. Denver Nuggets
The reigning champions were in town, and Golden State had lost three straight. With 17 seconds left, the Warriors trailed 114-112. Curry got the inbound, hesitated, and launched a 31-foot step-back three over Jamal Murray. Splash. Game-winner. Chase Center erupted.
March 6 @ Sacramento Kings
The Warriors had fallen behind by 11 with four minutes left. Curry scored 15 of the final 19 points, including a go-ahead floater in the lane with 3.1 seconds to play. He followed it up with a block—yes, a block—on Malik Monk to seal it.
April 2 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
On a night when LeBron James and Anthony Davis came into the Bay Area with playoff implications at stake, Curry outdueled both. He scored 12 of the team’s final 14 points, including a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to complete a 17-point comeback.
Every time the Warriors needed a savior, Curry answered the call.
Age Is Just a Number—For Curry
Curry’s Clutch Player of the Year award isn’t just impressive because of the volume or frequency of his heroics—it’s the timing. At 36 years old, he’s the oldest player ever to win the award and still among the league’s most feared players in high-leverage situations.
“He’s redefining the aging curve,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Most players start to decline by 33. Steph, at 36, is playing smarter, sharper, and still has the legs to get those late-game daggers off from 30 feet.”
Curry’s dedication to his health, conditioning, and biomechanics is widely recognized. His pregame warmups are legendary. His diet is meticulous. His off-court work with trainers, including neural pathway and vision training, is what keeps him one step ahead when everything is on the line.
“You can take away my legs. You can trap me at halfcourt. But if I see it coming? You’ve already lost,” Curry said with a grin in an April interview. “The clutch isn’t just a moment. It’s a mindset.”
Statistical Dominance in the Clutch
The NBA defines “clutch” as plays occurring in the last five minutes of a game with a score differential of five points or fewer. In those moments this season, Curry was otherworldly:
- Points per game (clutch time): 5.2 (1st in NBA)
- FG% (clutch time): 55.4% (2nd among guards with >40 attempts)
- 3PT% (clutch time): 51.3%
- Free Throw % (clutch time): 98.6%
- Turnovers: 0.4 per game (incredible for a primary ballhandler)
While the rest of the league tightened up, Curry played loose, almost joyfully.
Curry’s Legacy: The Greatest Clutch Shooter of All Time?
When NBA fans debate “clutch” greatness, names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, and Reggie Miller inevitably enter the conversation. But when it comes to clutch shooting, Steph Curry now stands atop the mountain.
- Jordan had the killer instinct.
- Kobe had the flair and volume.
- Reggie had the late-game assassin persona.
- Ray Allen had perhaps the most iconic shot in NBA history.
- But Curry? Curry has consistency, range, and timing—over 15 years of proving that no lead is safe and no distance is too great.
Since 2013, Curry has shot over 45% from deep in clutch scenarios, per Second Spectrum data. That is unprecedented for a player who frequently attempts shots from beyond 28 feet.
He also leads all players since 2010 in clutch +/-, game-tying/go-ahead threes made, and efficiency under 24 seconds on the shot clock.
It’s not just that he makes shots. He makes the right shots—over double teams, in hostile arenas, with everything at stake.
Reactions Across the League
When the NBA announced Curry as the winner of the Clutch Player of the Year award, the reactions were swift and unanimous in admiration.
LeBron James posted on X: “Legend. No one I’d fear more with the ball in his hands and 10 seconds left.”
Kevin Durant, his former teammate, called him “the definition of inevitable.”
Shaquille O’Neal, on Inside the NBA, declared: “This isn’t about analytics or nostalgia. He’s the best shooter ever. Period. But now we say, maybe the best closer too.”
A New Era of Clutch
The NBA introduced the Clutch Player of the Year award in 2023 to honor the league’s best late-game performer. De’Aaron Fox won the inaugural trophy. Jimmy Butler followed in 2024. But Curry’s 2025 campaign has become the gold standard.
There was little debate.
“He’s the reason they were in the playoff hunt,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said. “He carried that team with his poise in tight games. He was the closer, the leader, and the lifeline.”
Though the Warriors didn’t finish atop the Western Conference standings, their 21–8 record in games decided by five points or fewer was the best in the NBA—a stat that is almost entirely attributable to Curry’s presence.
The Future: More to Come?
Now in his 16th season, Curry’s career is undeniably in its twilight—but he shows no signs of slowing down. While the Warriors may eventually need to retool, reimagine, or rebuild, the constant in the equation is No. 30.
“I don’t know how long I’ll play,” Curry said in a press conference after receiving the award. “But as long as I can impact winning, I’ll be out there trying to put on a show.”
He’s already hinted he’d like to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and with his performance this season, it’s hard to bet against him suiting up for one more deep playoff run.
And maybe—just maybe—he’ll be the one hitting the last shot of that tournament, too.
Closing the Book with Fireworks
Stephen Curry’s 2025 Clutch Player of the Year honor isn’t just an individual accolade. It’s a celebration of a career built on improbable shots, breathtaking runs, and fearless execution under pressure.
From the tunnel threes to the logo heat checks, from the baby-faced assassin to the bearded maestro, Curry has evolved—but his essence remains: joyful dominance.
In a league where legends are born from moments, Stephen Curry has spent a career creating them.
Now, with another piece of hardware affirming what fans have known all along, the verdict is clear:
Stephen Curry is not just the greatest shooter of all time—he is the greatest clutch shooter the game has ever seen.
And at 36, he’s still not done.
