Jalen Brunson is on track to win the NBA's first Clutch Player of the Year award

Over the past five weeks, Brunson has scored 60 points in the clutch. LeBron James, who ranks second with 51, is the only player in the NBA with more than 35 clutch points during this stretch.

The NBA defines "clutch time" as any time the scoring margin in a game is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining. A team's clutch record is that squad's win-loss record in games that include clutch minutes.

Last season, one of the primary reasons the Knicks fell well short of expectations, finishing eight games below .500, was their inability to close out close games. New York's clutch record in 2021-22 was 18-26. Only four teams had fewer clutch victories, and the Knicks were one of only two teams to shoot below 36% from the floor in clutch situations. New York was outscored by 76 points, the second-worst scoring differential in the NBA.

And, as Knicks fans know all too well, last season wasn't an anomaly. In 2019-20, NY posted a 14-20 record in clutch games. In 2018-19 they went 11-23, which was the worst winning percentage in the NBA in such contests. The year prior, 2017-18, they were 12-23 in clutch contests. 

However, this season we've seen a change. 

Last night in Orlando, the Knicks overcame a fourth-quarter deficit and executed brilliantly down the stretch to secure a 102-98 victory over the Magic. It was New York's 16th win in a clutch game this season, tied for the eighth most in the NBA. 

The reason for the turnaround has been the arrival of one man.