With the NBA semifinals concluded, and with the Oklahoma City Thunder dominating the Denver Nuggets to join the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Minnesota Timberwolves in the final phase, the fight for the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy intensifies. Here, in our playoff update, we highlight the most influential players from the first two rounds.
Key Players of the Playoffs
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Playoffs 2025 (12 games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB
After securing the first round with a crucial three-pointer, Brunson led the Knicks to the conference finals, surpassing the Boston Celtics. Although he had a slow start in the series, he proved his worth in key moments, especially in games 1, 2, and 4, where the Knicks overcame large deficits.
In the next phase, he will face the Pacers, against whom he averaged almost 30 points and six assists during the regular season. Brunson, with 14 important baskets in these playoffs, almost doubles Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is in second place.
Previous ranking: 4
- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Playoffs 2025 (14 games): 26.2 PTS | 12.7 REB | 8.0 AST | 2.0 STL
Despite the lack of offensive support from his teammates in the loss to the Thunder, Jokic proved his worth. Although he struggled with long-range shooting, he delivered an impressive performance in Game 5, with 44 points, 22 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Jokic, with Christian Braun as his main support in Game 7, faced a historically strong Thunder team.
Previous ranking: 1
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Playoffs 2025 (10 games): 26.5 PTS | 8.0 REB | 5.9 AST | 38.5 3P%
The Wolves star improved his performance after the first round, with a 44% three-point shooting accuracy against the Golden State Warriors. Edwards took advantage of the defensive attention to assist his teammates, achieving eight assists against the Lakers and twelve against the Warriors.
Edwards will have to prepare for the Thunder’s defense, which was the best in the NBA during the regular season.
Previous ranking: 5
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Playoffs 2025 (10 games): 28.4 PTS | 6.6 AST | 6.2 REB | 1.3 STL
The Thunder’s point guard had a great start and finish in the series against Denver. Despite some shooting struggles in games 3 and 4, he scored 31, 32, and 35 points in the last three games, with a shooting percentage above 52% in games 5, 6, and 7.
His efficiency in the first round is the only aspect to improve. However, he has the opportunity to prove his worth against the Wolves and in the Finals.
Previous rating: NR
- Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
Playoffs 2025 (10 games): 17.5 PTS | 9.3 AST | 5.5 REB
After a less efficient performance in the first round, Haliburton improved his game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with 54% overall accuracy and almost 46% in three-pointers. His important shots have been key to securing victories, with 4 out of 5 in the final minutes of the games.
Previous ranking: 10
- Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves
Playoffs 2025 (10 games): 23.9 PTS | 5.9 REB | 5.9 AST | 50.9 FG%
Randle has performed outstandingly for Minnesota, with 51% accuracy, 23.9 points per game, and 5.9 assists. His ability to assist on three-pointers could be crucial against the Thunder’s defense.
Previous rating: NR
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Playoffs 2025 (9 games): 29.6 PTS | 4.7 REB | 3.9 AST
Mitchell, despite playing with an ankle injury, led the second-round scorers with over 34 points per game. However, his three-point efficiency decreased significantly in the semifinals.
Previous ranking: 8
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Playoffs 2025 (5 games): 33.0 PTS | 15.4 REB | 6.6 AST | 60.6 FG%
Antetokounmpo was dominant in the first round, averaging 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists against Indiana, with a 60.6% success rate.
Previous ranking: 2
