Top 10 players in the 2025 NBA Playoffs

Every year, when the NBA Playoffs begin, fans get to watch some of the biggest names the sport has to offer compete for a title.

So, who are the 10 best players in this year’s playoffs?

Note: Jayson Tatum is not on this list due to injury.

No. 10 – Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Mitchell was one of the keys to a surprising 64-18 season in Cleveland.

In his third full season with the Cavaliers, he averaged 24 PPG.

Cleveland has a deep roster, but will definitely rely on Mitchell in the big moments as they go for their first title since 2016.

No. 9 – Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)

Brunson led the Knicks to a 51-31 campaign, New York’s best record in a season since 2012-13.

The 2024-25 Clutch Player of the Year winner averaged 26 PPG this season and has turned it up a notch since the playoffs began, with 34 and 37 points in the Knicks’ first two contests against the Detroit Pistons.

The Knicks want to go far, and Brunson is prepared to carry the team and city on his back.

No. 8 – Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)

It feels like we’re watching Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard all over again.

Kawhi’s the healthiest he’s been since winning the 2019 title with Toronto and showed it on Monday against Denver, scoring 39 points on only four missed shots.

He also helped the Clippers achieve their second consecutive 50-win season.

The 33-year-old has truly turned back the clock, making him an easy pick for this list.

No. 7 – LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

It’s weird to have LeBron this low on an NBA players list.

King James is still dominant, but is no longer the most dominant player in the league.

He’s scored 21 and 19 points against Minnesota so far in the playoffs, still being effective at the age of 40.

Will the Lakers go all the way and get LeBron his fifth ring?

No. 6 – Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Like LeBron James, Stephen Curry is getting up there in age, but is still playing at an elite level.

Ever since the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, it feels like Curry has been the best version of himself we’ve seen in quite some time.

The NBA’s all-time leader in three pointers made still recorded 311 of them this year, and has 15 in his last three games since the Play-In Tournament began.

We’ll see if Chef Curry’s latest recipe leads the Warriors to another title.

No. 5 – Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers)

On February 1, the Dallas Mavericks made the shocking decision to trade Luka Dončić

to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Since that trade, Luka hasn’t quite been Dallas Luka, but I expect him to turn it up as the playoffs go on.

After making the Finals with Kyrie Irving, who says he can’t do the same with LeBron James?

No. 4 – Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

The NBA needed Anthony Edwards. I don’t think there’s another player in the league with as much swagger and confidence as him.

For that reason, fans like me get excited to watch a Timberwolves game because we know Edwards will be playing.

One of the league’s toughest players to face, Edwards had the best three-point shooting season of his career, an asset that could be used to his advantage as the playoffs progress.

No. 3 – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

The Greek Freak finished in the top three for the league’s MVP award this season.

In a season that saw lots of change for the Bucks, Antetokounmpo finished as the runner-up for the league’s scoring title and still took Milwaukee to a top-five seed in the East.

With the Bucks down 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers, will Giannis have clutch moments up his sleeve to help the Bucks come from behind and advance?

No. 2 – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

This year’s leading scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is likely going to win the league’s MVP, but he’s not the best player in the NBA.

However, SGA is definitely deserving of the number two spot when it comes to ranking players based on overall talent.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a 68-14 record, their best in franchise history, and the No. 1 seed in the West for the second consecutive year.

Last year, the argument was that he and OKC had no experience. This year, it’s hard to picture anyone stopping them from winning a ring.

No. 1 – Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)

A finalist for his fourth NBA MVP award, Jokić had a truly incredible season.

He posted 29.6 PTS, 12.7 REB and 10.2 AST on 57.6% shooting from the field.

Jokić became the first player to average a triple-double in a single season since Russell Westbrook in 2020-21, and joins Oscar Robertson as just the third ever to accomplish the feat.

With Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers tied at one in what’s been a very entertaining series, fans will be intrigued to see if Jokić and the Nuggets can advance.

Adam Pietrzak is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email app5940@psu.edu.