📍 April 19, 2025

As the 2025 NBA Playoffs tip off, ESPN’s expert panel ranked the 50 players expected to have the biggest impact on the championship race. Selections were made based on both the quality and quantity of expected playoff performance — a combination of elite talent, team importance, and postseason durability: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Top 10 Players for the 2025 NBA Playoffs

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Leading scorer in the NBA (32.7 PPG)

• MVP frontrunner and anchor of the league’s No. 1-ranked defense

2. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

• Consistent two-way force

• Aiming to guide Boston to back-to-back NBA titles

3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

• Averaging a triple-double for the season

• Denver’s championship hopes rest heavily on his shoulders

4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

• Scorching 34.4 PPG since joining the Lakers

• Central to Los Angeles’ title aspirations alongside LeBron James

5. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Elite leadership at both ends of the floor

• Needs to rediscover deep shooting rhythm after a late-season slump (30.2% from 3)

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

• Led the NBA in field goals and free throws made

• Milwaukee’s offensive engine and defensive cornerstone

7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

• Still lethal at 37 years old

• Eyeing a fifth NBA championship despite battling minor injuries

8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Breakout season with career-best shooting efficiency

• Minnesota’s key weapon in their postseason push

9. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

• Participating in his 18th career postseason

• Still a dominant playoff performer at 40 years old

10. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• This season’s most clutch player

• Vital to New York’s playoff hopes after a career-best regular season

Notable Storylines Heading Into the Playoffs

New Faces

• Chet Holmgren (Thunder) and Cade Cunningham (Pistons) will make their playoff debuts.

Redemption Watch

• Luka Doncic seeks a title after a controversial exit from Dallas.

Veteran Resilience

• LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Jimmy Butler aim for one more deep postseason run.

Team Dynamics

• Boston Celtics look to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown amid injury concerns.

• LA Clippers depend heavily on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for playoff success.

Key Trends Across the Rankings

• Oklahoma City Thunder dominate with three players in the Top 50: Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Dort.

• Boston Celtics feature multiple key contributors: Tatum, Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White.

• Veteran Teams like the Warriors, Lakers, and Clippers remain competitive through seasoned star power and tactical depth.

• Emerging Stars such as Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Jalen Williams could reshape the playoff narrative.

• Injury Watch: Key players including Damian Lillard, Jaylen Brown, and Jamal Murray are recovering and could alter playoff fortunes depending on health.

Final Word

The 2025 NBA Playoffs feature a fascinating blend of rising stars, battle-tested veterans, and unpredictable team dynamics. With MVP candidates, playoff legends, and hungry young talents all in the mix, the path to the Finals promises to be one of the most compelling in recent memory.

The chase for the title begins — and so do the legacy-defining moments.