The 25 Best Players in the NBA Playoffs (Updated)

Team: Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG 10.5 REB 2.0 AST 65%/N/A/74%

Duren, a rim-running lob threat, has proven to be the perfect compliment to Cade Cunningham's all-around offensive game. With Duren patrolling the paint, the Pistons finished the regular season atop the Eastern Conference. But Duren was largely a non-factor during the Pistons first round series with the Orlando Magic.—TG

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 Stats: 16 PPG 5.6 REB 4.2 AST 43%/35%/81%

Edgecombe capped off a solid rookie year with a strong showing in the Sixers first round upset over the Boston Celtics. He hit a few timely shots and played suffocating defense on the perimeter. — TG

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 Stats: 11.5 PPG 3.3 REB 0.8 AST 51%/44%/69%

Hachimura was the Lakers’ second-best player in their first round series win over the Rockets. The 6-foot 8 wing averaged a shade over 16 points per game while shooting 60 percent from the 3-point line. —TG

Team: Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Stats: 13.3 PPG 5.1 REB 2.5 AST 46%/36%/86%

The much-maligned veteran wing averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds for the Pistons during their first round series win over the Magic, punctuated by a 30-point explosion in Game 7. Harris will have to provide the Pistons with some much-needed offensive punch behind star Cade Cunningham if they stand a chance against the Cavs in the second round. —TG

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
2025-2026 Stats: 17.3 PPG 5.3 REB 3.6 AST 43%/39%/82%

Paul George was more “Playoff P” than “Pandemic P” during the Sixers’ first round upset over the Boston Celtics as the nine-time NBA All-Star averaged over 17 points per game on 55 percent shooting from 3-point territory. Though no longer a leading man, George must play OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to a standstill for the Sixers to advance over the Knicks. —TG

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-2026 Stats: 23.6 PPG 4.8 REB 8.0 AST 43%/37%/88%

At 36, James Harden is coming off of what could be called a bounce back season. His scoring jumped from 16.6 points per game in 2023-24 (his lowest total since 2010-11) to 22.8 and he looked fitter and more engaged than he had in years. His resurgence continued into this season but the Clippers suddenly traded Harden to the Cavs at the deadline in a swap for Darius Garland. Now on a contender in the lesser conference, The Beard will be judged by how he performs in April and May. That’s the burden of being a former MVP and future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Harden, a notoriously poor postseason performer, averaged over 20 points per game during the Cavs seven-game series win over the Raptors but was plagued with turnover issues. —Thomas Golianopoulos

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
2025-26 Stats: 21.1 PPG 6.7 REB 5.0 AST 48%/31%/80%

One of the most underappreciated stars in the NBA, Randle is having another All-Star caliber season as Anthony Edwards' running mate in Minnesota. He keeps adding to his game, improving as a playmaker and turning into a dependable defender.—TG

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
2025-2026 Stats: 14.8 PPG 3.4 REB 3.6 AST 51%/43%/87%

Though Dosunmu missed the Wolves series clincher in Game 6, he should be on the court in Game 1 of the Spurs series. The 6-foot 4 guard had his coming party in Game 4 against the Nuggets, scoring a career-high 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting. —TG

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
2025-2026 Stats: 14.8 PPG 4.2 REB 2.7 AST 51%/41%/83%

The heart and soul of the Minnesota Timberwolves talked a load of smack before their playoff series against the Denver Nuggets and, in the end, he backed it up. McDaniel averaged 17 points and 6 rebounds per game while playing stifling defense in the Wolves’ upset series win. —TG

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2025-26 Stats: 16.7 PPG 5.3 REB 7.4 AST 47%/33%/73%

Though he still has a way to go as a shooter and a playmaker, Castle is already one of the best on-ball and team defenders in the league and his dogged mentality and ability to get to the basket are a perfect fit next to Wemby on a Spurs club with championship aspirations. —TG

Team: New York Knicks
2025-26 Stats: 16.7 PPG 5.2 REB 2.2 AST 48%/ 38%/ 82%

Anunoby helped turn the Knicks-Hawks series after Atlanta had gone up 2-games-to-1. He averaged over 21 points and 8 rebounds on 61 percent shooting, while playing shutdown defense on Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the Knicks’ series win. —TG

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2025-2026 Stats: 18.6 PPG 3.8 REB 6.2 AST 48%/33%/76%

De’Aaron Fox must be good. Steph Curry trusts him enough to make him the only other NBA player with a signature shoe under his Curry label with Under Armour. His production dropped slightly following the trade from Sacramento to San Antonio but he’s also not the only guy anymore, either. He’s got Wemby, and they are going to be a terror running pick and rolls this season.—Matt Welty

Team: New York Knicks
2025-26 Stats: 20.9 PPG 11.9 REB 3.0 AST 50%/36%/85%

Put some respect on the big man’s name. Karl-Anthony Towns remains one of the most gifted offensive players the NBA has ever seen, and moving to power forward in Mike Brown’s system has freed him to dominate the perimeter. Yet, defensive lapses and foul issues persist, limiting consistency even if his offensive ceiling remains All-NBA caliber. —Brighid Tully

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
2025-26 Stats: 17.1 PPG 8.9 REB 1.7 AST 55%/36%/79%

Chet Holmgren entered 2025-26 with both promise and pressure. After injuries slowed his first two seasons, the Thunder’s 7-foot-1 forward-center has flashed dominant defensive instincts and a growing offensive touch. His health remains the biggest question: if he stays on the floor, Holmgren’s blend of rim protection and shooting could help OKC defend its title. —Brighid Tully

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-2026 Stats: 18.2 PPG 9.0 REB 3.6 AST 54%29%/60%

There’s an alternate world where Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland were all healthy last season at the same time and made a run to the finals. Their 64-18 record says they were that good, and Evan Mobley’s multi-positional, Defensive Player of the Year-winning defense and efficient scoring were a big reason why. Though he seeemd to have plateaued this season, Mobley and the Cavs have recently turned things around.—Peter A. Berry

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-26 Stats: 27.9 PPG 4.5 REB 5.7 AST 48%/36%/86%

After a First Team All-NBA season last year, Spida is looking to take another leap. The question now: Can he evolve from an elite scorer and playmaker on a deep, regular-season powerhouse into the undisputed alpha—a top-five player leading a true championship contender? If there’s ever a time to do it, it’s this season: he’s 29, right in the heart of his athletic prime and the Eastern Conference is in shambles. After some early season struggles, the Cavs finished fourth in the Eastern Conference. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 Stats: 20.9 PPG 6.1 REB 7.2 AST 51%/31%/73%

It’s a strange time for LeBron James. For the first time in his career, he’s entering the season as a clear second banana, which is part of why there’s a simmering tension between Bron and the Lakers that feels destined to come to a head at some point in 2026. After starting the season in street clothes due to a bout with sciatica, an unpredictable and nagging nerve injury, he's returned to be close to the LeBron of last season. Though he's taken another step back defensively, James, now 41 and in year 23, remains one of the best players in the world—capable of dominating every aspect of a game at will, especially when he’s able to pace himself. Bron controlled the tempo, hit big shots, and got all his teammates involved during the Lakers’ first round win over the Rockets. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Team: New York Knicks
2025-26 Stats: 26 PPG 3.3 REB 6.8 AST 46%/36%/84%

Nobody is tougher in crunch time than Jalen Brunson. The NBA’s reigning Clutch Player of the Year led the Knicks to their deepest playoff run in 25 years thanks to his unshakable poise and big-time shotmaking. With Big Body Brunson at the helm, these ‘Bockers have good reason to believe they can take the wide-open East.—John Kennedy

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 Stats: 28.3 PPG 4.1 REB 6.6 AST 46%/36%/89%

The Sixers entered this season with unanswered questions: Can Joel Embiid play more than 30 games? Will Paul George put down the podcast mic? What can we expect from rookie V.J. Edgecombe? At first, they endured before sinking into the Play-In Tournament. One thing is for certain: Tyrese Maxey, one of the most reliable bucket-getters in the league, is the unquestioned leader of the Sixers now. After shaking off last year’s injury issues, Maxey is playing at an elite, All-NBA-level. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Team: Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Stats: 23.9 PPG 5.5 REB 9.9 AST 46%/34%/81%

For a second it looked like it might not happen for Cade Cunningham. Early injuries and deplorable Pistons records kept Cade out of the next up conversation even if counting stats suggested otherwise. Last year, that all changed. Playing point guard and alpha dog for an upstart team took Cade to his first All-Star appearance and the Pistons to the postseason. It all clicked as the 6’6 floor general showcased the ability to lead, the poise to control pace, and just enough nasty to make everyone around him buy-in. With the Pistons atop the Eastern Conference, the once doubted top pick is now a darkhorse MVP candidate. —Ian Stonebrook

Team: San Antonio Spurs
2025-2026 Stats: 25 PPG 11.5 REB 3.1 AST 51%/34%/82%

Victor Wembanyama is something that should only work in theory. The Frenchman is 7’5” (with an 8-foot wingspan), wears a size 20.5 shoe (we’re still waiting on him to get a signature Nike sneaker), and can move and shoot. He’s given the Spurs a new hope after the team drifted into mediocrity following the departure of their championship core, which is what happens when your ceiling happens to be Hakeem Olajuwon on the defensive end and KD on the other. Full stop: Wemby is a potential GOAT. He seems fully recovered from the calf strain that sidelined him earlier this season —Matt Welty

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
2025-26 Stats: 31.1 PPG 4.3 REB 6.6 AST 55%/38%/87%

SGA and OKC are here to stay. The defending MVP is the perfect modern-day player on both sides of the ball. He’s a three-level scorer with a knack for creating contact and drawing whistles (NBA twitter calls it a cheat code) and an aggressive defender with supreme ball-hawking skills. Don’t be surprised if Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the first person to repeat as both MVP and Finals MVP since LeBron James in 2012 and 2013. —Thomas Golianopoulos