The NBA Finals are right here, with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder set to face the Indiana Pacers for the 2025 NBA title.
With Oklahoma Metropolis beating the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana knocking off the New York Knicks, it additionally implies that 14 playoff groups have been despatched house for the summer time, and we have seen an entire assortment of star performances over the previous a number of weeks.
So, for the third time in these playoffs, here is our newest take a look at the superlative performers of this postseason, as we rank the highest eight gamers via the primary three rounds forward of the beginning of the championship spherical in Oklahoma Metropolis on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Earlier rankings: First spherical | Second spherical
2025 playoff stats (16 video games): 29.8 PTS | 6.9 AST | 5.7 REB | 1.6 STL
The Thunder have been the NBA’s greatest crew all season, and Gilgeous-Alexander was honored a few weeks in the past because the league’s regular-season MVP. He now finds himself within the high spot in these postseason rankings too, after averaging 31.4 factors, 5.2 rebounds and eight.2 assists in OKC’s five-game rout of the Timberwolves.
Gilgeous-Alexander has scored a minimum of 30 factors in 11 of the 16 video games he has performed this postseason, and he reached that milestone in all 4 of the Thunder’s victories within the Western Convention finals. If the closely favored Thunder go on to win the NBA title, it is laborious to see a state of affairs the place Gilgeous-Alexander would not add a Finals MVP trophy to his tally this season together with the Larry O’Brien.
Earlier rating: 4
2025 playoff stats (16 video games): 18.8 PTS | 9.8 AST | 5.7 REB | 1.4 STL
The upcoming matchup between Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton is the most effective level guard matchup within the NBA Finals for the reason that duels between Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry in the course of the legendary showdowns between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018.
And if Indiana goes to drag off the upset, it will want Haliburton to have extra video games like his unbelievable efficiency in Recreation 4 of the convention finals in opposition to the Knicks. He completed with 32 factors, 15 assists and no turnovers in a cushty victory that gave Indiana a 3-1 sequence lead.
That final stat — turnovers — might be one of many key battlegrounds on this sequence. Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection, the most effective within the league by a large margin this season, excels at turning groups over. Haliburton, alternatively, is the most effective level guard at avoiding turnovers within the NBA.
Earlier rating: 5
2025 playoff stats (18 video games): 29.4 PTS | 7.0 AST | 3.4 REB
Whereas Brunson’s protection was an issue in New York’s loss to Indiana (and he had a disappointing Recreation 6 to finish the Knicks’ season), there is not any denying his significance in main the franchise to its greatest season in 1 / 4 century. Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the 12 months this season, averaged 30.7 factors and shot over 50% from the sector in opposition to the Pacers. That his efficiency total was seen as a disappointment is indicative of the elevated standing he has reached as a participant.
Brunson’s first three seasons in New York have already launched him into the highest 5 careers in Knicks franchise historical past, and there is a fairly sound argument there are solely three gamers — all Corridor of Famers — forward of him: Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing and Walt Frazier. Not unhealthy firm for the previous second-round decide whom New York signed as an unrestricted free agent.
Earlier rating: 1
2025 playoff stats (16 video games): 21.1 PTS | 5.8 REB | 3.3 AST | 46.3 3P%
The Jap Convention finals MVP, Siakam — who had 30 factors in three of the six video games in opposition to the Knicks and averaged 24.8 throughout the sequence — has slot in fantastically since arriving in Indiana 18 months in the past, powering the franchise first to the convention finals final 12 months and now again to the NBA Finals for the primary time since 2000.
The symbiosis between Haliburton and Siakam has performed an enormous half within the Pacers turning into the high-powered offensive machine they’ve been for the previous couple seasons, particularly throughout these two playoffs runs. Matching that effort in opposition to the Thunder, nevertheless, goes to be Indiana’s greatest problem but.
Earlier rating: NR
2025 playoff stats (14 video games): 26.2 PTS | 12.7 REB | 8.0 AST | 2.0 STL
Stunned to see Jokic right here regardless of Denver’s loss within the second spherical of the playoffs? Properly, let’s remind you that the Nuggets had the Thunder on the ropes in Recreation 5 of the convention semifinals, after they held an eight-point lead via three quarters in Oklahoma Metropolis and regarded set to place OKC on the point of elimination for a second straight 12 months.
However though that did not occur this time, Jokic’s brilliance pressured the Thunder to go the gap in what may simply be the closest any crew involves knocking Oklahoma Metropolis off on its solution to the title. That, coupled with Jokic’s at all times comical stats, nonetheless has him fairly excessive on this record although he has been house for a few weeks already.
Earlier rating: 2
2025 playoff stats (16 video games): 20.4 PTS | 5.8 REB | 5.3 AST | 1.6 STL
Williams struggled for giant parts of Oklahoma Metropolis’s second-round victory over Denver, however he got here again and had a terrific West finals, taking pictures just below 50% from the sector, 46.2% from 3 and averaging 22.2 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and a couple of.0 steals.
One of many huge questions on Oklahoma Metropolis all season, by way of its capability to contend for a title, was whether or not Williams may reliably step into the function because the secondary scorer behind Gilgeous-Alexander on a championship-level crew. And whereas that has been a wrestle at occasions in these playoffs, he confirmed in Recreation 4 of the Minnesota sequence specifically — he had 34 factors in maybe the best recreation of his profession to assist the Thunder take a 3-1 sequence lead — that he is rising into that spot proper consistent with OKC’s title window.
Earlier rating: NR
2025 playoff stats (15 video games): 25.3 PTS | 7.8 REB | 5.5 AST
Oklahoma Metropolis confirmed an acceptable worry of Edwards all through the West finals, sending swarms of defenders at him in an effort to power passes to his teammates and make them beat the Thunder as an alternative. Consequently, Edwards completed under 20 factors in three of the sequence’ 5 video games. That occurred solely as soon as throughout the opening two rounds of the playoffs.
Nonetheless, Edwards main the Timberwolves to the convention finals in back-to-back seasons after the franchise had just one earlier sequence win is a formidable accomplishment. The query now’s what it is going to take for each Edwards and the Wolves to catch (and surpass) the Thunder, who now loom because the existential risk atop the West for years to come back.
Earlier rating: 3
2025 playoff stats (18 video games): 21.4 PTS | 11.6 REB | 1.3 AST
Like Brunson, Cities put collectively huge stats within the East finals, recording 24.8 factors and 12.2 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 50% total and 36.7% from 3. However, like Brunson, Cities struggled defensively and with foul hassle, which Indiana repeatedly took benefit of because it dispatched New York and denied the Knicks a visit to the NBA Finals for the primary time since 1999.
Cities’ first season in New York needs to be seen as successful, nevertheless. He was an All-NBA participant and earned his fifth All-Star look whereas serving to the Knicks attain the convention finals for the primary time in 25 years. However his protection might want to enhance, and the Knicks must enhance the roster round him and Brunson if they need subsequent season to finish in another way.
Earlier rating: NR
