With the 2024-25 NBA playoffs within the books and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder having been topped NBA champions for the primary time since arriving within the Sooner State 17 years in the past, it is time to assess probably the most impactful gamers throughout your complete two-month gauntlet of postseason basketball.
The NHL handles its postseason honors that method, with the Conn Smythe Trophy awarded to the participant with the very best general postseason. The NBA does it in another way, handing out a Finals MVP together with Japanese and Western Convention finals MVP awards, honoring the highest performer in every of these collection. We got down to fill that hole with our five-player MVP poll for general postseason excellence.
With that standards in thoughts, here is that five-man poll — plus one honorable point out — to encapsulate how the whole lot shook out from the primary spherical via the Thunder’s Recreation 7 victory Sunday night time.
Earlier rankings: First spherical | Second spherical | Conf. finals
2025 playoff stats (23 video games): 29.9 PTS | 6.5 AST | 5.3 REB | 1.7 STL
Gilgeous-Alexander capped top-of-the-line particular person seasons in NBA historical past together with his first championship and Finals MVP award, placing him in rarified air on a number of fronts.
He turned the eleventh participant to win the league’s regular-season and Finals MVP awards in the identical season, becoming a member of an inventory completely made up of inside circle Corridor of Famers. He turned the primary participant to win the league’s MVP award and a title in the identical season since Stephen Curry 10 years in the past (in what additionally was his first championship) and the primary to win the league’s scoring title and a title since Shaquille O’Neal 25 years in the past.
Gilgeous-Alexander can be considered one of 4 gamers — together with O’Neal, Michael Jordan (4 occasions) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — to win the league’s MVP award, the scoring title and a championship all in the identical season.
All of that to say: In fact Gilgeous-Alexander is the primary identify on this record, after the way in which this season and these playoffs have shaken out.
He delivered in each vital second for the Thunder, notably in his closing flurries of the 2 greatest victories en path to OKC’s title: Recreation 4s on the highway, whereas trailing 2-1 within the collection, to the Denver Nuggets within the Western Convention semifinals and the Pacers within the NBA Finals. And whereas Indiana obtained Gilgeous-Alexander out of his consolation zone in a method few different groups have, he nonetheless delivered when it mattered most in Recreation 7.
Whether or not or not this title is the springboard for a dynastic run for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, his efficiency will go down as top-of-the-line in league historical past.
Earlier: 1
1:03
Rick Carlisle on Hali: ‘He shall be again’
Rick Carlisle provides an replace on Tyrese Haliburton’s harm and assures that “he shall be again.”
2025 playoff stats (23 video games): 18.6 PTS | 9.2 AST | 3.5 REB | 1.4 STL
Whereas Indiana fell agonizingly wanting its first NBA championship, this has been a outstanding 12 months for the Pacers and their star guard, as Haliburton led them to a number of jaw-dropping comebacks within the playoffs, together with a few iconic pictures.
Haliburton’s tying shot on the finish of regulation of Recreation 1 of the Japanese Convention finals in opposition to the Knicks in New York and his profitable pictures on the buzzer in Recreation 2 of the convention semifinals in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Thunder will go down among the many most memorable moments from these playoffs, firmly establishing Haliburton because the inheritor to Reggie Miller as a clutch-time maestro in Indianapolis.
Though Haliburton’s Finals general have been disappointing — he had one superlative recreation, a 22-point, 9-rebound, 11-assist exhibiting in Recreation 3, and spent the ultimate few video games navigating a nagging calf pressure that restricted his mobility — his impression throughout these playoffs was plain, as was the way in which Indiana ran via the Milwaukee Bucks, Cavaliers and Knicks en path to the league’s championship collection.
But it surely was heartbreaking to see Haliburton’s magical postseason finish with him mendacity on the bottom in agony with a torn Achilles — not solely ending this season, however placing subsequent 12 months doubtful, too. It was a merciless method for one of the entertaining playoff runs in latest reminiscence to finish, however it does not diminish Haliburton’s indelible impression.
Earlier: 2
2025 playoff stats (23 video games): 20.5 PTS | 6.3 REB | 3.4 AST| 42.7 3P%
When Siakam was acquired 18 months in the past by the Pacers from the Toronto Raptors, there have been loads of questions over whether or not buying and selling a number of first-round picks — and subsequently giving him a max contract — was a savvy enterprise resolution.
These questions are laughable now. Since becoming a member of the Pacers, Siakam has helped spark runs to the 2024 Japanese Convention finals and the 2025 Finals, received Japanese Convention finals MVP and helped push Oklahoma Metropolis to the brink within the league’s championship spherical.
Siakam has slot in fantastically. He had 30 factors in three of the six video games in opposition to the Knicks and averaged 24.8 throughout the collection to guide the Pacers earlier than being Indiana’s most constant performer within the Finals. His capacity to assault mismatches in transition was an enormous consider Indiana’s resurgence. The Pacers will lean much more closely on Siakam subsequent season as they endure Haliburton’s harm absence.
Earlier: 4
2025 playoff stats (23 video games): 21.4 PTS | 5.5 REB | 4.8 AST | 1.4 STL
Whereas it was an up-and-down playoffs for Williams, his emergence into the dependable second perimeter scorer Oklahoma Metropolis wanted performed an enormous half within the Thunder claiming their first NBA title. Williams eclipsed 25 factors in three straight video games within the Finals, together with his 40-point explosion in Recreation 5.
Arguably the largest query in regards to the Thunder and their possibilities of profitable the title coming into this season was whether or not Williams may turn out to be that form of dependable playmaker to take stress off Gilgeous-Alexander. Within the greatest moments in these playoffs, Williams repeatedly confirmed he was as much as the duty. Williams, who’s eligible for an enormous rookie contract extension this offseason, confirmed he will be proper within the heart of any Thunder success going ahead.
Earlier: 6
2025 playoff stats (18 video games): 29.4 PTS | 7.0 AST | 3.4 REB
Gilgeous-Alexander’s struggles with Indiana’s high-pressure protection within the Finals, together with the 2 worst turnover video games of his playoff profession in losses in Video games 3 and 6, put Brunson’s efficiency in opposition to the Pacers in a brand new gentle.
Brunson averaged greater than 30 factors on higher than 50% capturing throughout New York’s six-game loss within the Japanese Convention finals. He scored at the very least 20 factors in 15 of New York’s 18 playoff video games, 30 or extra 10 occasions and 40 or extra twice, serving to lead the Knicks to their greatest season in 1 / 4 century. That Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the Yr, was seen as considerably of a disappointment in opposition to Indiana regardless of these gaudy numbers reveals simply how excessive he has raised the bar since arriving in New York three years in the past.
Brunson has already turn out to be one of many 5 greatest Knicks of all time, and he does not flip 29 till August. He ought to stay the face of the Knicks for years to return, and New York will definitely consider that with some improved depth — and no matter tactical adjustments the coach changing Tom Thibodeau will make — the Knicks can tackle Indiana, the Cleveland Cavaliers and some other challengers within the East subsequent season as they hope to return to the Finals for the primary time since 1999.
Earlier: 3
2025 playoff stats (15 video games): 25.3 PTS | 7.8 REB | 5.5 AST
Edwards was largely taken out of the Western Convention finals by the Thunder, who held him beneath 20 factors in three of the 5 video games after he’d scored at the very least 20 in 9 of the ten video games throughout Minnesota’s two five-game collection wins.
That stated, Edwards deserves credit score for being the face of what was a second-consecutive journey to the convention finals. It is price remembering that, earlier than final season, there had been one season within the first 35 of the Timberwolves’ existence during which they received even a single playoff collection. Now, they’ve received 4 up to now two years.
And whereas there’s work to be finished by Minnesota to attempt to chase down the Thunder, the new-look Houston Rockets with Kevin Durant, the Denver Nuggets and different contenders within the loaded Western Convention, having Edwards main the way in which is an effective ticket to staying in that dialog.
Earlier: 7
