By Frank Urbina | April 18, 2025 Follow @frankurbina_
The most special time of the year for basketball fans is here, as the 2024-25 NBA playoffs are upon us.
To celebrate the occasion, we are going to rank the Top 15 players of the upcoming playoffs based on how we think they are going to perform.
Players fell a few spots in this ranking, or missed out altogether, based on their health, as well as on how far we believe their teams are going to go in the playoffs.
Without any further ado, the Top 15 players for the 2024-25 NBA playoffs, according to us.
2024-25 stats: 17.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 50.4 FG%
Even despite his age, the Golden State Warriors look like geniuses for taking their big swing in picking up Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline. With Butler in the lineup, Golden State has gone 23-7, with Butler giving the Warriors an element of expert-level isolation scoring that the team has been lacking since Kevin Durant’s departure. Butler has already gotten his postseason off to a great start, going off for 38 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in the Warriors’ Play-In Tournament win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Playoff Jimmy is real, and he has already arrived to the Bay.
For the latest Jimmy Butler rumors, click here.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
2024-25 stats: 21.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 48.4 FG%
A first-time All-Star this season, Jalen Williams is improving year over year at a very impressive rate. As is, he’s a star-level scorer on the wing who can do a bit of everything: get buckets, rebound, create and defend. He’s efficient, he’s a stout defender and he’s expertly played second-fiddle to the potential 2024-25 MVP this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the best team in the league by far this season, and in large part that was thanks to Williams’ growth this campaign.
For the latest Jalen Williams rumors, click here.
2024-25 stats: 21.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 49.8 FG%
Kawhi Leonard looks much more like his prime self these days. If he stays healthy, the Los Angeles Clippers should be a tough team to knock out of the playoffs this season. Of course, that’s a big if, as Leonard has had the poor luck of getting hurt almost out of nowhere over recent years. Here’s hoping that doesn’t happen. A healthy Leonard in the playoffs is a scary proposition for opponents considering his three-level scoring, rebounding and defending, as well as his championship experience.
For the latest Kawhi Leonard rumors, click here.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
2024-25 stats: 18.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.6 bpg, 55.7 FG%
Perhaps the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley heads into the playoffs playing some of the best basketball of his career, so we expect him to have a big postseason, too. A face-up big man who can shoot threes and finish extremely efficiently near the rim, while also possessing underrated playmaking skills, Mobley is versatile on both ends, and we expect him to have a big playoff run after getting a taste of the postseason last year.
For the latest Evan Mobley rumors, click here.
2024-25 stats: 22.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 46.3 FG%
We mentioned in the intro that some players were docked a bit in this ranking depending on their health, and a prime example of that is Jaylen Brown, who enters the playoffs with a bit of concern surrounding his knee. Brown has had to sit out nine games in the past six weeks due to the injury, and when he has played, he hasn’t looked like his usual springy self. Since March 8, Brown is averaging 18.0 points on 33.3 percent shooting from three.
For the latest Jaylen Brown rumors, click here.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
2024-25 stats: 26.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 7.3 apg, 48.8 FG%
Another player who might rank higher on this list if not for some injury concerns, Jalen Brunson missed nearly a month of action right ahead of the playoffs, only appearing in four games since March 7. In those four games, Brunson wasn’t quite his usual excellent self on the court, though he was maybe somewhat close. Brunson averaged 21.0 points and 5.8 assists on 37.5 percent shooting from three over four games in April. Brunson’s health will be a huge question mark as the Knicks attempt to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the ’00 season.
For the latest Jalen Brunson rumors, click here.
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
2024-25 stats: 27.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 44.7 FG%
This one could make us real bad in a month or two. But with the Minnesota Timberwolves having an up-and-down 2024-25 season and tasked with facing a hot Los Angeles Lakers team in the first round, we just don’t think Anthony Edwards is going to play long enough to warrant a higher spot on this list. Edwards will be looking to build upon a ridiculous 2023-24 playoff run in which he averaged 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 48.1 percent shooting as he led Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals.
For the latest Anthony Edwards rumors, click here.
Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
2024-25 stats: 24.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 51.3 FG%
Perhaps not quite his peak athletic self, LeBron James remains one of the best players in the league – scoring, rebounding and creating at elite rates as he continues to win his battle against Father Time. His come-and-go groin injury could prove troublesome in the playoffs, but we’re going into the postseason assuming he’s got a fairly clean bill of health. A deep playoff run and perhaps a fifth championship as a 40-year-old would make James’ already immaculate NBA resume shine even brighter.
For the latest LeBron James rumors, click here.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
2024-25 stats: 24.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 44.8 FG%
Warriors star Stephen Curry got his 2025 postseason off to an impressive start, going off for 37 points and eight rebounds in Golden State’s Play-In Tournament win over Memphis. Now sharing the court with an iso-scoring star like Butler, Curry likely won’t have to carry as much of the workload in the playoffs, and a fresh Curry in April and May could be scary for the Warriors’ playoff foes.
For the latest Stephen Curry rumors, click here.
Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
2024-25 stats: 30.4 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 6.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 60.1 FG%
One of the most dominant players in the league, two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo enters the 2025 playoffs playing about just as well as anybody, and his place in this ranking reflects that. This could be a huge playoff run for Antetokounmpo, who now has two years’ worth of experience playing with Damian Lillard, who made a seemingly miraculous recovery from a blood clot scare to be ready for the postseason. The 1-2 punch of Antetokounmpo and Lillard should be fun to watch these playoffs, at least as long as the rest of the Bucks can carry their share of the load, at least on the defensive end.
For the latest Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors, click here.
2024-25 stats: 24.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 44.3 FG%
Averaging 28.1 points in his 54-game playoff career, Donovan Mitchell ranks seventh all-time in postseason scoring average, ahead even of the likes of Kobe Bryant and Hakeem Olajuwon. We expect more of the same out of Mitchell in this playoff run, as the explosive 2-guard has proven to be a playoff riser throughout his career, always stepping up his game come postseason. And now, the fact that he’s surrounded by a very strong supporting cast, a group that led the Cavaliers to a 64-win regular season, could make the 2025 playoffs a special time for the former Louisville standout.
For the latest Donovan Mitchell rumors, click here.
Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
2024-25 stats: 26.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 45.2 FG%
Hungry after missing out on Finals MVP last season and then not playing much for Team USA at the Olympics, Jayson Tatum proved once again in 2024-25 that he’s one of the best basketball players in the world, putting up a 27/8/6 stat line on efficient shooting splits. Over his last five playoff runs, Tatum has averaged 26.2 points on 43.5 percent shooting from the floor. We expect another big playoff run out of Tatum in 2025.
For the latest Jayson Tatum rumors, click here.
2024-25 stats: 29.6 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 10.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 57.6 FG%
If we had more faith in his supporting cast – and his interim head coach after the Denver Nuggets unexpectedly fired Mike Malone – Nikola Jokic would undoubtedly rank higher on this list. Without as much fanfare as it deserved, Jokic became just the third player to average a triple-double this season, putting up a monstrous 30/13/10 stat line while shooting over 57 percent from the floor. He might not win MVP and his Nuggets probably won’t win a championship, but Jokic remains the best player in the world.
For the latest Nikola Jokic rumors, click here.
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
2024-25 stats: 28.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 7.7 apg, 1.8 spg, 45.0 FG%
A tumultuous, unexpected midseason trade landed Luka Doncic in Los Angeles, where he’ll now be expected to lead the Lakers on a deep playoff run. Doncic proved in 2023-24 that he’s capable of taking a team all the way to the Finals, and with a roster as well-rounded as L.A.’s, it wouldn’t shock us if Doncic made it 2/2 on Finals trips between this season and last. It will just be interesting to see how looks are shared between Doncic and James the further we get in the playoffs, and the higher the stakes get. We just know: Doncic does not shy away from big moments, excelling in them consistently throughout his entire career.
For the latest Luka Doncic rumors, click here.
Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images
2024-25 stats: 32.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.4 apg, 1.7 spg, 51.9 FG%
The probable MVP for 2024-25, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to play better and better basketball over recent years. SGA had a huge 2024-25 campaign, leading the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor and 89.8 percent from the foul line. And he has an excellent supporting cast, too, with the Thunder posting the league’s best record this season at 68-15, just five games off of Golden State’s record 73-9 campaign. Will Oklahoma City finish the job, unlike Golden State in 2016? We’ll see, but a lot of it is going to depend on Gilgeous-Alexander. We think he – with his tidy high-level scoring and underrated playmaking and defense – will be up to the task.
For the latest Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rumors, click here.
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