And then there were four.
There will be another new NBA champion as the Thunder, Timberwolves, Knicks and Pacers are the final four teams standing after two rounds of the 2025 playoffs. As such, one of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson or Tyrese Haliburton will be crowned champion for the first time in their careers.
Each of the above four players has stood out to deliver superstar moments during their respective teams’ playoff runs, and each is helping their standing among the NBA’s elite players by performing when the stakes are at their highest. But who’s the best?
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
After members of The Sporting News’ staff collaborated to rank the top 30 players whose teams advanced to the postseason, I narrowed the list down to rank the top 10 players remaining, with their performance through the first two rounds being taken into account.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket
NBA player rankings for 2025 Conference Finals
10. Myles Turner, Pacers
2025 playoffs (10 games): 16.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
Turner is sometimes mentioned third or fourth when credit is doled out for Indiana’s successes, but he is very deserving of credit during this run.
In addition to averaging 16.5 rebounds per game, Turner spaced the floor by shooting 45.0 percent from deep on 4.0 attempts per game. On offense, he’s dragging opposing bigs away from the basket, and defensively, he’s leading players in the playoffs with 2.5 blocks per contest. It’s a big reason why Indiana can play the way it does.
MORE: Knicks vs. Pacers prediction and keys to the Eastern Conference Finals
9. Chet Holmgren, Thunder
2025 playoffs (11 games): 15.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 0.9 apg
In just his second season on the court, Holmgren has grown into an invaluable role for the Thunder. He’s nearly averaging a double-double and complements frontcourt mate Isaiah Hartenstein almost perfectly.
Holmgren’s value was on full display against the Nuggets, as he rebounded the ball extremely well and finished the series averaging 14.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
8. Jalen Williams, Thunder
2025 playoffs (11 games): 19.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.7 apg
It’s the third season and second playoff appearance for Williams, who has learned some lessons in real-time. He hasn’t yet shown up each time that OKC might have wanted him to, but he’s given his team what it has needed.
Williams’ big shot in Game 5 helped flip the West semifinals and his 24 points in the closeout Game 7 were an exclamation point. He’s also thriving with his secondary creation and has created plenty of transition opportunities with his ball-hawking steals.
7. Pascal Siakam, Pacers
2025 playoffs (10 games): 18.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.1 apg
Siakam’s championship mettle counts for a lot, and he’s put it on display for a Pacers roster that otherwise has not made such a run.
He’s been a matchup nightmare at times and oftentimes helps set the tone for Indiana with efficient and impactful showings to start games. After a quiet Game 2 in the East semis, Siakam finished the series with games of 18, 21 and 21 points, also pulling down eight boards and dishing eight assists in the closeout game.
6. Julius Randle, Timberwolves
2025 playoffs (10 games): 23.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.9 apg
Randle has done plenty in the way of dispelling the narrative that he’s incapable of contributing on the playoff stage, as he’s often been at his best this postseason.
Against both the Lakers and Warriors, Randle has thrived as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker, imposing his will on offense while also showing improved levels of impact on the defensive end.
MORE: How Julius Randle has flipped his playoff narrative with the Timberwolves
5. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
2025 playoffs (10 games): 17.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 9.3 apg
There have been some peaks and valleys for Haliburton, but he’s consistently stepped up for his team this postseason.
He’s leading all players in the playoffs with 9.3 assists per game and is doing so while turning it over just 2.1 times per contest. His signature playoff moments include game-winners in Game 5 of the first round and Game 2 of the second round as well as a 31-point showing fueled by a second-quarter takeover in the semifinals closeout Game 5.
Indiana goes as far as its point guard will lead it.
4. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
2025 playoffs (12 games): 19.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.1 apg
The move to acquire Towns has paid off for New York. He’s been a walking double-double, with eight such performances through the Knicks’ first 12 playoff games.
Towns’ value was on full display during his clutch showing down the stretch of New York’s Game 4 road win in the opening round and he overcame some season-long struggles against Boston to average 19.8 points and 12.7 rebounds per game in the semifinals.
3. Jalen Brunson, Knicks
2025 playoffs (12 games): 28.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.7 apg
New York’s Clutch Player of the Year has unsurprisingly been just that in these playoffs, leading all players in fourth-quarter scoring by an insanely wide margin.
It has gotten to the point where the Knicks can feel confident in their chances simply because Brunson is on the team, and he’s helped engineer multiple 20-point comebacks and delivered in countless late-game moments.
Brunson is a prime example of big-time players making big-time plays on the biggest stages.
2. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
2025 playoffs (10 games): 26.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.9 apg
This year, Edwards is adding to his reputation of being a postseason riser, and the 2025 playoffs could shape up to be a coronation of the 23-year-old.
After getting past the Lakers in five games, Edwards and the Wolves weren’t necessarily at their “A” game when eliminating the Steph Curry-less Warriors in five. That he and his team can tap into yet another level tells you all you need to know about Edwards.
He’s not backing down from anyone and he’s displaying star power in all facets of the game.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
2025 playoffs (11 games): 29.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.4 apg
He’s had some ups and downs to begin the playoffs, but Gilgeous-Alexander has still looked the part of the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Despite a few uncharacteristically poor shooting nights, SGA has scored 30-plus in seven of his first 11 playoff games, including 35 points (on 63.2% shooting) in Oklahoma City’s Game 7 blowout of Denver. He’s also provided reminders that he is an exceptional playmaker and rebounder.
That Gilgeous-Alexander’s best is still ahead of him is an encouraging sign for his team in the conference finals and, potentially, beyond.
