NBA Playoffs 2025: Ranking The 10 Best Players Of The Second Round

It’s all about the new school in the NBA Playoffs and that’s not just with the teams in the conference finals.

New faces are increasingly making their presence felt this postseason. Anyone questioning the homogeneity of the league’s playing styles this year need look no further than the differences among the individual talents on display.

One of the biggest individual matchups of the conference finals is Anthony Edwards vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Those two players couldn’t be more different in how they go about their business. The same can be said about the other biggest matchup in Tyrese Haliburton vs. Jalen Brunson.

Without further adieu, here are the best players we saw in the second round (and here’s our first-round rankings as well):

1. Anthony Edwards

Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury certainly impacted the series but Edwards was cold-blooded in ensuring the Golden State Warriors had no hope. Especially in those final three games, Edwards came up big when it mattered most and delivered exactly what his team needed when they needed it.

Edwards averaged 33.0 points during the two wins on Golden State’s home floor and then came up with a stellar all-around performance to close the series out in Minnesota. He finished the Warriors off with 22 points, seven rebounds, 12 assists, a steal and three blocks in the Timberwolves’ Game 5 victory.

He made 44.2 percent of his threes and hit some absolute dagger shots throughout. Next, he has the chance to make a statement against one of the MVP favorites in Gilgeous-Alexander.

2. Donovan Mitchell

Like Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first round, the series result is not a reflection of the level Mitchell played at. Injuries took a toll on the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Indiana Pacers but Mitchell gave everything he could. For the series, he averaged 34.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists and took a personally undeserving loss when dropping 48 in Game 2.

Mitchell is left to lick his wounds and come back better next season, but it’s hard to argue he could have been any better in this round.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

There was only one game in this matchup where the battle between top MVP candidates lived up to the billing (Game 5) but it was worthwhile. Over the course of the series, Gilgeous-Alexander put up 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field.

The Denver Nuggets’ defense is nowhere near as robust as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s but Gilgeous-Alexander showed the sturdiness of his scoring process. He got to the midrange at will and is averaging nearly nine free-throw attempts through the entire postseason so far.

4. Nikola Jokic

This series asked a lot of the reigning MVP. With Michael Porter Jr.’s jumper looking severely limited by his shoulder injury and Aaron Gordon hobbled for Game 7, it was going to take a Herculean effort to drag Denver to the Western Conference Finals.

Jokic averaged 28.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.7 steals for the series but shot below 50 percent from the field and under 33 percent from three. The Thunder defense caused real problems for Jokic, coaxing four games of five or more turnovers out of him.

5. Jalen Brunson

Brunson’s standout performance came in a crucial Game 4 win over the Boston Celtics, where he poured in 39 points, 12 assists and five rebounds. It was unfortunate Jayson Tatum got injured in this one but the New York Knicks had already taken control of the game and, as a result, the series at that point.

The 28-year-old averaged 26.2 points and 7.2 assists for the series and seemed to hit every big shot when New York needed it. So far this postseason, the Knicks are a ridiculous 18.3 points better per 100 possessions when Brunson is on the court.

6. Julius Randle

You know Randle’s bully-ball style is peaking when he’s able to go right at Draymond Green and win the matchup time and time again. Edwards was the best player in the series but a big part of why the Warriors lost four straight was Randle being the second-best player rather than Jimmy Butler.

Randle averaged 25.2 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 53.3 percent from the field. He was unconscious in the closeout Game 5, scoring 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting. Whether Randle can outperform Jalen Williams in the Western Conference Finals will be a huge factor in deciding the winner of that series.

7. Tyrese Haliburton

Hell hath no fury like Haliburton scorned, it appears. He has been a man on a mission since being voted the most overrated player in The Athletic’s anonymous player poll. With a game-winning 3-pointer in Game 2 against Cleveland, he added another signature clutch moment to a rapidly growing playoff resume.

Should Haliburton be higher? Well, on the one hand you can only play who’s in front of you and he’s excelled in that. On the other, he didn’t have to see much of Damian Lillard in the first round nor Darius Garland in the second. But he’s nonetheless been splendid this postseason, including the second round. Indiana will need that to continue if it hopes to knock off New York and reach the NBA Finals.

8. Myles Turner

Turner had himself another fantastic series and is playing the best basketball of his career. He averaged 16.2 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 56.3 percent beyond the arc. He also racked up 14 blocks over five games against the Cavs.

The Jarrett Allen-Evan Mobley tandem was viewed as a key component of Cleveland’s success, but it was Turner who emerged as the best big man in the series.

9. Aaron Gordon

It’s arguable no one’s stock has increased more through the first two rounds than Gordon. One of the best glue guys in the league, Gordon showed on the big stage just how far his 3-point shot has come and his propensity to perform in the clutch — headlined by two game-winners.

If that wasn’t enough, he toughed it out in Game 7, despite being diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He finished the postseason averaging 16.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists and shot 37.9 percent from deep The Nuggets were also 36.9 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

10. Derrick White

You always feel someone could have done a bit more when they end up on the losing side. That shouldn’t take away from what White did do, though. In six games against New York, he averaged 20.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 40 percent from three.

White maintained his status as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and did all he could offensively within his skill-set. If Boston’s two best players were better in Games 1 and 2, White is likely still in action.