Top 5 NBA Players: Conference Finals Edition

Basketball fans have been gifted with a loaded NBA playoff field this year, with special performances on a nightly basis from the best in the NBA. As the NBA Playoffs are down to four with he conference finals tipping off this week, let’s examine who the five best players remaining in this year’s conference finals are, and see where they stack up against one another.

1. Anthony Edwards

The electric superstar and de facto leader of an underdog Timberwolves squad, Edwards has shown in his young career that the bright lights of the playoffs have zero effect on him. The three-time All-Star has provided the Timberwolves the offensive punch that has put them in a prime position to not only advance to the franchise’s first NBA finals but also collect its first-ever championship as well. The increased output and efficiency from the three-point line have also allowed Edwards to evolve his game further. This has made him the deadliest offensive weapon remaining in the playoffs.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

While the roster for the Oklahoma City Thunder is filled with talent and depth, the play of the likely league MVP is what makes them the clear title favorites heading into the conference finals. After a rough and inefficient start to the playoffs, SGA was able to finally find his rhythm during the Thunder’s second-round series against the Nuggets. The Thunder superstar averaged 30 points per game on 53% shooting from the field to propel OKC past a tough Nuggets team. Now that SGA has hit his stride, it’s hard to imagine that any other team can best this Thunder team.

3. Jalen Brunson

The most clutch player on this list, the Knicks may have very well been eliminated from the playoffs way earlier if not for the heroics of Brunson. The Villanova product is averaging 29 points in these NBA Playoffs for the Knicks. He has served as the catalyst for a franchise that hasn’t seen this much postseason success in over 25 years. Brunson’s clutch play, combined with an improvement on the defensive side of the floor, could be the deciding factor in the conference finals versus the Indiana Pacers.

4. Tyrese Haliburton

So much for being voted the most overrated player in the NBA this season. Haliburton has removed all remaining doubt that surrounded his status as a superstar in the NBA these playoffs. Often called the modern-day equivalent of Steve Nash, the playmaking abilities of Haliburton have been something to marvel at these past two postseasons.

Haliburton currently leads the NBA Playoffs in assists per game with over 9, while also chipping in 18 points per game to help out on the scoring front for the Pacers. These two factors are exactly why Indiana sports the No. 1 ranked offense in the playoffs and in the conference finals for a second straight year.

5. Julius Randle

Shortly after the Timberwolves traded away franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves were expected to take a step back. However, the much-improved postseason play of Randle has shown that the predicted demise of Minnesota was fairly premature.

The three-time All-Star is averaging a career high in points, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage so far this postseason. Randle also became just the second player in Timberwolves franchise history to drop a triple-double in a playoff game, which came in Game 3 of Minnesota’s second-round series versus the Golden State Warriors. Randle’s all-around play alongside Edwards’ scoring prowess has made the Timberwolves the most formidable opponent possible for the Oklahoma City Thunder.