The 2025 NBA Finals are upon us, featuring a clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers for the championship title. Following the Thunder`s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Pacers eliminating the New York Knicks, 14 teams have concluded their playoff runs. This postseason has showcased numerous outstanding individual performances.
For the third time during these playoffs, we present our updated ranking of the top eight players through the first three rounds, just before the championship series commences.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
2025 Playoff Stats (16 games): 29.8 PPG | 6.9 APG | 5.7 RPG | 1.6 SPG
Oklahoma City has been the league`s premier team throughout the season, and Gilgeous-Alexander recently received the regular-season MVP award. His dominant play continues into the postseason, earning him the top spot in these rankings. In the Thunder`s five-game series win against the Timberwolves, he averaged 31.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander has surpassed the 30-point mark in 11 of his 16 playoff games, including all four of OKC`s victories in the Western Conference Finals. As the Thunder enter the NBA Finals as strong favorites, it`s widely anticipated that Gilgeous-Alexander would also claim the Finals MVP trophy should his team win the championship.
Previous ranking: 4
2. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
2025 Playoff Stats (16 games): 18.8 PPG | 9.8 APG | 5.7 RPG | 1.4 SPG
The upcoming point guard battle between Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton is arguably the best matchup at the position in the NBA Finals since the memorable duels between Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry during the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers series from 2015 to 2018.
For Indiana to potentially pull off an upset, Haliburton will need more performances akin to his stellar Game 4 against the Knicks in the conference finals. In that decisive victory that gave Indiana a 3-1 series lead, he finished with 32 points, 15 assists, and zero turnovers.
Turnovers will be a critical factor in this series. Oklahoma City`s defense is exceptional at forcing opponents into errors, while Haliburton is recognized as one of the league`s best point guards at minimizing turnovers.
Previous ranking: 5
3. Jalen Brunson, Knicks
2025 Playoff Stats (18 games): 29.4 PPG | 7.0 APG | 3.4 RPG
Although Brunson`s defense was a notable issue in New York`s loss to Indiana, and he had a disappointing final game, his crucial role in leading the franchise to its most successful season in 25 years cannot be overstated. Brunson, this season`s Clutch Player of the Year, averaged an impressive 30.7 points while shooting over 50% from the field against the Pacers. The fact that his overall performance was still viewed with some disappointment highlights the elite status he has achieved.
Brunson`s initial three seasons in New York have already cemented his place among the top five careers in Knicks franchise history. A compelling argument can be made that only three Hall of Famers—Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, and Walt Frazier—rank ahead of him. That`s esteemed company for a former second-round draft pick who joined the team as an unrestricted free agent.
Previous ranking: 1
4. Pascal Siakam, Pacers
2025 Playoff Stats (16 games): 21.1 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 3.3 APG | 46.3 3P%
The Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Siakam, has seamlessly integrated with the Pacers since his arrival 18 months ago. He was instrumental in their run to the conference finals last year and now in reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. He scored 30 points in three of the six games against the Knicks and averaged 24.8 points across that series.
The synergy between Haliburton and Siakam has been a significant factor in the Pacers developing into the high-powered offensive unit they have been over the past couple of seasons, particularly during their playoff pushes. Matching that offensive firepower against the Thunder presents Indiana`s biggest challenge yet.
Previous ranking: NR
5. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
2025 Playoff Stats (14 games): 26.2 PPG | 12.7 RPG | 8.0 APG | 2.0 SPG
It might seem surprising to see Jokic ranked here despite Denver`s second-round exit. However, recall that the Nuggets had the Thunder in trouble in Game 5 of the conference semifinals, holding an eight-point lead through three quarters in Oklahoma City and appearing poised to push OKC to the brink of elimination for the second consecutive year.
Although the outcome was different this time, Jokic`s brilliance forced the Thunder to a tough series that could easily be the closest challenge they face on their path to a potential title. That performance, combined with Jokic`s consistently remarkable statistics, keeps him high on this list, even after being eliminated a couple of weeks ago.
Previous ranking: 2
6. Jalen Williams, Thunder
2025 Playoff Stats (16 games): 20.4 PPG | 5.8 RPG | 5.3 APG | 1.6 SPG
Williams experienced some struggles during parts of Oklahoma City`s second-round victory over Denver. However, he bounced back with a terrific Western Conference Finals performance, shooting just under 50% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range, while averaging 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.0 steals.
One key question surrounding Oklahoma City`s championship contention all season was whether Williams could consistently perform as the reliable secondary scorer behind Gilgeous-Alexander on a title-winning team. While it has been challenging at times in these playoffs, his performance, particularly a 34-point effort in Game 4 against Minnesota (perhaps the best game of his career, helping OKC take a 3-1 lead), shows he is developing into that crucial role right as the Thunder`s championship window opens.
Previous ranking: NR
7. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
2025 Playoff Stats (15 games): 25.3 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 5.5 APG
Oklahoma City demonstrated appropriate concern regarding Edwards throughout the Western Conference Finals, frequently double-teaming him to force passes to teammates and make others try to beat them. Consequently, Edwards finished below 20 points in three of the five games in the series, a rare occurrence after doing so only once in the first two rounds combined.
Nevertheless, Edwards leading the Timberwolves to consecutive conference finals appearances, especially after the franchise had only one previous series win in its history, is a significant achievement. The pressing question now is what steps Edwards and the Wolves must take to reach (and eventually surpass) the Thunder, who currently appear to be the dominant force in the West for years to come.
Previous ranking: 3
8. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
2025 Playoff Stats (18 games): 21.4 PPG | 11.6 RPG | 1.3 APG
Similar to Brunson, Towns produced impressive statistics in the Eastern Conference Finals, recording 24.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game while shooting 50% overall and 36.7% from three-point range. However, also like Brunson, Towns struggled defensively and with foul trouble, issues Indiana repeatedly exploited as they defeated New York, preventing the Knicks from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Despite the playoff exit, Towns` first season with the Knicks should be considered a success. He earned All-NBA honors and his fifth All-Star selection while contributing to the Knicks reaching the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. However, for the team to advance further in the future, Towns` defense will need improvement, and the Knicks will need to strengthen the roster supporting him and Brunson.
Previous ranking: NR