With Sunday`s Game 7s concluded, and the Oklahoma City Thunder impressively defeating the Denver Nuggets to join the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA`s final four, we now have a much clearer picture of the true difference-makers on the path to the Larry O`Brien Trophy.
In this update to our playoff MVP rankings following the conference semifinals, we are ranking the eight players whose performances have stood out the most throughout two wild and unpredictable rounds.
1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
2025 playoffs (12 games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB
After eliminating the Detroit Pistons in the first round with a spectacular step-back three-pointer, Brunson continued his success by leading New York to the conference finals, defeating the defending champions Boston Celtics. He had a slow start to the series but, as is often his pattern, was clutch in the critical moments. This was particularly evident in Games 1, 2, and 4, where the Knicks came back to win from deficits of 20, 20, and 14 points, respectively.
Next, the versatile guard will face the Pacers, against whom he averaged nearly 30 points and six assists during the regular season. Brunson and his teammates will look to avenge last year`s loss to Indiana in the conference semis. If games come down to the wire, the league`s Clutch Player of the Year will feel prepared. Brunson has already made 14 clutch shots in these playoffs, which is nearly twice as many as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, ranked second.
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
2025 playoffs (14 games): 26.2 PTS | 12.7 REB | 8.0 AST | 2.0 STL
With teammate Aaron Gordon severely limited, and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. combining for only 19 points on 24 shots, Jokic received very little scoring support from his fellow veteran starters in Sunday`s elimination game. Nevertheless, this reality—and his team`s series loss overall—doesn`t necessarily diminish the arguments for Jokic`s high placement on this list. Granted, he shot poorly from beyond the arc (0-for-10) in Denver`s Game 3 overtime loss and wasn`t much more efficient in Game 4 (2-for-8 from three). But he also delivered one of the most impressive playoff performances when he scored 44 points with 22 rebounds and 5 assists on just 25 field goal attempts in the Nuggets` Game 5 defeat.
Jokic challenged a historically strong Thunder team significantly, with 24-year-old Christian Braun serving as his most effective sidekick in Game 7.
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
2025 playoffs (10 games): 26.5 PTS | 8.0 REB | 5.9 AST | 38.5 3P%
The Wolves` star rebounded from a less efficient opening round against the Los Angeles Lakers, shooting 44% from deep on nearly nine attempts per game in the conference semifinals against a Golden State Warriors team largely without Stephen Curry. Notably, in both of Edwards` closeout Game 5 victories so far, he leveraged the extra defensive attention he drew to create opportunities for others, recording eight assists in the clinching game against the Lakers and an impressive 12 in the series-clinching game against the Warriors.
Edwards will need to be ready for OKC`s swarming defense, which was the NBA`s best at limiting one-on-one opportunities during the regular season, allowing just 0.81 points per possession.
4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
2025 playoffs (10 games): 28.4 PTS | 6.6 AST | 6.2 REB | 1.3 STL
The Thunder guard, likely to be named the league`s regular-season MVP in the coming days, had a fantastic start and finish to his series against Denver. He struggled with his shot during Games 3 and 4 but then delivered performances of 31, 32, and 35 points, respectively, in the final three games of the series. He shot no worse than 52% in Games 5, 6, and 7, lifting his team when OKC needed it most.
If there`s a reason for SGA to be this far down the list, it`s his considerable struggles with efficiency in the opening round. However, he can still make up for this against the Wolves and potentially in the Finals, should the top-seeded Thunder advance.
5. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
2025 playoffs (10 games): 17.5 PTS | 9.3 AST | 5.5 REB
After shooting just 42% overall and under 27% from three in the first round, Haliburton elevated his game, shooting 54% from the field and almost 46% from deep against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to pull off an upset in just five games. One of the biggest keys for the Indiana star this postseason: Similar to Brunson, he has delivered significant shots to close out games. In clutch scenarios in the final minute of Pacers games, he has made 4 out of 5 field goal attempts. No one has made more such shots in these playoffs.
6. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves
2025 playoffs (10 games): 23.9 PTS | 5.9 REB | 5.9 AST | 50.9 FG%
Yes, this is the same player who significantly struggled during his first two postseason appearances. Randle shot 29.8% from the field in 2021 and 37.4% in 2022, both while with the Knicks. But Randle has been fantastic for Minnesota so far, shooting almost 51%, averaging 23.9 points in the postseason (just behind Edwards), and posting a team-high 5.9 assists (the same as Edwards). Long considered one of the NBA`s best facilitators for corner-three opportunities, Randle currently appears at ease, which could be hugely beneficial if OKC aggressively pressures Edwards.
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
2025 playoffs (9 games): 29.6 PTS | 4.7 REB | 3.9 AST
Much like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mitchell gave his absolute best and at times single-handedly carried his team`s offense. The Cavaliers` star led all scorers in the second round, averaging over 34 points per game. However, playing through an ankle injury in an attempt to salvage a Cleveland team facing early elimination after a 64-win season, Mitchell`s efficiency from beyond the arc sharply declined from the opening round, dropping from 46% to 24% on significant—but necessary—volume in the conference semifinals.
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
2025 playoffs (5 games): 33.0 PTS | 15.4 REB | 6.6 AST | 60.6 FG%
The Bucks` forward is the one player who was so outstanding in the opening round that he deserved to make this list again, though nowhere near the top given the added significance of the conference semifinals. In case you forgot just how dominant Antetokounmpo was without an injured Damian Lillard (and with an extremely quiet Kyle Kuzma): Antetokounmpo averaged 33 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in his five games against Indianapolis (Note: Source likely meant the Indiana Pacers, but translating as-is). And he achieved this with nearly 60.6% shooting from the field.