With Sunday`s crucial Game 7 now concluded, and the Oklahoma City Thunder having decisively overcome the Denver Nuggets to join the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA`s final four, we gain a much clearer perspective on the players making the biggest impact on the journey toward the Larry O`Brien Trophy.
This postseason MVP update, compiled after the conference semifinals, ranks the eight players whose stellar performances have truly distinguished them throughout two thrilling and unpredictable rounds.
1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
2025 Playoffs (12 games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB
After securing the first-round series against the Detroit Pistons with a remarkable step-back three-pointer, Brunson`s follow-up act involved leading New York into the conference finals by defeating the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Despite a slow start to that particular series, he demonstrated clutch capabilities in the later games, a pattern frequently seen from him. This was especially evident in Games 1, 2, and 4, where the Knicks successfully rallied from deficits of 20, 20, and 14 points, respectively, to claim victory.
Next, the All-NBA guard will face the Pacers, against whom he averaged nearly 30 points and six assists during the regular season. Brunson and his teammates are aiming to avenge their loss to Indiana in the conference semifinals from the previous year. As the league`s Clutch Player of the Year, Brunson is more than ready for tight finishes. He has already made 14 clutch baskets in these playoffs, nearly double the number of the player ranked second, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Previous ranking: 4
2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
2025 Playoffs (14 games): 26.2 PTS | 12.7 REB | 8.0 AST | 2.0 STL
In Sunday`s elimination loss, Jokic received minimal scoring help from his fellow veteran starters, with teammate Aaron Gordon significantly hampered, and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. combining for only 19 points on 24 attempts. However, this situation, and his team`s overall series defeat, does not necessarily diminish Jokic`s standing high on this list.
While he struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-10 in Denver`s Game 3 overtime loss and not much better in Game 4 (2-for-8), he also delivered one of the most outstanding performances of the playoffs. In Game 5, he scored 44 points, grabbed 22 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists on just 25 field goal attempts in a losing effort for the Nuggets. Facing a historically strong Thunder squad in Game 7, Jokic delivered a formidable challenge, with 24-year-old Christian Braun proving to be his most effective supporting player.
Previous ranking: 1
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
2025 Playoffs (10 games): 26.5 PTS | 8.0 REB | 5.9 AST | 38.5 3P%
The Timberwolves` standout player improved upon a less efficient first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, shooting 44% from three-point range on almost nine attempts per game in the conference semifinals against a Golden State Warriors team mostly without Stephen Curry. Notably, in his series-clinching Game 5 performances, Edwards leveraged the significant defensive attention he drew to create opportunities for others, recording eight assists in the final game against the Lakers and a remarkable 12 in the clincher against the Warriors.
Edwards must now prepare for Oklahoma City`s aggressive defense, which ranked as the NBA`s best at limiting one-on-one opportunities during the regular season, allowing only 0.81 points per possession.
Previous ranking: 5
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, expected to be named the league`s regular-season MVP soon, had a fantastic start and finish to his series against Denver. Although he struggled with his shooting in Games 3 and 4, he rebounded strongly with performances of 31, 32, and 35 points, respectively, in the final three games of the series. He shot at least 52% in Games 5, 6, and 7, providing a crucial lift when his team needed it most.
One possible reason for his placement lower on this list is his efficiency struggles in the opening round. However, he has the opportunity to compensate for this in the upcoming series against the Wolves and potentially in the Finals, should the top-seeded Thunder advance.
Previous ranking: NR
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-point range in the first round, Haliburton elevated his game significantly against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, shooting 54% overall and almost 46% from deep to orchestrate an upset victory in only five games. A key factor for the Indiana star this postseason has been his ability to hit crucial shots to seal wins, similar to Jalen Brunson. He has made 4-for-5 field goals in the final minute of clutch scenarios for the Pacers, more than any other player in these playoffs.
Previous ranking: 10
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 faced considerable challenges in his first two playoff appearances, shooting just 29.8% from the field in 2021 and 37.4% in 2022 while with the Knicks. However, Randle has been outstanding for Minnesota so far, shooting nearly 51% from the field. He`s averaging 23.9 points in the postseason, just behind Edwards, and a team-high 5.9 assists, matching Edwards` mark. Long recognized as one of the NBA`s best facilitators for corner three-point opportunities, Randle currently appears remarkably comfortable, a factor that could prove immensely beneficial if Oklahoma City focuses defensive pressure on Edwards.
Previous ranking: NR
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
2025 Playoffs (9 games): 29.6 PTS | 4.7 REB | 3.9 AST
Much like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mitchell gave maximum effort and at times single-handedly shouldered his team`s offensive load. 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 revive a Cleveland team facing an early exit after a 64-win regular season, Mitchell`s three-point efficiency dropped sharply from the first round, falling from 46% to 24% on a high, though necessary, volume of attempts in the conference semifinals.
Previous ranking: 8
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 sole player whose performance in the opening round was so exceptional that he warrants inclusion on this list again, although not near the top given the increased significance of the conference semifinals. In case his dominance without an injured Damian Lillard (and with a very quiet Kyle Kuzma) is forgotten: Antetokounmpo averaged 33 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists across five games against Indianapolis, achieving this with an impressive field goal percentage of nearly 60.6%.
Previous ranking: 2
