Ranking 10 MVP Contenders in the 2025 NBA Playoffs

As the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to meet in the Western Conference semifinals, the NBA`s leading MVP candidates for the 2024-25 season, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are set for a head-to-head matchup. The official MVP announcement is also anticipated early in this series.

However, looking specifically at recent performance, who has stood out over the past few weeks? Focusing on a shorter timeframe, we`ve evaluated player performances from the play-in tournament through the first round of the playoffs to identify 10 stars who performed at an MVP level.

This ranking will be updated after each playoff round. We`ll also include a few players who were close to making the top 10 in this initial list, some of whom might be unexpected.

1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

2025 Playoffs (7 games): 24.0 PTS | 11.6 REB | 10.1 AST | 45.2% 3P

The Clippers effectively defended the three-time MVP, particularly in Game 7 where Jokic struggled early, scoring only 16 points on 16 shots. However, the series outcome demonstrated his impact: even when scoring is contained, his overall influence is undeniable. His playoff averages, including remarkable triple-doubles with high efficiency, underscore this. His ability to draw defensive focus, even leading to a missed shot like the air-balled 3-pointer in Game 4 that resulted in an Aaron Gordon buzzer-beater, highlights how his presence benefits the Nuggets, often leading to winning plays regardless of his direct scoring.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

2025 Playoffs (5 games): 33.0 PTS | 15.4 REB | 6.6 AST | 60.6% FG

Perhaps no player faced a tougher first-round challenge than Antetokounmpo, who battled Indiana`s defensive scheme and carried the load without Damian Lillard for most of the series. While Indiana won the series, Antetokounmpo was dominant throughout the matchup, posting an incredible stat line of 33.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, all while shooting 60% from the field. His exceptional performance was not enough to advance, but he certainly wasn`t the reason for the team`s exit.

3. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

2025 Playoffs (4 games): 31.3 PTS | 11.3 REB | 5.3 AST | 1.5 STL

Tatum shone in the first round, facing the conference`s top defense—arguably its most physical—and still managing to average 31.3 points and 5.3 assists per game. He did this despite injuring his right wrist severely during a hard foul in Game 1 against Orlando, which caused him to miss Game 2. Despite the injury, Tatum shot 50% from midrange throughout the series and hit 4 of 5 three-pointers in the series-clinching Game 5.

4. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

2025 Playoffs (6 games): 31.5 PTS | 8.2 AST | 4.0 REB

Brunson, dealing with ankle issues that briefly forced him out of several games against the Pistons, wasn`t as efficient as usual in the hard-fought six-game series. Nevertheless, the New York captain reached the 30-point mark five times. This included his 40-point performance in the final game, which Brunson sealed with a crucial late three-pointer over Ausar Thompson. Brunson`s series-ender and his first-round playoff-leading 11 points per game in the fourth quarter further validated his status as an NBA Clutch Player of the Year candidate.

5. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

2025 Playoffs (5 games): 26.8 PTS | 8.4 REB | 6.2 AST | 1.2 STL

Minnesota`s series-clinching Game 5 wasn`t Edwards` best shooting night: he went 5-for-19 and missed all 11 three-point attempts after leading the NBA in made threes during the regular season. However, Edwards` game has evolved beyond just scoring. He recorded eight or more assists in three of the five games against the Lakers in the first round. In his dominant 43-point performance in Game 4, Edwards didn`t score in the final 7½ minutes but used the defensive attention he attracted to facilitate, tallying a couple of assists to help seal the victory.

6. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

2025 Playoffs (5 games): 29.4 PTS | 8.4 REB | 4.2 AST | 44.4% 3P

It seemed fitting that the Magic stayed competitive in their season-ending loss to Boston until Banchero, their key player, picked up a fifth foul early in the third quarter and had to sit. After that foul, the defending champions capitalized against Orlando without Banchero, going on a 30-9 run that effectively ended the series. This highlighted how crucial the 22-year-old forward is to the Magic`s offense, particularly his shooting; Banchero shot 44% from deep in the series while his teammates combined for just 22% (29-for-129).

7. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

2025 Playoffs (7 games): 25.0 PTS | 7.6 REB | 4.7 AST | 40.5% 3P

Despite playing a limited number of regular-season games (37), Leonard had a highly impressive playoff run. He delivered a spectacular Game 2 against Denver, scoring 39 points on 15-for-19 shooting. He not only averaged an efficient, series-leading 25 points in a series featuring three-time MVP Jokic, but Leonard was also the disruptive defender we`ve known him to be, leading the first round with 29 deflections. More than anything, it was encouraging to see Leonard healthy again in the postseason after his struggles with injuries in recent years.

8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

2025 Playoffs (5 games): 25.6 PTS | 4.0 AST | 1.4 STL

Mitchell, similar to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, led a team that convincingly defeated a No. 8 seed, resulting in him sitting out fourth quarters at times against Miami. Still, Mitchell was fantastic, and he effectively managed the backcourt in the final two games of the series when fellow All-Star Darius Garland was out. (Mitchell`s Game 1 against the Pacers marked his eighth consecutive playoff series opening with a 30-point performance, surpassing a record held by Michael Jordan.)

9. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2025 Playoffs (7 games): 24.0 PTS | 5.7 AST | 5.9 REB | 39.2% 3P

Coach Ime Udoka and the tough Rockets made their strategy clear: hound Curry in the first round. They employed aggressive zone defenses and made things as difficult as possible while Curry played through a left thumb injury. To some extent, their plan worked, as Curry`s efficiency dipped in the latter half of the series. However, in the decisive Game 7, Houston again focused heavily on stopping Curry early, creating opportunities for teammate Buddy Hield to score 22 points with six three-pointers in the first half. Curry then caught fire himself to close out the game, as he often does, propelling the Warriors into the West semifinals.

10. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

2025 Playoffs (6 games): 18.3 PTS | 11.8 AST | 5.8 REB | 1.2 BLK

Haliburton`s shooting hasn`t been stellar this postseason, but he remains the undisputed leader and engine of the potent Pacers offense. He is averaging nearly 12 assists per game so far. Haliburton also made several key defensive plays in the upset victory over top-seeded Cleveland in the series opener.

Players Who Just Missed the Cut

A number of other players had strong performances in the first round, narrowly missing the top 10. These include:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Scored prolifically but with some inconsistency (40% overall, 25% from three) during OKC`s sweep of Memphis. His co-star Jalen Williams also deserves mention for a fantastic series (23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists on 54% shooting). Both have opportunities to climb the rankings as competition increases.
• Jaylen Brown: Was efficient in Boston`s sweep against Orlando, managing a bone bruise in his knee. He had a spectacular 36-point game on just 19 shots and didn`t need high volume throughout the series.
• Julius Randle: Had arguably the best playoff series of his career alongside Edwards, averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on 48% shooting (39% from three), a significant improvement from past playoff performances with the Knicks.
• LeBron James and Luka Doncic: Both exited the playoffs with injuries (James with a sprained MCL, Doncic with a back issue) and showed signs of fatigue in games against the Timberwolves. They posted impressive overall stats with good efficiency but struggled notably in the fourth quarter, shooting 33% and 30% respectively. Doncic also struggled defensively and had only three assists versus three turnovers in his 47 fourth-quarter minutes.
• Cade Cunningham: Recorded historic numbers (25 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds) for a player`s first NBA postseason, but needs to improve his three-point shooting (18%) and significantly reduce turnovers (five per game) in future appearances.
• Franz Wagner: As Orlando`s second option, his averages were similar to Cunningham`s, unfortunately sharing the issue of poor three-point shooting (19%).
• Karl-Anthony Towns: His numbers (19.7 points, 10 rebounds on near 50/40/90 splits) look solid, but his play was inconsistent in the series against the Pistons. Foul trouble also complicated matters for the Knicks at times.
• Alperen Sengun: Provided his typical efficient triple-threat production for Houston in their seven-game series. Despite strong help from Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet, Sengun`s contributions consistently kept Houston competitive against the Warriors.
• Jamal Murray: Wasn`t consistent enough for the top 10, but his Game 5 performance against the Clippers (43 points on 26 shots with seven assists) was one of the playoffs` best individual showings. He finished the series averaging almost 23 points and six assists with 48/40/90 shooting splits.