With the first round of the NBA playoffs in the books, it is clear some players have seen a perception shift in the eyes of fans. A few of these have been bad, such as the criticism Giannis Antetokounmpo is facing for his inability to meaningfully challenge the Brooklyn Nets to this point.
Some players have once again shown that they are who we thought they are too, with Joel Embiid‘s WWE antics very on-brand for an individual who seems to revel in winding opponents and their fanbases up at every opportunity.
Then there are those who, to this point at least, have seen their standing in the league rise for all of the right reasons. One series isn’t a long amount of time to put the league on notice, and a lot can change from here on out, but these players have done their best to stand out amongst some amazing individual performances.
We are only one round through the NBA playoffs, but already these three players have enhanced their reputations among fans with their performances.
Two players unlucky to miss out on this list are Damian Lillard and Devin Booker. Lillard’s exploits for the Portland Trail Blazers were once again outrageous, but it was not enough to beat the Denver Nuggets in the first round. He is an all-world talent, and with head coach Terry Stotts now departed, it will be interesting to see what happens next for player and team.
Booker has taken his first foray into the postseason in stride, looking completely at home battling against LeBron James and Anthony Davis en route to beating the Los Angeles Lakers. Casual fans are witnessing a superb talent, but real ones have known for a while. By season’s end he may have made us look silly for not making it, but here are three players that couldn’t be ignored.
Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 3. Trae Young
When it comes to announcing yourself on the playoff stage, nobody has done it quite as loudly as Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks this season. There was the rough start to the year, being overlooked as an All-Star and the midseason change in head coach to Nate McMillan. Throw in the injury to Bogdan Bogdanovic when he was needed during the regular season and times were tough.
To Young’s credit, he continued playing as well as he always has, even if his personal numbers took a small dip. Mind you, averages of 25.3 points and 9.4 assists weren’t exactly a poor return on his play. A first-round series with the New York Knicks beckoned, featuring the Most Improved Player Julius Randle and Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau, and Young didn’t even flinch.
Instead he played the villain perfectly, puncturing the optimism around the resurgent Knicks on the way to a 4-1 series win. Young certainly had help and hiring McMillan when they did and with their season on the brink was a masterstroke. It seems to have unlocked the full potential of this roster.
Taking a 1-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, with Young putting up 35 points and 10 assists, felt like bonus territory for this organization after their emphatic victory over the Knicks. Yet here is Young, proving that despite being small in stature and susceptible to being attacked on the defensive end, he is able to lead a group on a postseason run.
The comparisons to Luka Doncic (unlucky not to make this list himself) have quietened, but three years into their careers it is casual fans who have witnessed Young win a series before Doncic was able to do so. No matter where the Hawks go from here this season, they have proven that you can build a winning team around Young’s talents.
Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 2. Kawhi Leonard
If you were to make a list of players who are capable of taking the souls of opponents, Kawhi Leonard would surely top it. Kobe Bryant may have the mamba nickname for eternity, but there is something snake-like in Leonard’s ability to suffocate the opposition until they submit. He is mechanical, robotic in how he gets up and down the court and does what he is supposed to do.
Leonard might seem an odd choice here because it took him seven games to get rid of Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, all while playing for the better team in the LA Clippers. But Leonard has had to hear chatter since the NBA’s bubble about how he is no longer the two-way destroyer who led the Toronto Raptors to the championship in 2019.
Being up 3-1 and losing to the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs didn’t help matters either. But when the Clippers needed him most against the Mavericks, and when it was unsure what their best lineups were or how to deal with the incredible Doncic, it was Leonard who stepped up to do all that was necessary to win the series.
His Game 6 performance will go down as one of the most underrated all-time great playoff performances. Right now Kevin Durant is looking like the best player in the world, it is hard to argue with that. But after him, if you needed one player to win you a game, or a series, Leonard would have to be the number two choice. Ahead of Giannis, and LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic.
In the postseason so far, he is posting averages of 32.1 points on 42.5 percent from deep. Winning three championships as the best player on three different franchises is an insane achievement. To do it while banishing the setbacks of last year, as well as crowning the Clippers champions for the first time in their history, would take it to another level. All in a day’s work for Leonard, whose vice-like grip of opponents in the playoffs is back and as strong as ever.
Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 1. Deandre Ayton
Make no mistake, Deandre Ayton deserves this moment. The Phoenix Suns are for real, and Ayton should get a lot of credit for that being the case. Booker is the young superstar, while the addition of Chris Paul clearly changed the entire outlook of the organization. Heading into the playoffs, Ayton was the worrying variable, and he has come through in a huge way.
In his first postseason appearance ever, going up against a fit Anthony Davis, Ayton had 21 points and 16 rebounds. As a more traditional center who doesn’t stretch the floor like a lot of modern big men, the thinking was that Ayton would be played off the court, or at the very least be a non-factor come crunch time.
Instead, he was dominant, damaging the Lakers inside every chance he got. This is extremely worrying for the Lakers, who brought Andre Drummond in to provide some beef in the paint. It didn’t matter. For those who argue that the Lakers would have won the series if fully fit, the Houston Rockets would have beaten the Golden State Warriors if Chris Paul didn’t tweak his hamstring.
Injuries happen, you can only play what is in front of you, and Ayton did all of that and more. He went one step better on Monday night, having 20 points and 10 rebounds against presumptive MVP Nikola Jokic as the Suns took a 1-0 series lead. He also kept Jokic to a relatively quiet 22 points himself.
This transformation has been remarkable, as Ayton has had to hear for years how he was not on the same level as Doncic or Young. Taken first overall in the 2018 draft, he has had to bide his time waiting for this moment to come around. No matter what happens from here on out, Ayton has shown that he can be a key player on a franchise with championship aspirations.
The rebirth of the traditional big man started a couple of years back, but Ayton has brought the Renaissance to the next level. He will be an important part of a competitive Suns organization for years to come and has proven he will be able to contribute in a big way when called upon. No other player has had a bigger transformation this postseason.
With the first round of the NBA playoffs in the books, it is clear some players have seen a perception shift in the eyes of fans. A few of these have been bad, such as the criticism Giannis Antetokounmpo is facing for his inability to meaningfully challenge the Brooklyn Nets to this point.
Some players have once again shown that they are who we thought they are too, with Joel Embiid‘s WWE antics very on-brand for an individual who seems to revel in winding opponents and their fanbases up at every opportunity.
Then there are those who, to this point at least, have seen their standing in the league rise for all of the right reasons. One series isn’t a long amount of time to put the league on notice, and a lot can change from here on out, but these players have done their best to stand out amongst some amazing individual performances.
We are only one round through the NBA playoffs, but already these three players have enhanced their reputations among fans with their performances.
Two players unlucky to miss out on this list are Damian Lillard and Devin Booker. Lillard’s exploits for the Portland Trail Blazers were once again outrageous, but it was not enough to beat the Denver Nuggets in the first round. He is an all-world talent, and with head coach Terry Stotts now departed, it will be interesting to see what happens next for player and team.
Booker has taken his first foray into the postseason in stride, looking completely at home battling against LeBron James and Anthony Davis en route to beating the Los Angeles Lakers. Casual fans are witnessing a superb talent, but real ones have known for a while. By season’s end he may have made us look silly for not making it, but here are three players that couldn’t be ignored.
Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 3. Trae Young
When it comes to announcing yourself on the playoff stage, nobody has done it quite as loudly as Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks this season. There was the rough start to the year, being overlooked as an All-Star and the midseason change in head coach to Nate McMillan. Throw in the injury to Bogdan Bogdanovic when he was needed during the regular season and times were tough.
To Young’s credit, he continued playing as well as he always has, even if his personal numbers took a small dip. Mind you, averages of 25.3 points and 9.4 assists weren’t exactly a poor return on his play. A first-round series with the New York Knicks beckoned, featuring the Most Improved Player Julius Randle and Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau, and Young didn’t even flinch.
Instead he played the villain perfectly, puncturing the optimism around the resurgent Knicks on the way to a 4-1 series win. Young certainly had help and hiring McMillan when they did and with their season on the brink was a masterstroke. It seems to have unlocked the full potential of this roster.
Taking a 1-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, with Young putting up 35 points and 10 assists, felt like bonus territory for this organization after their emphatic victory over the Knicks. Yet here is Young, proving that despite being small in stature and susceptible to being attacked on the defensive end, he is able to lead a group on a postseason run.
The comparisons to Luka Doncic (unlucky not to make this list himself) have quietened, but three years into their careers it is casual fans who have witnessed Young win a series before Doncic was able to do so. No matter where the Hawks go from here this season, they have proven that you can build a winning team around Young’s talents.
Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 2. Kawhi Leonard
If you were to make a list of players who are capable of taking the souls of opponents, Kawhi Leonard would surely top it. Kobe Bryant may have the mamba nickname for eternity, but there is something snake-like in Leonard’s ability to suffocate the opposition until they submit. He is mechanical, robotic in how he gets up and down the court and does what he is supposed to do.
Leonard might seem an odd choice here because it took him seven games to get rid of Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, all while playing for the better team in the LA Clippers. But Leonard has had to hear chatter since the NBA’s bubble about how he is no longer the two-way destroyer who led the Toronto Raptors to the championship in 2019.
Being up 3-1 and losing to the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs didn’t help matters either. But when the Clippers needed him most against the Mavericks, and when it was unsure what their best lineups were or how to deal with the incredible Doncic, it was Leonard who stepped up to do all that was necessary to win the series.
His Game 6 performance will go down as one of the most underrated all-time great playoff performances. Right now Kevin Durant is looking like the best player in the world, it is hard to argue with that. But after him, if you needed one player to win you a game, or a series, Leonard would have to be the number two choice. Ahead of Giannis, and LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic.
In the postseason so far, he is posting averages of 32.1 points on 42.5 percent from deep. Winning three championships as the best player on three different franchises is an insane achievement. To do it while banishing the setbacks of last year, as well as crowning the Clippers champions for the first time in their history, would take it to another level. All in a day’s work for Leonard, whose vice-like grip of opponents in the playoffs is back and as strong as ever.
Players whose stock has risen in the NBA playoffs 1. Deandre Ayton
Make no mistake, Deandre Ayton deserves this moment. The Phoenix Suns are for real, and Ayton should get a lot of credit for that being the case. Booker is the young superstar, while the addition of Chris Paul clearly changed the entire outlook of the organization. Heading into the playoffs, Ayton was the worrying variable, and he has come through in a huge way.
In his first postseason appearance ever, going up against a fit Anthony Davis, Ayton had 21 points and 16 rebounds. As a more traditional center who doesn’t stretch the floor like a lot of modern big men, the thinking was that Ayton would be played off the court, or at the very least be a non-factor come crunch time.
Instead, he was dominant, damaging the Lakers inside every chance he got. This is extremely worrying for the Lakers, who brought Andre Drummond in to provide some beef in the paint. It didn’t matter. For those who argue that the Lakers would have won the series if fully fit, the Houston Rockets would have beaten the Golden State Warriors if Chris Paul didn’t tweak his hamstring.
Injuries happen, you can only play what is in front of you, and Ayton did all of that and more. He went one step better on Monday night, having 20 points and 10 rebounds against presumptive MVP Nikola Jokic as the Suns took a 1-0 series lead. He also kept Jokic to a relatively quiet 22 points himself.
This transformation has been remarkable, as Ayton has had to hear for years how he was not on the same level as Doncic or Young. Taken first overall in the 2018 draft, he has had to bide his time waiting for this moment to come around. No matter what happens from here on out, Ayton has shown that he can be a key player on a franchise with championship aspirations.
The rebirth of the traditional big man started a couple of years back, but Ayton has brought the Renaissance to the next level. He will be an important part of a competitive Suns organization for years to come and has proven he will be able to contribute in a big way when called upon. No other player has had a bigger transformation this postseason.
