NBA playoffs 2025 - Which star leads our postseason MVP update? - ESPN

With Sunday's Game 7 in the books, and the Oklahoma City Thunder having dominated 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 look at the true difference-makers along the path to the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Here, in our playoff MVP post-conference semifinals update, we're ranking the eight players whose performances have stood out most through two wild and unpredictable rounds.

2025 playoffs (12 games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB

After closing out the Detroit Pistons in the first round with a nasty step-back 3-pointer, Brunson's encore was leading New York to the conference finals by knocking off the defending champion Boston Celtics. He had a slow start to the series, but, as is often the case, was clutch in the late stages.

That was particularly true in Games 1, 2 and 4, when the Knicks came back to win from deficits of 20, 20 and 14 points, respectively.

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 will seek to avenge last year's loss to Indiana in the conference semis.

If things go down to the wire, the league's Clutch Player of the Year will feel ready. Brunson has already made 14 clutch baskets in these playoffs. That's nearly twice as Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks No. 2.

Previous ranking: 4

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic reflects on his individual performance and his team's showing this season after getting eliminated from the playoffs.

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