The first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs was supposed to deliver fireworks and in some cases, it did. The Indiana Pacers surprised us all by dismantling Milwaukee. The defending champion Nuggets reminded everyone they’re still the team to beat despite losing Mike Malone before the Playoffs started, and the Rockets-Warriors series gave us a seven-game slugfest for the ages.
But for every breakout performer, there was a supposed star who flamed out when it mattered most. In other words: the first round exposed a few big names.
Some were no-shows in critical Game 7s, others simply got outplayed from start to finish.
So, who were the biggest letdowns? We’re ranking the five most disappointing stars from this year’s first round, and there is no doubt there are some disappointed fan bases looking at them sideways right now.
1. Jalen Green
First Round Statistics: 13.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
This was supposed to be Jalen Green’s arrival party but instead, it was a total flop. The Rockets pushed the Warriors to seven games, but Green was nowhere near the dynamic scorer Houston needed and the player himself admitted this wasn’t acceptable.
After averaging 21.0 points per game in the regular season, Green’s dip to 13.3 points in the series against Golden State is alarming. His shot selection was wild, his efficiency tanked, and in the decisive Game 7 at home (8 points on 3-8 shooting in 30 minutes), he completely vanished.
For a player fighting to prove he’s part of Houston’s long-term core, this series might have sealed the opposite. Green’s stock has cratered, and the Rockets’ rumored interest in flipping him for a true star suddenly feels inevitable.
2. James Harden
First Round Statistics: 18.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: James Harden disappearing in a playoff elimination game. The Clippers’ flameout against Denver was bad enough, but Harden’s Game 7 collapse, scoring just 7 points (2-8 shooting), was the final nail.
Sure, his overall series numbers look fine on paper, but context matters. In every big moment, Harden shrank. At nearly 35 years old, his lack of burst is glaring, and his passive stretches have become a sad playoff tradition.
Another year, another Harden postseason no-show. Clippers fans are sick of the script, and honestly, so is the rest of the league because Steve Ballmer has tried everything to win it all and it hasn’t worked.
3. Austin Reaves
First Round Statistics: 16.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG
The Lakers bet big on Austin Reaves as the third option behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic and this is the return? Reaves wasn’t awful, but for a guy getting promoted like a foundational piece, he was a letdown in their series loss to Phoenix.
His defense was repeatedly targeted, his offense came in inconsistent bursts, and when LeBron and Luka needed a reliable third option, Reaves didn’t answer the call. Posting 16.0 points per game sounds decent, but when you’re the X-factor on a championship-hopeful team, it’s not enough.
The Lakers have big decisions coming, and after this showing, Reaves no longer feels untouchable. Looking ahead to next season, the Lakers might entertain some big offers for their budding All-Star shooting guard.
4. Ja Morant
First Round Statistics: 24.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
The numbers are solid but if you watched Ja Morant in the first round, you saw a star who looked injured at times, inefficient, and out of rhythm. Morant’s Grizzlies got bounced early, and while he put up points, his shooting was erratic and he wasn’t there to prove he could be the best player on the floor.
After a turbulent couple of years off the court, this was supposed to be Ja’s redemption run. Instead, it only raised more questions about whether his style can actually translate to playoff wins.
At some point, flashy dunks and box score stats have to give way to winning basketball and that point is now for Ja. It didn’t help that Ja got injured yet again, making it a disappointing Playoff appearance for the superstar point guard as his future becomes uncertain.
5. Kyle Kuzma
First Round Statistics: 5.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
It’s hard to sugarcoat Kyle Kuzma’s showing against the Pacers, he was flat-out invisible. On a Bucks team desperate for someone besides Giannis to step up, Kuzma shrank, averaging under six points and barely impacting the game in any other way.
This was a disaster for a player who once fancied himself a budding star and got paid accordingly. Milwaukee traded for Kuzma to boost their wing scoring, but he delivered absolutely nothing when the lights were brightest.
Considering Milwaukee have up a clutch performer in Khris Middleton to acquire Kuzma, it was a frustrating situation overall. If this series was an audition for staying power in Milwaukee, consider the curtain closed and the lack of support might have Giannis Antetokounmpo looking elsewhere this summer.
