The 2022-23 NBA Playoffs are underway, and teams will be battling out for the chance to make the NBA Finals and win a championship. It is amazing how fast the season has flown by, and there were certainly some surprises on the way to the end of it. Regardless, the Playoffs are underway, and we have a pretty great indication as to which players will stand out from the rest. No surprise, we are only talking about All-Stars and superstars here.
We have already established the best players in the regular season by a power ranking system, but let’s go deeper and rank all the best players in the NBA Playoffs via a talent pyramid. The most elite player will be crowned among the rest while the pyramid trickles down until all the top 28 players in the postseason are ranked. This is based on current player skill, impact, and stats without any bias given to past achievements. Without further ado, here are the top 28 players in the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs ranked in a pyramid.
The Base Seven
Anthony Edwards
Desmond Bane
Klay Thompson
Jamal Murray
Rudy Gobert
Bam Adebayo
Jalen Brunson
The Minnesota Timberwolves did very well to get into the playoffs, although it won’t be easy to compete against the number-one-seeded Denver Nuggets. Anthony Edwards was an All-Star this year by posting 24.6 PPG, and he must get around that figure if the Timberwolves want the upset. As an athlete and scoring guard, Edwards has to be considered a solid talent in the postseason.
Desmond Bane has been exceptional for the Memphis Grizzlies so far this season, and he has improved as an attacker of the basketball and a secondary scorer. Not to mention, Bane is an above-average defender and will be needed by Ja Morant to hit big shots and compete on defense. Let’s see if Bane can arrive as an All-Star in the playoffs because that type of production will be needed.
Klay Thompson is slightly slower and has aged through attrition, but he can win games single-handedly with his shooting. All eyes will be on Stephen Curry, but Klay is the one who holds the cards if he gets hot from the perimeter or has clutch chances. Had that final shot in Game 1 against the Kings fallen to Klay, perhaps the Warriors might have held the 1-0 series lead heading to Sacramento.
Remember what Jamal Murray did as a member of the Denver Nuggets during the Bubble in Orlando?
Murray was simply one of the best players in the world during the 2020 postseason run as the Nuggets made the Western Conference Finals. Nikola Jokic is the MVP of the Nuggets, but Murray is the key if the Nuggets want to return to the Western Conference Finals and actually make the NBA Finals.
Rudy Gobert receives criticism for his inconsistent offense and general passiveness at times, but he is an impact player on defense. Against the reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Gobert’s defense and length will be necessary to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a chance to accomplish an upset. Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner for a reason, so he should have an impact against the talented Denver team.
The Miami Heat won’t be an easy team to defeat, even if they had to sneak into the playoffs via the play-in tournament. Bam Adebayo is one of the star duo in Miami, and while we know what Jimmy Butler will do, the center’s defense and leadership will be needed desperately. Bam will have a tough time keeping Giannis away from the rim, but it can be done if he spearheads the team’s defense.
Jalen Brunson would have been in the playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks if Mark Cuban and management didn’t decide to let him walk. Brunson is an elite scorer and playmaker and has proven to be exactly what New York needed to get into the playoffs as the fifth seed. The Knicks took Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Brunson had a big part to do with that with his 27 points.
The Better Six
Jaren Jackson Jr.
De’Aaron Fox
Domantas Sabonis
James Harden
Julius Randle
Donovan Mitchell
Jaren Jackson Jr was an All-Star this season because of his elite post-defense and improved offensive ability. The center will be the second most important player for the Memphis Grizzlies behind Ja Morant, and his size and ability will be critical against Anthony Davis. Jackson Jr had a great game in Game 1, posting 31 points, so his value is clear.
De’Aaron Fox is one of the most improved players in the league, as he has added improved offensive ability and much better playmaking. Fox was sensational in Game 1 by posting 38 points and 5 assists, and he was the factor in the surprising defeat of the Golden State Warriors. Respect will be given to the first-time All-Star of Sacramento.
Sabonis brings size, rebounding, scoring, and playmaking for the Kings this year. Alongside De’Aaron Fox, Sabonis will be a huge factor in trying to accomplish a massive upset. Sabonis struggled from the floor in Game 1 by going 5-17 from the field, although he did chip in 16 rebounds, and this type of play will be needed from the All-Star.
James Harden is one of the best playmakers and scorers in his position and will be the best playmaker in the series. Expect The Beard to find Joel Embiid repeatedly as the Philadelphia 76ers dominate the Brooklyn Nets. Barring any superhuman effort from Mikal Bridges, the 76ers will win this series handily because the opponent is just undermanned.
Julius Randle will be a massive contender for an All-NBA Team selection because he was spectacular for the New York Knicks in the regular season. The big man averaged 25.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG and is off to a great start in the postseason, as he dropped 19 points and 10 rebounds in a victory in Game 1.
Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost in Game 1 against the New York Knicks, but Donovan Mitchell certainly did his thing. The All-Star shooting guard posted 38 points and 8 assists in Game 1, and he will need to post similar numbers throughout the series against the talented Knicks team. Regardless, Mitchell is one of the best players in the Playoffs this season.
Elite Five
Chris Paul
Karl-Anthony Towns
Jaylen Brown
Devin Booker
Jimmy Butler
Chris Paul is past his elite best but can still be the best playmaker in the series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The man known as a “Point God” can still lead an offense, and giving him Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the perimeter could spell trouble for the Los Angeles Clippers if the series draws on. Paul had a solid Game 1 by posting 11 rebounds and nine assists, but he will need to provide more than seven points to make a true difference.
Karl-Anthony Towns is a unique talent considering his ability to make three-pointers, and this effort will be essential if the Minnesota Timberwolves want to get over the hump. The big man is needed to not only space the floor alongside Rudy Gobert but provide a defensive presence due to his length. This could be a make-or-break series for the talented big man who could be looking for a new role elsewhere.
The Boston Celtics are considered the team to beat in the Eastern Conference since they made the NBA Finals last year. Jayson Tatum is the main star of the Celtics, but Jaylen Brown is critical to the team’s success. By most accounts, Brown is the closer of the team and the X-factor against most top teams. The Celtics should handily defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, but it gets very interesting after that because the Miami Heat or Milwaukee Bucks are waiting for them.
Who is the best shooting guard in the NBA? Assuming Jimmy Butler plays on the wing, Booker has a case for being the dominant force at his spot. The former No. 13 overall pick averaged 27.8 PPG in the regular season and had himself a nice game in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers by posting 26 points. Booker’s scoring will be needed if the Phoenix Suns want to take down the defiant Clippers side.
Jimmy Butler turns into one of the ten best players in the world every time the playoffs arrive. Would anyone have predicted that the play-in Heat would have taken Game 1 against the number one-seeded Milwaukee Bucks? Miami won the game on the back of Jimmy Butler, who posted 35 points and 11 assists in the victory. Butler will be the reason if Miami proceeds and the best player in the series behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Fantastic Four
Ja Morant
Nikola Jokic
Stephen Curry
Kawhi Leonard
Ja Morant is an unstoppable player when taking into account his athleticism and scoring ability. The point guard will likely favor each matchup against the Lakers, even if the Purple and Gold throw Jarred Vanderbilt on him to start games. Morant’s hand injury is concerning as he might even miss Game 2, which means the player might not have a say in what the Memphis Grizzlies do in the first round. Hopefully, we can get treated to a 7-game series with players on both sides healthy.
Nikola Jokic has won back-to-back MVPs over the past two seasons and is still in the running this year. The Serbian has not earned enough respect in the playoffs as of yet, and while his numbers have been good, he hasn’t been on the level of players ahead of him just yet. Denver won’t have an easy battle against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but hopefully, Jokic can prove he is truly a top-5 player in the world and quiet the noise around him.
Never doubt Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors because they have championship experience. The Warriors finished 6th in the Western Conference, and the team struggled for much of the year by ranking 21st in points allowed. The Game 1 loss against the Sacramento Kings could be a sign that Golden State will have to take the free-flowing Sacramento Kings seriously because they aren’t backing down and will go toe-to-toe with Curry and company.
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best two-way players in NBA history, and he will need to focus more on offense against the Phoenix Suns in the first round. It will be hard for Leonard to overcome being the underdog in the series, but he will be a tough player to handle. We could have been treated to a long series if Paul George was healthy. However, with George out, it seems likely Leonard will have to take an inhuman load to get the job done, but that’s why he is regarded so highly. His 38-point night in Game 1 could be a sign of things to come for the Clippers side as a team.
Big Three
Anthony Davis
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Anthony Davis will be the primary factor in what the Los Angeles Lakers achieve in the postseason. It is extremely hard to believe that the Lakers will make the NBA Finals after finishing with the 7th seed, but if Davis can play at his highest level, only the Phoenix Suns have a guy who can compete with him. Of course, having LeBron James by his side means Davis can be a massive influence in how the West shapes out. If Davis can be the double-double presence as he was in Game 1 against Memphis and add seven blocks, it will be hard to defeat Los Angeles.
Jayson Tatum has elevated his all-around play this season, and he is without question the best player on the Boston Celtics. Tatum is not doing it alone, as Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford, among others, will help him try to get back to the Finals. However, as a scorer and improved all-around star, the Celtics will very likely make the Eastern Conference Finals as they will make quick work of the Atlanta Hawks.
LeBron James is 38 years old and not the same player he used to be, especially as we saw uncharacteristic turnovers in games before the season ended. Even in Los Angeles’ victory over Memphis in Game 1, James had five turnovers. Regardless, The King is the smartest and most experienced player in these playoffs and will be the player to compete alongside Anthony Davis as a top-10 player in the world.
Dynamic Duo
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
Joel Embiid is unstoppable this season. After winning the scoring title and likely the MVP award by posting 33.1 PPG and 10.2 RPG, the center is ready and willing to be the most dominant center in the postseason. By having James Harden assist him the ball, Joel is having himself a sensational season and will be a force for the Philadelphia 76ers from start to finish. Unfortunately, Philly is behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the pecking order unless the center can take his game to another level, if that’s even possible.
Kevin Durant will probably have the second-biggest impact in the NBA playoffs. His trade to the Phoenix Suns has drastically altered the landscape of the NBA because the Arizona franchise is the favorite to make the NBA Finals. Durant has plenty of help with Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton beside him, and we might see a repeat of what Durant did in 2017 and 2018 with the Golden State Warriors. The Suns did lose Game 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers, but there is little doubt that the team can come back and even it up in Game 2.
The Best Player In The NBA Playoffs
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the world and has been for the past few seasons. What The Greek Freak can do on both ends of the court is simply phenomenal, and he already has an NBA title and Finals MVP award to show as the best player on the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis will be the biggest and most dominant player in the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs, and if he has enough help with Khris Middleton fully healthy, they are the favorites to battle the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Giannis and the Bucks must find a way to take down the tough and confident Miami Heat, however because they are down 1-0 in the series so far.
