Favorites
Customize ESPN
Fantasy
ESPN Sites
ESPN Apps
Jokic, Edwards, ???: We ranked the 20 best players from the first round of the NBA playoffs
Is Anthony Edwards No. 1? How about LeBron James? Let's dive into the most important players, as ranked by the numbers.
TOP HEADLINES
RILEY DOESN'T MINCE WORDS
Pat Riley: Jimmy Butler should keep his mouth shut if he isn't playing
Pat Riley on Tyler Herro: He's been a little fragile
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
Eight NBA playoffs teams left! Each has a massive strength -- and a potentially fatal flaw
Here's each team's biggest strength -- and a weakness that could end their season.
Playoff tiers: How do the eight remaining teams stack up?
ESPN NBA Insider Kevin Pelton puts the remaining eight playoff teams into five tiers. How many land in Tier 1?
STEPHEN A. SOUNDS OFF
Stephen A.: LeBron's carousel of coaches affects GOAT case
Why Stephen A. has a sour taste in his mouth over Darvin Ham firing
NBA PLAYOFFS
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
FORECASTING THE PLAYOFFS
Predicting Pacers-Knicks and Wolves-Nuggets conference semifinal matchups
Which teams will reach the conference finals? Our experts make their picks for each second-round matchup.
Why Stephen A. is worried about Knicks' series vs. Pacers
STAR POWER
Are Anthony Edwards comparisons to Michael Jordan legit?
Is Wembanyama the best player to build a team around?
LAKERS SEEKING A NEW COACH
The Phil Jackson-sized hole plaguing the Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers will hire their seventh coach since 2011 as yet another summer of upheaval and searching begins. The question now is: Why does this keep happening?
Who should the Lakers target to be their new head coach?
REACTING TO BUTLER'S COMMENTS
Pat Riley: Jimmy Butler should keep his mouth shut if he isn't playing
Why Stephen A. doesn't have a problem with Butler's health comment
Top Headlines
- Mavericks sign Kidd to extension amid Lakers link
- Sixers' Morey: 'Going to have a lot of changes'
- Gobert questionable for G2 after 1st child born
- Riley: Butler extension contingent on availability
- Mitchell, 'tired of losing,' keys Cavs' comeback
- Why wait? Malone wants better starts by Nuggets
- Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces
- Sources: Mavs' Kleber (AC joint) out indefinitely
- Draft rankings: The top 25 prospects
Customize ESPN
Best of ESPN+
- Illustration by ESPN
2014 NBA redraft: Jokic or Embiid at No. 1, and who falls out of the lottery?
Jeremy Woo redrafts the 2014 NBA draft lottery, featuring the two best big men in the NBA in Nikola Jokic (No. 41 overall) and Joel Embiid (No. 3).
- Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
2024 NBA draft rankings: Jonathan Givony's top 25 prospects
With nearly every draft prospect's season complete, who are the top 25 players heading into the pre-draft window?
- ESPN
NBA offseason 2024: Guides for every eliminated NBA team
We break down the summer priorities and needs for the NBA teams that have already been sent home.
Trending Now
- Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
2024 NBA MVP finalists: Jokic, Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander
Who will win the MVP award between the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, the Mavericks' Luka Doncic, and the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
- Illustration by ESPN
NBA playoffs 2024: Slowing down has quickly become a favorite move for the league's elite scorers
Whether it's tapping the brakes after a 100 mph drive like Anthony Edwards, or going from slow to even slower like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, the decel move and its variations are wreaking havoc on NBA defenders.
- David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
NBA playoffs 2024: Jalen Brunson and the ruthless old-man game driving the New York Knicks
Brunson's ground-bound game exasperates opponents across the NBA -- and is fueling the most exciting Knicks season in decades.
More NBA coverage on NBA.COM
From the hardwood to the desktop, get additional NBA coverage from the association on NBA.COM