Every NBA Team’s Best Round 1 Player

The first round isn’t over, but I’ve got agendas to push.

One series is over. A few are right on the verge of being over. The Warriors are tied with the Kings, and I don’t want to talk about it. There’s been a LOT of playoff basketball to react to, but with just about every series reaching the 4 games played mark, certain guys have risen above the rest as the clear playoff leaders for their respective teams.

Who are they? Great question.

How would you rank them? EVEN better question.

The good news is I’ve already done that for you. Just one point of clarification first. This isn’t a ranking of the best players in the playoffs. The Suns arguably have two of the top five. This is choosing the best player from every team and ranking those guys. K? So don’t come at me. Or do idc lol I love to fight people. Here we goooooo.

1. Devin Booker - Suns

The Suns have had some serious breaks. Kawhi injured. PG3 injured. Westbrook shooting 3-100 in the first game. That all said, they’re a brand new team trying to figure out their chemistry, but I guess no one told Devin Booker that. He’s leading all playoff scorers so far, shooting 57% from the floor and 43% from 3. He’s also made HUGE, game-winning defensive plays. He’s carrying the load for Phoenix, and unquestionably delivering. The Clippers are playing their ass off, too. It doesn’t matter. Booker is getting whatever he wants, and it looks like he’s going to carry his team to the second round any day now.

2. Steph Curry - Warriors

As good as Steph has been, somehow all I can fixate on are the tiny ways he could be better. He did almost lose the Warriors game 4 when he called a timeout with 40 seconds left (they had none left). He and the rest of the team struggled with turnovers in game 2. And then, you look at his stats and realize he’s scoring 32 points on 49/40/95 from the field. Lol. As awesome as the next guy has been in this series, Steph has been a cut above the rest. And somehow, he’s only getting better.

3. De’Aaron Fox - Kings

Sadly, as I write this, it’s been announced he might miss game 5 with a fractured finger. The Warriors fan in me is hoping he doesn’t play, but the basketball fan in me would sure love to see him back. He’s been fucking awesome. It’s so cool to see him play like this on this stage, especially for a team like the Kings. He’s matching Steph in scoring, just not efficiency. His midrange floater is the stuff of nightmares for Warriors fans. He’s carrying his team, who’s not doing much to help him. I wish him the best, just not this year against my team.

4. Jimmy Butler - Heat

As I write this, he has 20+ points in the first quarter against the Bucks. So, get back to me in a bit and maybe I’ll move him even higher. I don’t have any more words for Jimmy. His playoff persona is truly something historians will need to look back on to explain to future generations how good he really was. He is the ONLY offense the Heat have, especially after the Herro injury, and he’s still scoring 30+ per game and playing elite defense on the other end. No one gave Miami a chance in this series, and somehow they’re going back to Milwaukee for game 5 very much alive. All thanks to this man.

5. Anthony Edwards - Timberwolves

I genuinely feel bad for Ant. The Wolves are such a mess, it’s sad. KAT looks lost at all times, on both ends of the court. He doesn’t naturally fit into the offense at all. Gobert is borderline unplayable on offense and is genuinely just tall at this point. And yet, somehow, Edwards stole a game for Minnesota with another unstoppable performance. He’s gotten whatever he wants all series, and at just 21 years old, is giving Minnesota fans some serious hope for the future. He’s second in the entire playoffs in scoring, but sadly, it’s looking like it’ll be in a losing effort.

6. Anthony Davis - Lakers

This game 4 is tonight, so who knows, maybe my feelings will change. They do anyway, often. I digress. AD has been great for the Lakers, who as I’ve watched more are suchhhhh a weird team. It feels like a different guy steps up for them every night, but the one constant this series has been AD. Aside from a lackluster game 2, he’s willed the Lakers to a series lead, anchored by his play on the defensive end. He has 15 blocks in three games. 15! That’s fucking crazy. Sure, the Grizz just got Ja back, but AD deserves his flowers for how elite he’s been. Him and Draymond have been another level this post season on defense.

7. Russell Westbrook - Clippers

I can’t believe I’m typing this. And to be clear, Kawhi was really REALLY good during the two games he played in. Arguably would be #1 on this list if, you know, he played the sport of basketball. Somehow, though, the Clippers best available player has been Russell Westbrook. He’s dynamic on offense, getting to the rim relatively easy and even shooting well from 3. He’s found his stroke after game 1, and is playing his ASS off on defense. The Clippers are outmatched at this point, but Russ has stretches where he looks like the best player on the floor period in this series. Again, I can’t believe I typed that.

8. Nikola Jokic - Nuggets

Jokic could easily be higher on this list, and honestly, it’s his fault he’s not. He just makes everything look so easy. He’s shooting almost 60% from the floor, and from 3. He’s an assists or so away from averaging a triple double. At times, whether it’s KAT or Gobert guarding him, it looks like he’s literally playing with his food. In game 4, he got way more aggressive as a scorer and casually dropped one of the easiest 40 point games I’ve seen in a while. He’s very, very good. His team just hasn’t needed him to ascend even higher since the Wolves have been a mess.

9. Jalen Brunson - Knicks

This is where the list takes a bit of a turn. Brunson has been great for the Knicks, yes, but not otherworldly. His mid range jumper is still as good as it’s ever been, but really it’s his competition that’s helping him look even better than he’s playing. The Cavs have been awful, and their defensive play from their guards has been some of the worst of any playoff team. Brunson has definitely been the Knicks best player, and a great player in general, but the guys above him at this point are definitely in a tier of their own.

10. Derrick White - Celtics

Lol, hard core pushing agendas right now. Tatum has been good (fine?), and he should probably be the Celtics choice here, slotting in somewhere around Jokic at like the 7/8/9 spot. That said, I’ve just been underwhelmed. The Hawks are playing traffic cone level defense, and even then, it seems like Tatum struggles at times on offense. Meanwhile, Derrick White has been an automatic bucket and absolutely locked down Trae on the other end. White is scoring 20 points and shooting over 50% from both the field and three. When he misses, I audibly gasp. So ya, I’m going with him here.

11. Tyrese Maxey - Sixers

Embiid had a tough series, what with the injury, the flagrant, and also getting double teamed literally every second of every offensive possession. With the extra attention paid to Embiid, Maxey had to step up, which he did. He won them game 4 almost by himself, and led the team in scoring throughout their sweep. He wasn’t great, but he was the best of the Sixers, and the Sixers swept so…he can’t be that bad.

12. Dejounte Murray - Hawks

Woof the Hawks are hard to watch some times. Trae has good moments, but the Hawks most consistent player by far this series has been Murray. He’s lethal when he gets to the paint, and is super crafty with how he finishes and snakes around big men to get his shot off. He’s even been shooting alright from 3, which isn’t his game. The Hawks look better when he has the keys and Trae is off the court, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. He’s now suspended for game 5 because he hit a ref, and Celtics will undoubtedly close it out at home.

13. Jrue Holiday - Bucks

I mean, no Giannis. Jrue has done his best this series, playing well on both ends, but the Bucks are a different team with Giannis on the court, and when I do this series again next round (if, lol) I have a pretty firm expectation I’ll have a different Buck here. Jrue has been great though, seriously. His playmaking has come a long way since his Sixers days.

14. Mikal Bridges - Nets

I had to choose someone from the Nets, and Bridges really was the clear choice. Cam Johnson shot really well, but Bridges was slightly better. He was absolutely awesome in the first half of game 1, but aside from that, he just wasn’t enough to overcome a much better Sixers roster. The Nets aren’t a 6 seed team. That’s just all there really is to it.

15. Jaren Jackson Jr. - Grizzlies

Another team dealing with an injured star, the Grizzlies have been a bit of a mess so far. That hasn’t stopped JJJ from giving his all, though. He’s been leading the team in scoring, and making things hard on the defensive end for any Laker brave enough to step in the paint. I wish the Grizzlies involved him more regularly on offense, too. The Ja + Dillon Brooks show really isn’t as good as they think it is.

16. Donovan Mitchell - Cavaliers

God, the Cavs have been AWFUL. So bad. So so so bad. I had to pick a Cav to go on this list, and I guess Mitchell is the winner by default. Could argue Garland, I guess. Either way, dear lord, go home already. It hurts to watch them play basketball at this point, and Mitchell has a long way to go before he’s leading any team anywhere serious in the playoffs.