ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider MVPs and rising stars: top players to watch entering the NBA Playoffs

MVPs and rising stars: top players to watch entering the NBA Playoffs

Published Apr 16, 2025 01:15 am

At A Glance

  • With the NBA Playoffs fast approaching this summer, the stage is set for another star-studded postseason where the league's best will once again take center stage. From reigning MVPs and defending champions to emerging superstars, here are the five key players to watch entering the playoffs:

Every purchase of PLDT Home StreamTV from April 1-30, 2025 comes with a complimentary 1-month access to NBA League Pass – where fans in the Philippines can watch all the NBA action!

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass_Luka_Dončić.jpg
(NBA.com)

As the 2024-25 NBA season nears its conclusion, it’s definitely shaping up to be one of the most memorable seasons in recent history. The regular season has been nothing short of eventful, from the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks pulling off a shocking trade deadline move with Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis to young stars like the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander making the jump to MVP contention.

With the NBA Playoffs fast approaching this summer, the stage is set for another star-studded postseason where the league’s best will once again take center stage. From reigning MVPs and defending champions to emerging superstars, here are the five key players to watch entering the playoffs:

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass_Nikola_Jokić.jpg
(NBA.com)

Nikola Jokić

The reigning NBA MVP is having a historic season, aiming to become just the third player ever to average a triple-double with 30 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 10.2 APG, following Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Nuggets teammate Russell Westbrook.

With Jokić on the floor, the Nuggets are one of the league’s most dangerous offensive units, maximizing the talents of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets have their sights set on another deep playoff run, and Jokić will need to be at his best if they hope to secure their second NBA title.

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass_Shai_Gilgeous_Alexander.jpg
(NBA.com)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s youth movement has transformed them into a legitimate title contender, and much of that success can be credited to their star guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Since arriving from the Los Angeles Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently improved, and this season, he’s leading the league in scoring 32.7 PPG.

Beyond his scoring, he’s embraced his role as the team’s leader – a crucial factor for a squad that’s the youngest in the NBA at 24 years old on average. With the Thunder sitting atop the Western Conference, it’s no longer a question of if, but when they’ll make the leap as a legitimate championship contender.

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass_Luka_Dončić (1).jpg
(NBA.com)

Luka Dončić

At the start of the season, Dončić was seen as the face of the Dallas Mavericks – seemingly untradeable and destined to stay. That all changed when the Mavs pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Lakers for Anthony Davis, bringing the Slovenian superstar to Los Angeles. While it took some time to get fully acclimated with his teammates in the purple and gold, his growing chemistry with LeBron James and Austin Reaves has been must-watch television.

Though the Lakers sacrificed frontcourt depth, Dončić’s on-ball creativity has added a new dimension to their offense, creating easier looks from three and a more fluid transition game. With the team fighting for position in a stacked Western Conference, the Lakers will need Luka, LeBron and the rest of the team to peak at the right time if they hope to make a deep playoff run.

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass_Jayson_Tatum.jpg
(NBA.com)

Jayson Tatum

The defending champion Boston Celtics have shown no signs of a post-title slump. With an offense that consistently finds open shots and a deep bench that outworks second units across the league, they look primed to defend their crown.

A big part of that is Jayson Tatum’s steady production. Now a well-rounded two-way star, he’s averaging 27 points and nearly nine rebounds per game while also averaging a career-high six assists per game in an offense built around ball movement and spacing. As the Celtics gear up for another championship run, Tatum remains the key to their repeat hopes.

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass_Donovan_Mitchell.jpg
(NBA.com)

Donovan Mitchell

The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a major step forward this season, climbing to the top of the Eastern Conference behind an efficient, well-balanced offense led by Donovan Mitchell. While his scoring numbers have dipped slightly from previous seasons, he’s become a more efficient per-minute scorer, averaging 24 points per game in just 31 minutes per game.

With the Cavaliers on the verge of true title contention, Mitchell remains locked in, ready to lead them to their first NBA Finals appearance in the post-LeBron era.

 

PLDT_Home_StreamTV_NBA_League_Pass.jpg

Fans in the Philippines can catch Jokić, Gilgeous-Alexander, Dončić, Tatum, and Mitchell and the rest of the league’s stars take part in the 2025 NBA Playoffs with NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service.

Fans who subscribe to PLDT Home StreamTV from April 1-30, 2025 will get free 1-month access to NBA League Pass. At just P229/month, PLDT Home StreamTV users can watch their favorite shows, podcasts, and music on streaming devices. Get PLDT Home StreamTV in time for the 2025 NBA Playoffs! To learn more, visit pldthome.com/streamtv.

*All NBA stats through April 10, 2025.

Related Tags

Donovan Mitchell Nikola Jokic Luka Doncic Jayson Tatum Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NBA Playoffs
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.