Ranking the 10 best NBA players entering 2022 playoffs

As the NBA playoffs inch closer, teams are gearing up for a chance at the championship. But which players will be the biggest stars of this year’s postseason? Here is a ranking of the 10 best NBA players entering the 2022 playoffs.

1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

The undisputed best player in the world and one of the greatest ever, LeBron is showing no signs of slowing down at age 36. He’s coming off another MVP-caliber season in which he averaged 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and a league-leading 10.2 assists per game.

2. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

One of the most gifted scorers the game has ever seen, Durant is still in his prime at age 32. He missed most of last season due to injury but proved he’s still an elite player when he averaged 27.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 19 games before the pandemic shut down the season.

3. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is also one of the best offensive players in the league, thanks to his lethal combination of size, strength and shooting touch. Leonard put up 27.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season and is still just 28 years old.

4. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

The two-time MVP is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, averaging a league-leading 30.1 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Curry is a masterful shooter and one of the best offensive players in NBA history.

5. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

One of the most dominant big men in the game, Davis is a force on both ends of the court. He averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 blocks per game last season and is still just 27 years old.

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

The reigning MVP is a physical freak who can do it all on the court. He averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 blocks per game last season and is still just 25 years old.

7. James Harden, Houston Rockets

One of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Harden averaged 34.3 points per game last season to go along with 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists. He’s a gifted offensive player who can take over a game at any time.

8. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets

Another physical specimen, Westbrook is one of the most explosive athletes in the league. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game last season and is always a threat to put up a triple-double.

9. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

When healthy, Embiid is one of the best players in the league. The 7-footer averaged 27.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game last season and has the ability to take over a game on both ends of the court.

10. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

One of the best shooters in the league, Lillard is also a gifted scorer and playmaker. He averaged 28.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game last season and is always a threat to take over a game with his scoring prowess.

Conclusion

In ranking the 10 best NBA players entering 2022 playoffs, we considered a number of factors. First and foremost, each player’s skills on the court were analyzed. We also looked at each player’s stats from the 2019-2020 season, as well as their playoff performances in previous years. Finally, we took into account each player’s age and how that might impact their performance in 2022. Do you agree with our rankings? Who do you think will win the 2022 NBA Championship?