NBA superstars win championships. The past nine Finals MVPs, and 22 of 25 Finals MVPs this century, were All-Stars that same season. The three Finals MVPs who weren’t? Andre Iguodala in 2015, Kawhi Leonard in 2014 and Chauncey Billups in 2004, who were each All-Stars at other points in their careers.
But the league’s best players need plenty to win a title. To help preview the next couple of months of playoff basketball, let’s examine who might swing the fortunes of every team with at least a 25% chance of winning a series, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.
Ranging from backup guards to 3-and-D wings to imposing 7-footers, these players aren’t the No. 1 option of their respective teams — but a make-or-break performance under the playoff spotlight could swing their teams’ fortunes.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Ty Jerome
Out of 333 players who attempted at least 200 shots this season, no player outperformed their expected effective field goal percentage (eFG%) better than Jerome, per GeniusIQ tracking.
For context, the metric, which is based on factors such as shot location and defender distance, features two future first-ballot Hall of Famers in second and third: Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic.