Players to average 29/5.5/5.5 on 50 percent shooting in the playoffs and make it to the conference finals? Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Nikola Jokic, and now Anthony Edwards (OK, technically 28.9)... Edwards's movements are Jordan-esque. His efficiency and aggression harken back to '06 Dwyane Wade.
The Mavericks are a team-best plus-87 when Dereck Lively II is on the court and a team-worst minus-47 when he's off. Rookies aren't supposed to have this sort of impact in the playoffs.
So many candidates, but I have to go with Jalen Brunson. The leadership, shotmaking, intelligence, poise, force, and resilience that he displayed, carrying the city of New York on his back for the past few weeks, is something I won't forget anytime soon.
Deadline acquisitions rarely make this much of a difference in the postseason, let alone the acquisition of a player who had no playoff experience prior to the trade... He's exceeded any and all expectations.
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