The 82-game grind is over, the Play-In Tournament has delivered its usual dose of drama, and now, the real season begins. Welcome to the 2025 NBA Playoffs! Sixteen teams remain, each harbouring dreams of hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but first, they must navigate the treacherous waters of the opening round. This initial stage often sets the tone, featuring clashes between titans, intriguing stylistic battles, and the ever-present potential for a stunning upset. Let’s dive into the frenzy, highlighting key series, player duels, and the dark horses aiming to shake up the bracket.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season has drawn to a close, and while sixteen teams shift their focus to playoff battles, one of the league’s most prestigious individual debates reaches its fever pitch: Who deserves the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the Most Valuable Player? The ballots are in (or being cast), but the official announcement is still weeks away. This year, the conversation centres around a familiar trio of dominant forces who have consistently redefined excellence: Denver’s Nikola Jokić, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, and Dallas’s Luka Dončić. Each has built a compelling case, making the final verdict anything but certain.
Look at the NBA’s recent list of MVPs and top contenders: Nikola Jokić (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Joel Embiid (France/Cameroon), Luka Dončić (Slovenia). Add phenom Victor Wembanyama (France) to the mix, and a clear picture emerges. The NBA, once overwhelmingly dominated by American talent, is now experiencing a golden era of European basketball ascendancy. This influx isn’t just adding numbers; it’s fundamentally reshaping the league’s playing style, team-building philosophies, and its very identity on the global stage.
Flick on any NBA game in 2025, and the relentless barrage of three-point attempts is impossible to ignore. What started as a gradual shift, accelerated by analytical insights and pioneered by teams like the Golden State Warriors, has become the defining offensive philosophy of the modern era. Teams regularly launch 40, sometimes even 50, shots from beyond the arc per game – numbers unthinkable just a decade or two ago. The three-point revolution has undeniably reshaped the sport, but has it reached its zenith, or is it entering a new phase of evolution?