Though only one first-round series is complete and no top championship contender is eliminated, the 2026 NBA playoffs have already been jarred by unexpected drama.

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns but did so after losing Jalen Williams to a hamstring injury. The Minnesota Timberwolves are also adjusting to a knee injury that will sideline Anthony Edwards for at least the rest of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. The top seed in the Eastern Conference, meanwhile, sits on the brink of elimination after the Orlando Magic took a 3-1 series lead on the Detroit Pistons and the preseason favorite in the East (New York Knicks) is locked in a tied series.

Through all this during the opening 10 days of the NBA playoffs, some of the league's biggest stars and a few unexpected names have emerged to produce compelling and clutch performances. Here's a look at the 10 best players in the 2026 NBA playoffs through games played on Monday, April 27:

Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)Shaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)1 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMichael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)1 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMichael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)2 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimLeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)3 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)4 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimStephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)5 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)6 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimEarvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)7 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimLarry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)8 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimBill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)9 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimWilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)10 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimShaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)11 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimTim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)12 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)13 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimAllen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)14 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimOscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)15 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimElgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)16 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimJerry West, East Bank High School (WV)17 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimJulius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)18 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMoses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)19 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)20 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimCharles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)21 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimKarl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)22 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimDavid Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)23 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimIsiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)24 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimJohn Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)25 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimPete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)26 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimChris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)27 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimMeadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)28 / 28Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claimDwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)NBA DRAFT: Early entry dwindles as some NCAA stars choose NIL

Honorable mention: Jaylen Brown, Chet Holmgren, Alperen Sengun, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Williams, Cade Cunningham, Marcus Smart, OG Anunoby, Desmond Bane, Deni Avdija, Evan Mobley, Stephon Castle

McCollum's clutch shot-making in Games 3 and 4 gave the Hawks a series lead over the Knicks before New York evened the matchup with a dominant Game 4 win. The 34-year-old is averaging better than 24 points per game on 51% shooting, harkening back to the numbers he put up during the Trail Blazers' 2019 run to the Western Conference Finals.

Banchero's outside shooting remains inconsistent and a potential issue in these playoffs, but he and Desmond Bane have the Orlando Magic on the cusp of knocking off the Eastern Conference's top seed. Only Gilgeous-Alexander is getting to the free throw line more times per game than Banchero so far this postseason.

This hasn't been Jokic's best postseason series by any stretch, with his defensive flaws magnified because the Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert-led defense has been effective at slowing him down at times. But Jokic is still averaging almost a triple-double in five games against Minnesota (25.4 points, 14 rebounds, 9.4 assists) after his second triple-double of the series in Game 5.

Towns has been a stabilizing force against the Atlanta Hawks and the Knicks used him to facilitate their offense to even their first-round series in Game 4. Towns registered his first-career playoff triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) after a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double in Game 3.

Minnesota's trade-deadline acquisition of Dosunmu looks like a steal after back-to-back huge performances, including a 43-point explosion in Game 4, moved the Timberwolves one win from ousting the Denver Nuggets despite injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Dosunmu is averaging 22.8 points and four assists on 64% shooting coming off the bench.

The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

1 / 9Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker styleThe NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

Barnes has been the best player through four games of the Raptors' tightly-contested first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with his two-way versatility allowing Toronto to go small featuring Collin Murray-Boyles. He's averaging 25.8 points and 7.3 assists while also connecting on 7 of his 15 3-point attempts through four games.

James turned back the clock to lead the Lakers to three wins to start their first-round series against the Rockets, averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists while sparking the likes of Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined by injury.

Tatum's return from injury was the NBA's most remarkable late-season storyline and he appears to be rounding into form during this first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tatum's points (24.8) and and shooting percentage are up through four games and he's among the league's leaders in assists (8.5) this postseason while leading the Celtics' offense.

San Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama pumps his fist at the end of the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026. Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award Monday, April 20 in the first unanimous vote in league history.

1 / 19Victor Wembanyama wins Defensive Player of the Year: See Spurs star in actionSan Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama pumps his fist at the end of the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026. Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award Monday, April 20 in the first unanimous vote in league history.

San Antonio Spurs forward forward Victor Wembanyama pumps his fist at the end of the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Frost Bank Center on Mar. 5, 2026. Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award Monday, April 20 in the first unanimous vote in league history.

Wemby might be even higher on this list if not for missing most of Game 2 and Game 3 of the Spurs' first-round series while in the NBA's concussion protocol. But he's otherwise been dominant in the two full playoff games he's played in against the Portland Trail Blazers, with 35 points in his postseason debut in Game 1 and 27 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks and 4 steals in his return from injury in Game 4.