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We are a week into the NBA Playoffs. With 19 games played between various playoff teams of both the Eastern and Western Conference, we have seen some refreshingly good performances by young players in these playoffs.
The likes of the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers have much to thank their youngsters for their advantageous position in their ongoing playoff series thus far. Without the players that we'll talk about in a short while, it's possible that they'd be way worse off than they currently are.
While there are a number of young'ns in contention for our top 5 picks, the following players narrowly missed out featuring on our list.
Honorable Mentions: Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid (played only one game so far), Dejounte Murray, Shabazz Napier, Justise Winslow
Note: Our list of top 5 players in the playoffs currently on rookie-scale contracts is as follows:
#5 OG Anunoby
In order to gauge OG Anunoby's true impact on a really deep Raptors rotation, while his box scores would certainly help, what would truly shape our picture is the stat line of an opponent. Bradley Beal, guarded closely by Anunoby in Game 2 of the first round playoff series between Toronto and Washington, was able to score just 9 points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field and 1-of-5 attempts from 3-point range.
Anunoby has emerged as one of the best 3-and-D players among the rookie class of 2017-18. Playing on a stacked Raptors roster has prevented him from improving his points tally in the regular season. He is, however, averaging 18.4 points per 36 minutes on 50% shooting from 3-point territory in the playoffs so far.
Expect him to be a big part of the Raptors' rotation later on in the playoffs as well.
#4 Terry Rozier
In what certainly ranks as one of the top plays of the season so far (regular season and playoffs included), Rozier stared down veteran point guard Eric Bledsoe during the Celtics' final possession during regulation time in Game 1.
He went to work on him, faking as if to drive into the paint. Bledsoe bought into that fake, and Rozier crossed him up, breaking his ankles before stepping back to nail the 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left on the game clock. It was a play of epic proportions, but anyone who's watched Scary Terry of late will know his propensity to hit clutch shots.
Over the first 2 playoff games as a starter this season, the 3rd-year point guard out of Louisville has a stat line of 23 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1 steal per game on 46.9% shooting from the field and 50% from 3-point territory.
That alone should be justification for Rozier's placement on this list.
#3 Ben Simmons
The Australian rookie is putting up a monster stat line in his very first playoff appearance, the likes of which even LeBron James was not able to in his first go-around during the playoffs. Simmons stat line after 3 playoff games reads as follows: 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 2 steals per game.
While the Philadelphia 76ers dropped a game at home to the Miami Heat this week, they wrestled home-court advantage back in Game 3. Simmons was a big part of the 128-108 win, putting up a stat line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals in 40 minutes while making 7 out of his 8 free throw attempts.
There were a couple of possessions when the Sixers were without a true center, and it was Simmons guarding the paint area.
The birth of unicorns in the NBA is for real, people!
#2 Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points in a Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, and followed that up with a 28-point performance in Game 2. You know what's so special about that?
He's the youngest player to ever record 25+ points in his first two career playoff games, at the age of 21. That's right, not even LeBron James managed this feat (he played in his first playoff game at the age of 22).
The talent level of this kid is enormous. Through 82 games of the regular season and the 2 games thus far in the playoffs, Mitchell has demonstrated a willingness to lead his team and be their go-to option in clutch time.
Mitchell scored 13 points in the 4th quarter against the Thunder to give the Utah Jazz homecourt advantage going into Game 3 at the Viviant Smart Home Arena. It was a signal to the fact that Spider is up to the task in the most testing of times.
#1 Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown has been simply sensational in the two games that he's appeared in this postseason. Faced with the rather unpalatable task of guarding the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in the Celtics' first-round matchup, Brown has emerged with untarnished credentials on the defensive end.
On the other hand, his offense has been amazing over these 2 games. He's scored 50 points on 51.2% field goal efficiency, including a 3-point percentage of 41.2%. Brown, thus far, leads the Celtics team in scoring in these playoffs, and they've needed every single point scored by this young guard, who was the #3 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Brown was particularly lethal in Game 2, going for a team-high 30 points on pretty good efficiency. If Jaylen continues to play at the same rate, the Celtics could very well end up with an unexpected sweep of the Bucks despite playing without Kyrie Irving.
