5 X-Factor Players in the Western Conference Playoff Race

The Western Conference in the NBA is filled with teams striving to make the playoffs, with only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets seemingly out of the picture.

The Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be the most consistent and talented roster to headline the conference. Aside from that, there are sizeable question marks across the rest of the NBA roster.

Notable players are making their returns from injury in the 2021-22 NBA season, others will need to step up in the absence of teammates, and some young players are looking to cement their role/standing in the NBA.

The Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, and Memphis Grizzlies will all need things to go their way in order to secure a spot in the play-in tournament and then the playoffs. Their X-Factors will have to shine through and allow the team to reach unexpected heights with their production levels.

Here are five players who are X-Factors in the NBA's Western Conference playoff race.

#5 - Marvin Bagley

Anyone who follows the NBA is well aware that the Sacramento Kings elected to select Marvin Bagley with the second overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft over Luka Doncic. It might still haunt former general manager Vlade Divac, and it certainly has not left the mind of the Sacramento fanbase.

Throughout his three seasons wearing royal purple, Bagley has been the definition of injury prone. In his rookie campaign, knee sprains plagued him, but he still appeared on 62 occasions and made the All-Rookie first-team.

In year two, the big man suffered a devastating right thumb fracture in the very first game of the season. He returned for eight games before suffering a mid-foot sprain, sitting out for the next eight, and then re-aggravating that same sprain after four games of playing time. That would keep him out for the rest of the year.

In 202-21, Bagley participated in 43 total games before going down with a random fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. No repeat injuries for the 6'10" big man, but it's really just a stretch of dreadful luck.

While healthy, Bagley averaged 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three. He is understandably accused of having empty numbers at times, but his combination of fluidity, size, and athleticism still makes for an intriguing mold at just 22-years-old.

If Marvin Bagley can find some consistency and remain healthy in the 2021-22 NBA season, the Sacramento Kings could find themselves greatly benefiting from what is currently an unknown on their roster.

#4 - Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jaren Jackson Jr. heard his name called just minutes after Marvin Bagley III as the fourth overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. While Jackson has undeniably shown more throughout his short NBA career than Bagley, last season was a substantial stepback.

A torn meniscus in his left knee kept Jackson watching his Memphis Grizzlies teammates from the sidelines for nearly the entirety of the 2020-21 NBA season. He participated in three of the four closing regular-season games and averaged 24.4 minutes throughout eight postseason showings.

Jackson clearly, and understandably, was not back at full strength and NBA game speed throughout those games. When healthy, Jackson has shown the ability to be one of the best shooting big men in the NBA, evident by him knocking down 39.4 percent of 6.5 attempts per game in 2019-20.

Coming out of Michigan State, Jackson's defensive ability was highly touted and that has yet to come to fruition in for the Grizzlies. Growth in that aspect, while also supplying ideal spacing for Ja Morant, could significantly increase the Grizzlies' postseason chances.

#3 - Jusuf Nurkic

Denver Nuggets v Portland Trail Blazers - Game Six

If you saw Jusuf Nurkic's leg break on national television back in 2019 it is probably etched into your memory forever. Few injuries are as gruesome and tough to watch as that, and Nurkic has not returned to his borderline All-Star form since.

As if that injury was not enough, Nurkic required surgery after fracturing his right wrist in early 2021. Before that moment, the Bosnian big man was averaging 11.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists on 51.4 percent shooting. They are still notably down from their peak of about 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists on a nightly basis.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum would greatly benefit from the return of their starting center to his ideal form. Nurkic provides a threatening screen and roll presence, underrated passing skills, and relentless effort on the glass.

Playing alongside a defensive-focused frontcourt partner like Larry Nance Jr. could be highly beneficial for the offensive-oriented Nurkic. The Portland Trail Blazers will be ecstatic to see Jusuf Nurkic of old at some point during the 2021-22 NBA season.

#2 - Reggie Jackson

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Three

Reggie Jackson is the only player on this list not coming off a substantial injury. He is mentioned here as an X-Factor because of his inconsistencies throughout his NBA career and the fact he ended last season on a high note.

After some notable seasons with the Detroit Pistons from 2014-18, Jackson seemed to be pinned as a scoring-focused backup point guard in the NBA. His athleticism was seemingly gone due to a handful of injuries, and he would eventually find himself suiting up for the LA Clippers at the end of 2019-20.

Entering free agency, the Clippers elected to offer Jackson a one-term deal, and he went on to average 10.7 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds on 45.0 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from three, and 81.7 percent from the line throughout 67 games last season.

While those numbers are solid and especially efficient for a backup guard in the NBA, it wasn't until the postseason that Reggie Jackson truly shone. In the Clippers; 19 playoff games, Jackson tallied 17.8 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds while converting 48.4 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three, and 87.8 percent from the three throw line.

Showing up in the biggest moments and under the brightest lights is always going to leave a good impression on your team and the rest of the NBA. The LA Clippers will need postseason Reggie Jackson to remain at that level with the absence of Kawhi Leonard for the majority of the season.

If Jackson can maintain that, it would make coping with the loss of Leonard that much easier for the Clippers.

#1 - Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson was an easy choice for this list. The Splash Bros member is making his return to the Golden State Warriors this season after an entire year sidelined with a torn right achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Stephen Curry finished third in MVP voting last season, and Draymond Green was second in the Defensive Player of the Year race, but neither was enough to lead the Warriors back into the postseason.

We all know what Klay Thompson is capable of. He is a career 41.9 percent shooter from three on 7.0 attempts per night. Undeniably one of the best shooters the game has ever seen while also adding stellar on-ball defense to make the perfect role player (even though he absolutely qualifies as a star).

If the Golden State Warriors are gaining the same Klay Thompson we saw prior to his injury, they could even catapult themselves into NBA Championship contention for the 2021-22 season. The issue is that a player's impact when returning from substantial injuries such as an achilles tear is unpredictable.