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The 2021 NBA Playoffs came to an end on Tuesday night with the Milwaukee Bucks emerging victorious over the Phoenix Suns in the Finals series.
It was one of the most unpredictable postseasons in recent memory but one that provided a lot of enticing moments. Many players made their long-awaited NBA playoffs debuts and lit the stage with phenomenal showings.
With the likes of Devin Booker, Trae Young, Deandre Ayton and Ja Morant being terrific for their respective teams, the NBA fraternity would be eager to see more of them in the next few postseasons.
On that note, here's a look at the top three debutants who shone the brighest in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
#3 Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton justified his selection as the no. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft in some style during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. The way he has developed under Chris Paul and Monty Williams has been phenomenal, as Ayton helped his team make massive strides this season.
In a conversation with The Athletic a few weeks before the playoffs, Ayton said that he wanted to become one of the best young two-way centers in the league. The playoffs were the best stage for him to show that he was indeed on the right path. He dominated the opposition on nights when the team's other two stars, Devin Booker and Chris Paul, were quiet.
Right from Game 1 of the first-round series against the defending champions LA Lakers, Ayton looked like he was on a mission as he lit up the Phoenix Suns' first playoff appearance in ten years. He outplayed the likes of Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond to make a statement that he was ready for the big occasion.
Ayton continued to dominate veteran players and was a key component in the Suns' 4-0 series sweep over league MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Jokic duly acknowledged that Ayton was the center he had the most problems against.
Deandre Ayton had to face a new challenge in the series against the LA Clippers, where Ty Lue's men played with a small-ball lineup.
It didn't matter for Ayton, though, as he continued to outsmart his counterparts. His size and high basketball IQ once again proved pivotal to the Phoenix Suns, claiming yet another series win.
The NBA Finals did not go as planned for Ayton, though. However, considering how the 22-year-old played for the Suns this season, he is likely to fare better if he reaches this stage of the campaign again.
Ayton's efficiency was off the charts during the 2021 NBA Playoffs, as he recorded 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting a whopping 65.8% from the floor. He became the first player in NBA Playoffs history to average 15/10 on 65% shooting from the floor in a single postseason campaign (minimum ten games).
#2 Trae Young
Trae Young barely made it seem as if it was his debut NBA Playoffs campaign, as the Atlanta Hawks point guard hit the ground running. Young dropped 32 points, ten assists and seven rebounds to go with a game-winning floater against the New York Knicks on the road to kickstart his playoff career.
He did so at the 'Mecca' of basketball, the Madison Square Garden, where he silenced a partisan Knicks crowd who were cheering their team making their first postseason in seven years. That set the tone for Young and the Atlanta Hawks to script one of the best underdog stories of this year's playoffs.
After brushing aside the Knicks in five games, Young and the Hawks faced a stern challenge against the no. 1 seeded team in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, Trae Young averaged 29 points and 10.9 assists per game against the Sixers, who were down 1-2, to help them win the series 4-3.
The Atlanta Hawks started strong against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Finals, winning Game 1 on the road, thanks to a humungous 48-point outing from Young. However, Young injured his ankle in Game 3 with the series tied 1-1, which proved pivotal in the Hawks losing the series in six games.
From being down 14-20 at one stage in the regular season to reaching the Conference Finals, the Hawks made huge strides for a team that had an average age of just 25.7 years. Young was the focal point of their system, as he averaged 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game during the playoffs.
#1 Devin Booker
The late Kobe Bryant once told Devin Booker to be 'legendary', and that was exactly what Booker did in his debut NBA Playoffs campaign. The Phoenix Suns guard was instrumental in leading his team to the 2021 NBA Finals.
He put everything into the 2021 postseason campaign after five years of disappointing results. Booker fought tooth and nail but came up short against the eventual champions, Milwaukee Bucks.
Booker debuted in the NBA Playoffs with consecutive 30-point games against the defending champions LA Lakers. He came up big for the Suns, who had Chris Paul dealing with a shoulder injury. It did not take Booker long to produce a performance for the ages, as he helped his team close out the series in Game 6 with a 47-point outing, leading his team to a 4-2 series win.
He continued to put up staggering numbers in the series against the Denver Nuggets as the Suns swept them 4-0 to advance to their first Conference Finals in a decade. Devin Booker suited up against the LA Clippers next, which provided a true test of his leadership skills as the Phoenix Suns played without their leader Chris Paul for the opening two games; Paul was sidelined due to the league's health and safety protocols.
Booker delivered big time, producing a 40-point triple-double, dishing out 13 assists and claiming 11 boards. The Suns took a 2-0 lead before taking the series in six games.
Just like he shone during the rest of the playoffs, Booker came up big in the 2021 NBA Finals as well. Despite the series loss, he was terrific individually, averaging 28.2 points per game producing back-to-back 40-point games. Booker capped off the playoffs with 601 points, the most by a player in his debut NBA Playoffs campaign.
Guess the Lakers players!
