The 2022 playoff field feels like a breath of fresh air as a new crop of stars enters the spotlight. We’re no longer gearing up for Warriors-Cavaliers II, III or IV, and LeBron James is shockingly on the outside looking in this postseason. What is likely the league office’s loss in television ratings is our gain.
The upcoming postseason features a half-dozen teams that could feasibly win the Eastern Conference, and out West, Golden State is flanked by a flurry of young squads (and Chris Paul). The skill across the league has arguably never been greater. We may be entering an age of true parity as the NBA prepares for a post-LeBron era.
So which impact players of tomorrow could have their breakout moment in the 2022 playoffs? Let’s sort through five candidates before Round 1 begins on Saturday.
