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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Claire de Lune, Lee Escobedo, Bryan Armen Graham and Andrew Lawrence

NBA playoff predictions 2026: the winner, key players and dark horses

NBA Los Angeles Thunder Spurs Nikola Jokić Knicks LeBron James Victor Wembanyama Austin Reaves Jalen Brunson
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left), San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (centre) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić will be in the thick of the action in the coming weeks. Composite: Guardian Pictures; Imagn Images

Who would you rather have in a Game 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama?

Wemby will no doubt be the answer to this question at some point in the (perhaps not-too-distant) future. But for now, I defer to those with at least some playoff experience. For my money, Jokić still reigns supreme as the best player alive, and for that reason, he’s my pick. CDL

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