The NBA Finals are finally here. An unprecedented basketball season comes to a head with the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks battling it out for the elusive Larry O’Brien trophy. While the playoffs might be marred for some fans because of the high number of injuries, most will remember the 2021 postseason for its breakout stars. Players like Devin Booker, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and Ja Morant dominated in the national spotlight. There’s a changing of the guard in the NBA and these players demonstrated they’re more than ready to carry the torch.
After disposing of the Los Angeles Clippers in six games, the Phoenix Suns are back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 28 years. One of the most storied franchises in the association, the Suns have yet to taste ultimate victory, as is the case with point guard Chris Paul. The Point God is appearing in his first NBA Finals and has a chance to solidify his case as one of the best point guards to ever play the game.
On the opposite side, the Milwaukee Bucks finally broke through the Eastern Conference after stumbling the past few seasons, but it came at a cost. In Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks, superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextended his knee. While Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since, some believe he will suit up during the Finals. As we get set for what should be an intense championship series, let’s examine both teams under the NBA 2K21 microscope.
16 P.J. Tucker - 74
Unbeknownst to non-Suns or Bucks fans, this NBA Finals is oozing with narratives. There’s the fateful coin flip in 1969 (won by Milwaukee) that determined who’d drafted future NBA legend Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer was Phoenix’s top target before Budenholzer signed with Milwaukee and then the Suns hired Monty Williams. But most importantly, there’s the return of P.J. Tucker.
Tucker had a hard start to his NBA career. After getting drafted by the Toronto Raptors, Tucker spent five seasons playing overseas before getting a chance with the Suns. From 2012 to 2016, the forward became a fan-favorite in the desert for his defensive tenacity (inside defense: B+, perimeter defense: B) and grit on the court. After acquiring Tucker at the trade deadline from the Houston Rockets, the Bucks hope Tucker’s time as Booker’s teammate will help him neutralize the deadly shooter.
15 Bryn Forbes - 76
Undrafted out of Cleveland State, Bryn Forbes spent four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 27-year-old Sharpshooter was instrumental in the Bucks’ first-round sweep of the Miami Heat, outscoring star Jimmy Butler 60 to 58 in the series. When his shot is falling, Forbes can be lights out from midrange (A+) and beyond the arc (A).
Since the opening round, however, Forbes hasn’t found the same offensive success. Against the Brooklyn Nets, Forbes didn’t score more than 10 points in a game, and against the Atlanta Hawks didn’t score more than eight points in a game.
14 Cameron Payne - 77
With respect to every other player in the NBA Finals, there isn’t a better story than the resurrection of Cameron Payne. A first-round draft pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015, Payne effectively played his way out of the league within three years and seemed destined to be labeled a bust. Right before the bubble in Orlando last season, the Phoenix Suns offered Payne a roster spot, and the rest, they say, was history.
Since the bubble, Payne has taken the reins of the backup point guard position and ran with it. He was arguably the team MVP in the opening series against the Los Angeles Lakers, picking up for Chris Paul after he injured his shoulder. Then in the Western Conference Finals, after Chris Paul was diagnosed with COVID-19, Payne erupted for 29 points in Game 2. Labeled a Sharpshooter, Payne makes opposing defenses feel the pain from beyond the arc (A-), midrange (A-), and inside (B+).
13 Cameron Johnson - 77
When the Phoenix Suns traded the sixth overall pick for Dario Saric and the eleventh pick, which the team used to draft Cameron Johnson, they were ridiculed. However, a player that many thought the team could have drafted later has quickly turned into one of the best players in the entire 2019 NBA draft.
Without Johnson’s consistent offensive performance against the Los Angeles Clippers, it might’ve been the Clippers looking for its first NBA title against the Bucks. Johnson scored in double digits in four of the five games he played against LA (inactive Game 6 due to food poisoning). Labeled a Three-Level Scorer, Johnson can make it rain from anywhere on the court but is most dangerous from deep (B+).
12 Jae Crowder - 77
The only player on either team with NBA Finals experience, Jae Crowder is making his second-straight Finals appearance after falling short last season with the Miami Heat. Along with Chris Paul, Crowder was a major acquisition for the Phoenix Suns in the offseason to add veteran toughness and more three-point shooting to the team.
While sometimes inconsistent and prone to getting into foul trouble easily, Crowder has delivered in big spots for the Suns, including scoring 19 points in the series-clinching win against the Clippers. Crowder can catch fire with the trey ball (B+), as he made five of them in the Game 6 win against LA.
11 Dario Saric - 79
Acquired in a draft-day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dario Saric has found new life with the Phoenix Suns. Saric had tremendous potential coming from Croatia in 2016 but soon fizzled out in Philadelphia before a year-long rental with Minnesota.
Though a bit undersized, Saric has solidified the backup center position and has provided key stretches for the Suns. Labeled as a Three-Level Scorer, Saric has the offensive skills to score from anywhere. Most recently against the Clippers, head coach Monty Williams utilized Saric’s three-point shot (B) in high pick and roll sets that helped open up the bench units’ scoring.
10 Torrey Craig - 79
The most interesting man in the NBA Finals: Torrey Craig. The forward started the season with the Milwaukee Bucks, and was then traded to the Phoenix Suns for cash considerations. So technically, regardless if the Suns win or lose, Craig should still get a championship ring (if he’d accept a Bucks ring is another story).
Since coming to Phoenix, Craig has thrust himself into Monty Williams’ rotation as a feisty defender (interior B-, perimeter B) and knockdown shooter (three-point B+). Craig provides a burst of energy from the bench that disrupts opposing offenses and might be a key for the Suns to win the bench minutes.
9 Brook Lopez - 79
If someone said there’s one player that currently leads a franchise in scoring, how many would guess Brook Lopez? Drafted by the then-New Jersey Nets in 2008, Lopez is the leader in points scored for the team. Since coming to Milwaukee in 2018, Lopez has settled in as a solid starter for the East champs.
Labeled as a Two-Way Three-Level Scorer, Lopez can put it in the basket from anywhere: inside (A-), midrange (A-), and three-point (B). His rebounding (D-) is exceptionally poor for a seven-footer, but Lopez locks it down defensively in the interior (A+).
8 Bobby Portis - 81
Known mostly for the altercation with Nikola Mirotic in 2017 with the Chicago Bulls, Bobby Portis has found a home with the Bucks. The backup center was extremely productive in the opening sweep against Miami and played a big role in ousting the Hawks. Portis scored a playoff-high 22 points in a Game 5 victory that gave Milwaukee a 3-2 series lead against Atlanta.
With Antetokounmpo’s health up in the air after hyperextending his knee against Atlanta, Portis will be called upon to help steady the ship. As a three-level scorer, Portis thrives inside (A-), midrange (A-), and three-pointer (A). Aside from Antetokounmpo, Portis is also the second-best rebounder (A-) on the Bucks.
7 Mikal Bridges - 83
Strictly from the numbers, Mikal Bridges has had a lackluster NBA playoff debut. The small forward was extraordinary in the second-round sweep of the Denver Nuggets, averaging 16 points per game, but fell a bit offensively against the Clippers. But Bridges’s impact on the game can’t be fully realized by only analyzing the numbers.
In most cases, Bridges is tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter offensive threat (perimeter defense B+); so with the Bucks, expect to see Bridges guarding Khris Middleton. Labeled a Three-Point Specialist, Bridges can be deadly from outside (A-), particularly from the corner spots.
6 Khris Middleton - 85
After being named an All-Star in two of the last three seasons, Khris Middleton is more than ready for the big stage. So far this postseason, Middleton is averaging 23.4 points per game, the second-highest in his career (24.7 points per game in 2017-18 postseason).
Yet another Three-Level Scorer for Milwaukee, Middleton can catch fire from anywhere on the court. His ability to drive to the basket and score inside (A-) is underrated due to his effectiveness from midrange (A) and downtown (A). Middleton also possesses above-average perimeter defense (B+).
5 Deandre Ayton - 85
It’s safe to say that Deandre Ayton has proven his haters wrong. Since being drafted ahead of Luka Doncic, Ayton has been subjected to relentless criticism. But since the playoffs started, Ayton has shown why he’s called “Domin-Ayton”.
Arguably the best rebounder (A) left in the playoffs, Ayton is a Glass-Cleaning Finisher for a reason. Against the Clippers, Ayton averaged 13.6 rebounds per game, including an absurd 22-rebound performance in Game 4. The big man has also settled into a more effective offensive game, limiting his looks to a few feet from the rim or cleaning up offensive putbacks. On top of that, Ayton is currently shooting 70.6 percent from the field, a statistic that only two other players achieved.
4 Jrue Holiday - 86
After failing to advance to the NBA Finals in recent years, the Milwaukee Bucks took a big swing and traded for star point guard Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bucks hoped to upgrade from Eric Bledsoe to Holiday, and that’s exactly what happened.
As a Two-Way Tempo Pusher, Holiday has become the perfect complement to Antetokounmpo and Middleton. A hard perimeter defender (A+) who can score from all areas (inside B+, midrange B+, three-pointer B+), Holiday has pushed the Bucks to the next level. The hard-nosed defender will have his hands full trying to limit Chris Paul.
3 Devin Booker - 89
For much of his career, Devin Booker has been smeared as an “empty stats” player because of the Suns’ inability to reach the postseason. But in actuality, it wasn’t about Booker not being a team player or not being a winner; it was about how terrible the upper management and team-building around him were.
It’s not a coincidence that the first season Booker has competent, quality NBA players beside him results in an NBA Finals appearance. Labeled as a Scoring Machine, Booker is one of the most gifted scorers in the league, masterfully scoring at will from the inside (A+), midrange (A+), and outside (A-). But it’s not just his scoring that makes Booker special. He routinely finds the best basketball play, being a top playmaker (A-) for the Suns. Even a broken nose courtesy of Patrick Beverley hasn’t been enough to stop Booker — only slowing him momentarily.
2 Chris Paul - 89
Finally, in year 16, Chris Paul is in the NBA Finals. Regarded as one of the best point guards — and players — to ever take the court, Paul has the opportunity to put the cherry on top of his remarkable career. In his first season with the Suns, Paul pushed the team to the second-best record in the NBA.
Against the Bucks, the Point God will look to find his midrange jumper (A+) and harass Jrue Holiday on the perimeter (A). As a Playmaking Shot Creator, Paul is most effective in a pick and roll to get the bigger, slower defender on him to either break to the basket (B+) or find the rolling player or open shooter on the outside (playmaking A).
Paul hasn’t had the best luck in the postseason, so Suns fans have had to hold their collective breaths when he went down with a shoulder injury, tested positive for COVID-19, and is now dealing with torn ligaments in his hand. But through it all, Paul had one of the best games of his career closing out the Clippers in Game 6, scoring 41 points with zero turnovers. Regardless of his current ailments, Paul is ready to deliver Phoenix its first NBA championship.
1 Giannis Antetokounmpo - 96
The highest-remaining rated player left, it’s an absolute travesty that Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be fully healthy for the NBA Finals. Yes, injuries are part of the game, but seeing someone as genuine and hardworking as Antetokounmpo be limited, or possibly out, in the championship round is heartbreaking.
A two-time MVP winner, Antetokounmpo is in the conversation for being the best player in the league. He’s already a menace under the basket (A+), and now he’s trying to develop a consistent three-point shot (B-). Aside from being named MVP in 2019-20, Antetokounmpo also won Defensive Player of the Year. He can lock players down on both the perimeter (A+) and interior (A). If Antetokounmpo can make his way onto the court in any capacity, that’ll be a welcoming sight for a Bucks team looking for its first NBA title since 1971.
NEXT: NBA 2K21: The 10 Strongest All-Time Teams
