Biggest Surprises and Disappointments from 2025 NBA Playoffs So Far
The NBA playoffs always come with their share of surprises and disappointments, and the 2025 version has been no exception.
With only one series decided so far, there's still plenty of basketball left to be played, although some trends have already developed.
Through the first week of the playoffs, players and teams such as Jalen Green, Kawhi Leonard, the Memphis Grizzlies and more have made our biggest surprises and disappointments list for a variety of reasons.
Surprise: Kawhi Leonard Turns Back the Clock
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Kawhi Leonard has provided us with some legendary playoff moments in his career, although few have come this decade.
Against these Denver Nuggets, though, the 33-year-old has dusted himself off to provide some vintage performances for the Los Angeles Clippers.
His 39 points in a Game 2 win came on a super-efficient 15-of-19 shooting performance that saw him knock down an array of unguardable fadeaways.
Although he ranked 38th in scoring during the regular season, Leonard's 26.5 points per game now have him in the top-10 thus far these playoffs to go along with 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
It's easy to forget just how incredibly good the six-time All-Star is when healthy.
Injuries have robbed us of far too much of Leonard's prime, a player who was briefly in the conversation for best player in the world after he won Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
This version of Leonard isn't nearly as athletic. Prolonged durability will probably always be an issue.
For now, though, we simply need to enjoy the offensive clinic this man can still put on, using his strength and skill to back down opponents, get to his spots and release perfectly timed jumpers at the top of his 7'3" wingspan.
We don't know how long vintage Leonard will last, but for now, it's been a pleasant surprise.
Disappointment: Memphis Grizzlies End-of-Season Implosion
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On February 27, the Memphis Grizzlies sat at 38-20 overall and held the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Now, two months later and just a week into the playoffs, their season is already over.
After the surprise firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins, the Grizzlies went 4-9 overall including a first-round sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A 51-point loss to OKC on Easter and a hip contusion suffered by Ja Morant in Game 3 highlighted a long list of disappointments for Memphis, a franchise that had title hopes just weeks ago.
Where exactly do the Grizzlies go now?
Memphis could soon have three players on max contracts, which is a scary bill to foot for a team that just finished as the No. 8 seed and failed to win a playoff game.
Morant has averaged just 51 healthy games in his six seasons, becoming an unreliable No. 1 option due to his lack of durability (even ignoring his past off-court issues).
As talented as the 25-year-old is, it's fair to question if the Grizzlies should test his trade market this summer.
This is a roster with talent. After 2025, they own all of their first-round picks and have some swap rights in 2026 and 2030.
All of this will help Memphis' future, but its present has been a huge disappointment.
Surprise: East Underdogs Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons Give Us Some Good Series
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The Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons may both be down 3-1 in their first-round series, but the gap hasn't been that big between them and their favored opponents.
The young Pistons won a Game 2 thriller against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden to tie the series, only to drop a tightly contested Game 3 by just two points.
Detroit got hosed at the end of Game 4, when no foul was called on Josh Hart as he made contact on a Tim Hardaway Jr. three-point attempt that would have sent the veteran wing to the line to shoot a trio of freebies down 94-93.
Referee David Guthrie later told pool reporter Coty Davis of the Detroit News that "a foul should have been called" on Hart.
The No. 6-seeded Pistons could easily be up 3-1 in the series against a veteran Knicks squad.
The Magic were given even less of a chance against the defending champion Boston Celtics, a team that finished a whopping 20 games ahead of them in the standings.
Orlando suffered just a single-digit loss in Game 2 in Boston before squeezing the offensive life out of the Celtics in a Game 3 95-93 win. Both teams remained close in Game 4 before Boston ultimately pulled away with a 107-98 victory.
The fact that Orlando has played the powerhouse, 61-win Celtics this close while starting 33-year-old Cory Joseph at point guard in the place of the injured Jalen Suggs is extremely impressive. This is the first time in his 14-year-career that Joseph has ever started a playoff game.
It wouldn't have been a shock to see the Celtics sweep the Magic and for the Knicks to roll over the Pistons.
However, both series have been competitive thus far, which has been a pleasant surprise.
Disappointment: Jalen Green's Consistency
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Jalen Green has begun his playoff career with one dazzling performance and two absolute duds.
With the Houston Rockets now trailing the Golden State Warriors 1-2 in their first-round series, it's easy to guess which game Green excelled in.
The 23-year-old put up 38 points on 13-of-25 shooting (8-of-18 from three) in a Game 2 win where the Rockets compiled 109 points.
In the other two games, both losses, Green is averaging just 8.0 points on 26.9 percent shooting. Houston is averaging 89 points in those contests, including one Jimmy Butler of the Warriors missed with a pelvic contusion.
Already a team that can struggle offensively, the Rockets' leading scorer in the regular season needs to be better.
In 52 wins this season, Green is averaging 22.5 points on 57.2 percent true shooting. In 30 losses, these numbers fall to 18.4 points on 49.2 percent.
Butler's injury has opened up a huge window for the young Rockets to advance to the second round. They only do so if Green can become a more consistent scorer.
Surprise: Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Supporting Cast
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It should come as no surprise that Anthony Edwards is again putting up big numbers in a playoff series (29.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 43.2 percent from three), although it was fair to question if his Minnesota Timberwolves' teammates would offer much support against a star-studded Los Angeles Lakers squad.
A 3-1 series lead for the Wolves is not only a testament to Edwards but also to a supporting cast that has more than carried its collective weight.
Jaden McDaniels, a defensive-minded wing, is averaging 19.8 points on 57.9 percent shooting in the series (42.9 percent from three), including a 30-point performance in a Game 3 win. The 24-year-old played in all 82 regular-season games, yet he hit this 30-point mark just once.
Julius Randle, a lifetime 34.4 percent shooter in the playoffs, is averaging 22.5 points on 47.6 percent shooting. Naz Reid is chipping in 13.8 points per game off the bench while nailing 52.4 percent of his threes.
Trading away Karl-Anthony Towns for more future financial flexibility and added depth was a huge gamble for a Minnesota team that was coming off a trip to the Western Conference Finals.
If the Wolves can take down LeBron James, Luka Dončić and the Lakers now while getting big contributions from McDaniels and others, this will solidify that the trade was a success.
