12 former Wildcats set to take the floor in 2025 NBA Playoffs

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are officially set. The final Play-In games were decided on Friday night, leaving 16 teams ready to fight for the Larry O’Brien trophy. First-round action begins Saturday afternoon with the NBA Finals running through June.

There will be plenty of reasons for the Big Blue Nation to pay attention, as well — 12 of them, in fact. A dozen former Kentucky players spread across nine teams are healthy and on a Playoff roster. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about each of them and their team’s postseason hopes.

Eastern Conference Playoffs

(1) Cavaliers vs. (8) Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers — MY Cleveland Cavaliers — enter the Eastern Conference Playoffs as the top overall seed with a 64-18 record. But there are no former Wildcats on this writer’s favorite team. Luckily, the Miami Heat make up for it with a pair of talented Kentucky alums. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have led Miami all season long amidst the Jimmy Butler turmoil, and their reward is a very tough first-round series.

By winning two Play-In games over the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, the Heat became the first 10-seed to reach the Playoffs. Herro went for 30 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in Friday night’s overtime win over the Hawks. Adebayo chipped in 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. But Cleveland will have the talent edge by a wide margin in this series.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers in 4

• Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. April 20, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 23, 7:30 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat (Sat. April 26, 1 ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat (Mon. April 28, TBD)
• Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*

(4) Pacers vs. (5) Bucks

There will be a couple of former Kentucky players in this series, but none are expected to play real minutes. Isaiah Jackson is on the Indiana Pacers, but he suffered a torn Achilles back in November and was ruled out for the season. Chris Livingston is a deep bench piece for the Bucks and could possibly see some clock. But this should be an exciting series regardless. Damian Lillard is expected back for the Bucks after dealing with serious blood clots. The Milwaukee front office could feel some pressure from Giannis Antetokounmpo if another playoff run comes up short. Watch out for point guard Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers — he’s playing the best basketball of his career at the best time of the season.

PREDICTION: Pacers in 7

• Game 1: Bucks at Pacers (Sat. April 19, 1 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 22, 7 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 3: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. April 25, 8 ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
• Game 4: Pacers at Bucks (Sun. April 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Bucks at Pacers (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Pacers at Bucks (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Bucks at Pacers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*

(3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons

Karl-Anthony Towns will look to lead the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. It won’t be easy with the Detroit Pistons standing in their way, but New York will be highly favored to win this series. Detroit has been a feel-good story this season with a 44-38 record and Cade Cunningham playing at an All-NBA level, but the Knicks have one of the best offenses in the league. Towns is having arguably the best season of his career and will have a favorable matchup against Detroit’s frontcourt — not to mention having the likes of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges by his side.

PREDICTION: Knicks in 5

• Game 1: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. April 19, 6 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Pistons at Knicks (Mon. April 21, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. April 24, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Knicks at Pistons (Sun. April 27, 1 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Pistons at Knicks (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Knicks at Pistons (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Pistons at Knicks (Sat. May 3, TBD)*

(2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic

This is another series without any former Wildcats. This might end up being the quickest series of the entire first round, too. The Orlando Magic fought its way out of the Play-In, but possesses one of the worst modern offenses we’ve ever seen for a playoff team. Meanwhile, the reigning champion Boston Celtics have been in cruise control for most of the season before turning it up a notch down the stretch. Orlando simply won’t have the horses in this one to keep it competitive.

PREDICTION: Boston in 4

• Game 1: Magic at Celtics (Sun. April 20, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 2: Magic at Celtics (Wed. April 23, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Celtics at Magic (Fri. April 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*

Western Conference Playoffs

(1) Thunder vs. (8) Grizzlies

There’s going to be some pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals. After a surprisingly good run last season that saw an early flame-out in the Playoffs, there will be no excuses this time around. OKC finished with the league’s best record (68-14) and SGA is the likely pick for league MVP. At the bare minimum, a Western Conference Finals appearance will be expected.

Thunder second-year guard Cason Wallace, who has turned himself into one of the best perimeter defenders in the world, will likely see some time guarding Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies in this one. Memphis (48-34) is a tough-out as an 8-seed, but OKC just put together a historically great regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander will lead them to the second round with relative ease.

PREDICTION: Thunder in 5

• Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sun. April 20, 1 ET, ABC)
• Game 2: Grizzlies at Thunder (Tue. April 22, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. April 24, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies (Sat. April 26, 3:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder (Mon. April 28, TBD)*
• Game 6: Thunder at Grizzlies (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sat. May 3, TBD)*

(4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers

This might be the first-round series I’m most excited about. Both the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers can make deep runs if everything clicks (and if Kawhi Leonard stays healthy). Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP-level once again for Denver, but he’s going to need plenty of help from his sidekick, Jamal Murray, who has been quietly excellent this season. If those two can tap into their title run from 2023, the Western Conference Finals could be on the table. But Leonard, James Harden, and the rest of the Clippers have played like a top-five team since the trade deadline.

PREDICTION: Clippers in 7

• Game 1: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. April 19, 3:30 ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets (Mon. April 21, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. April 24, 10 ET, NBA TV)
• Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (Sat. April 26, 6 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
• Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
• Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Sat. May 3, TBD)*

(3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves

Another potentially awesome series in a Western Conference bracket filled with them is the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. This series will also have the most Kentucky flavor in it. Jarred Vanderbilt will take the floor alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic for the Lakers. Meanwhile, we have Julius Randle and rookie Rob Dillingham helping out Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. Minnesota has been the hotter team down the stretch, and I’m expecting BIG things out of Edwards in this series, but it’s hard to bet against LeBron and Luka. Don’t be shocked if Vanderbilt helps the Lakers win a game, too.

PREDICTION: Lakers in 6

• Game 1: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sat. April 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (Tue. April 22, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. April 25, 9:30 ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sun. April 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Lakers at Timberwolves (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Timberwolves at Lakers (Sun. May 4, TBD)*

(2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors

This is the rare series where the under-seeded team will be viewed as the favorite. The Golden State Warriors snuck into the Playoffs via the Play-In, but multi-time champions Steph Curry and Draymond Green still roam the floor. Then you have the up-and-coming Houston Rockets that surprised a lot of folks this season, but have plenty of talent across the board. We’re not likely to see much out of Kevin Knox for the Warriors (yes, he’s still in the league!) or rookie Reed Sheppard for the Rockets, but again, this is another series I’m very much looking forward to. I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t go the distance.

PREDICTION: Rockets in 7

• Game 1: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. April 20, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 2: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 23, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 3: Rockets at Warriors (Sat. April 26, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, TBD)*
• Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*

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