Identifying potential Kentucky X-Factors for upcoming NBA Playoffs

With the NBA playoffs right around the corner, postseason teams will need their stars to start coming up big. To win a playoff series or more, though, they’ll need X-Factors on their rosters to help them along the way. Multiple former Wildcats are set to make the looming postseason and will have their chance to help their teams make it into June.

Let’s talk about some of them.

Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers

As one of the best players in the world, it feels strange to list Anthony Davis as an X-factor. But being unavailable due to injury and missing 32 games this season just has that effect on a player. The Lakers have been a disaster with or without Davis this season. They’re only slightly better with him at 17-20 as opposed to when he’s not in the lineup with a 14-22 record. Even so, any hope the Lakers have of making it out of the NBA’s play-in round hinges on Davis’ availability.

LeBron James is destroying the sports world’s idea of longevity and it hasn’t mattered without the Robin to his Batman. Davis at the very least provides a matchup threat as one of the most skilled bigs in the NBA. Even with his health in the air, you can’t 100% count out the Lakers if James and Davis are together.

Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat

Adebayo is the catalyst for one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. As a defensive-minded unit that wins by committee, the success for the Heat starts and finishes with Adebayo. Since returning from an injury back on January 17th, Adebayo has averaged a double-double of 19.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. More importantly, the Heat are 20-12 in the 32 games since his return.

A big part of that is his defensive ability. A two-time NBA All-Defense selection, he’s one of the best options in the league to slow down some of the biggest stars. While he’s able to defend down low against the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, he’s just as capable of switching out on the perimeter to guard more mobile matchups.

Even amongst other stars such as Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro, Adebayo is the one who has to show up each night for Miami.

DeMarcus Cousins – Denver Nuggets

Even with reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic starting at center, Cousins has been able to carve out a role off the bench for the Nuggets. Over 24 games in Denver, Cousins has averaged a respectable 9.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in 14.6 minutes. That includes a flashback performance of 31 points and nine rebounds against Houston.

With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.’s statuses still up in the air, the Nuggets are another team that’s had to win by committee. So much of their success falls on Jokic, but it becomes more difficult to produce when teams can zero in with a game plan in the playoffs. That’s where Boogie comes in as an X-Factor. He doesn’t need to be the DeMarcus Cousins of old for this team. As long as he plays his role by giving Denver a different look at center, he could have a similar playoff run as he did last season for the Clippers.

Jarred Vanderbilt – Minnesota Timberwolves

Of all the one-and-done Wildcats under John Calipari, one that’s often forgotten is Jarred Vanderbilt. After only playing 14 games for Kentucky in 2017-2018, Vanderbilt left for the pros. From there he jumped between the NBA & G-League before landing in Minnesota. Now, after two seasons in the Twin Cities, Vanderbilt has become a full-time starter next to Karl-Anthony Towns.

Vanderbilt isn’t going to be an incredibly flashy X-Factor for the Timberwolves. He fits his role perfectly, though, as a scrapper. Although his career-high 7.0 points per game aren’t much, he’s also grabbing a career-high 8.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game. Vanderbilt is the perfect counter to pair with Towns down low as he does more of the dirty work. His style and attitude have given Minnesota a nastier identity, which will be key in helping this inexperienced squad compete in the playoffs.

Keldon Johnson – San Antonio Spurs

With a career-high 16.5 points to go with 6.1 rebounds, Keldon Johnson has raised himself above the rest of the Spurs’ young core. An underrated part of his game is his 40.5% shooting from deep, which is good for top-25 in the league. After years with bigs such as Tim Duncan and David Robinson, Johnson gives them a different look with quality size and guard skills. Dejounte Murray has blossomed into an All-Star caliber player, but he can’t carry them to the playoffs alone. That’s where Johnson will have to step up and be his running mate.

The Spurs are a game back from the 10th and final play-in spot in the West playoff picture. With how the Lakers and Pelicans have played this season, they are still very much in the hunt. If they want to steal a spot, Johnson will have to be the clear No. 2 option for Gregg Popovich.

Malik Monk – Los Angeles Lakers

As previously stated, the Lakers are a mess. James is having to drag that roster to the play-in while dealing with no on-floor chemistry with Russell Westbrook and no consistent appearances from Davis. Of all the mixing and matching on the Lakers roster, one of the better fits for them has been Malik Monk. With a career-high 13.1 points on 46.8% shooting, Monk has revived his career this season.

James needs as much shooting around him as possible for his teams to be successful. The problem is the Lakers are in the bottom half of the league in three-point makes, attempts and percentage. As the team’s leading three-point shooter pre-DJ Augustin, Monk will have to play a similar role to what J.R. Smith did for James for Cleveland or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope did early in James’ time with L.A. Monk has started to ramp up for the postseason with double-figure scoring in 11 of LA’s 13 games during the month of March. It may not matter if the top of the Lakers roster can’t put it together, but a 20-plus point performance from an X-Factor like Monk in a play-in game isn’t out of the question.

Rajon Rondo – Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers traded for Rondo earlier this season after injuries to Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio thinned their guard rotation. In 17 games for the Cavaliers, he’s been solid with 6.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds a game. The only issue for him is he has now missed 20 of the 37 games of his stint as a Cavalier. That’s not much of a guarantee for someone who was brought in to be insurance.

Cleveland is a great spot for Rondo to thrive. There’s a lot of opportunity in the backcourt, the roster needs his playoff experience, and there are a lot of options to be a distributor for. It won’t matter, though, if he’s unavailable. While he’s become an All-Star, Darius Garland can’t shoulder the backcourt duties alone in his first playoff appearance. Rondo will need to get healthy and tap into his “Playoff Rondo” expertise to be an X-Factor and help Cleveland get out of the first round.

Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers

Maxey seemed to be in line to pay the highest price of the James Harden trade. Harden and Embiid are two of the highest usage players in the league, which hinted at a smaller role for Maxey going forward. Instead, he’s flourished since the trade at 19.1 points per game since Harden’s arrival. He’s become the third option behind their dynamic duo with the team posting a 7-0 record since the All-Star Break when he’s scored 20 or more points. That stretch was highlighted by a clutch 28-point game in a win against the top-seeded Miami Heat without either of Philly’s stars available.

After a decent showing in the 76ers playoff run last season, Maxey will have a much larger load to shoulder in his second run as their X-Factor. A lot of pressure will be on Harden and Embiid to go deep into the NBA Playoffs. Although Tobias Harris is a solid third option, Maxey might be their best chance at pushing through to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond.