The 10 NBA Players I’d Trust Most in Game 7

Game 7 is different.

Regular-season numbers don’t matter nearly as much. Awards don’t matter. Reputation doesn’t matter. When an entire season comes down to 48 minutes, there’s nowhere to hide.

That’s what makes ranking the NBA players I’d trust most in a Game 7 so difficult.

This isn’t necessarily a list of the 10 best players in basketball. It’s about one night, one game and one chance to keep the season alive. I’m looking for players who can create offense when everything gets tight, handle pressure and still impact the game when their shot isn’t falling.

If I needed to win one Game 7 right now, these are the 10 players I’d want most.

10. Jalen Brunson

Brunson has become exactly the type of player I’d want in this situation.

He wants the ball, isn’t afraid of difficult shots and can create offense late in games when defenses know exactly what’s coming. That’s incredibly valuable in the playoffs, where easy possessions disappear.

There are bigger and more naturally gifted players in the league, but Brunson’s confidence earns him a spot.

9. Anthony Edwards

Edwards is still building his postseason résumé, but there’s something about his mentality that fits Game 7 basketball.

He doesn’t seem interested in hiding from the moment.

His athleticism gives him the ability to attack when defenses tighten up, and he’s capable of completely changing a game when he gets going.

He’s young enough that putting him this high might be controversial. I’d still trust him.

8. Jayson Tatum

Tatum has been criticized enough that people sometimes forget how accomplished he already is.

He’s capable of scoring from basically anywhere, gives you size on both ends and has played in plenty of massive postseason games.

Would I trust him above everybody else?

No.

Would I be uncomfortable entering a Game 7 with Tatum as my best player?

Absolutely not.

7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA’s game feels designed for high-pressure basketball.

He doesn’t need everything to become chaotic to dominate. He can control pace, get to his spots and consistently create quality possessions.

That matters when a Game 7 slows down and every possession becomes important.

He’s already established himself among basketball’s elite, and I’d have no problem putting the ball in his hands.

6. Luka Dončić

There aren’t many players I’d rather have controlling an offense when everything is on the line.

Luka can dictate the pace, hunt mismatches and create something late in the shot clock when a possession appears completely dead.

Defenses can throw different looks at him, and he’s still capable of finding an answer.

There are fair questions about other parts of his game, but if I need somebody to generate offense in the fourth quarter of Game 7, Luka is near the top of the list.

5. LeBron James

Yes, age matters.

But we’re talking about one game.

That’s exactly why LeBron remains this high.

His experience in high-pressure situations is almost impossible to match, and his ability to understand what a defense is trying to do remains one of his greatest strengths.

I wouldn’t take him over several younger stars for an entire season anymore.

For one night with everything on the line?

That’s a completely different conversation.

4. Nikola Jokić

There might not be another player I’d trust more to make the correct decision possession after possession.

That’s what makes Jokić terrifying.

He doesn’t necessarily need to score 45 to control a game. Double him and he can find the open teammate. Play him straight up and he can punish the matchup himself.

Game 7 basketball is about finding solutions.

Jokić almost always seems to have one.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Sometimes Game 7 doesn’t need to be complicated.

Give the ball to one of the most physically dominant players in basketball and make the other team figure out how to stop him.

That’s Giannis.

He can affect the game through scoring, rebounding, transition offense and defense. Even if everything isn’t working perfectly offensively, he can still leave fingerprints all over the game.

That’s exactly what I want when the season is at stake.

2. Stephen Curry

How could he not be near the top?

Curry can change an entire Game 7 without even touching the basketball. His shooting forces defenses to react differently from the moment he crosses half court.

And when he does get going, a close game can become completely different within a few possessions.

We’ve seen him perform on basketball’s biggest stages for years.

If my season depends on one game, I’m trusting Steph.

1. Kevin Durant

This is where the arguments begin.

At this stage of his career, Durant might not be everyone’s choice at No. 1.

He’s mine.

For one game, I still trust the combination of size, shooting and shot creation more than almost anybody. When defenses tighten and you’re forced to create against great individual coverage, having someone who can simply rise over the defender becomes incredibly valuable.

I’m not asking Durant to carry my franchise for the next five years.

I’m asking him to win one basketball game.

And that’s why he’s my choice.

The Hardest Part Is Who Didn’t Make It

That’s what makes a list like this fun.

There are stars missing who plenty of fans would put comfortably inside their top 10. Some people will think Curry should be No. 1. Others will argue Jokić is obviously the safest choice. Some won’t even have Durant in their top five.

That’s exactly why Game 7 debates are different from normal player rankings.

I’m not asking who had the best regular season.

I’m asking one question:

Your team’s entire season comes down to one game. Who do you trust?

My 10 are Brunson, Edwards, Tatum, Gilgeous-Alexander, Dončić, LeBron, Jokić, Giannis, Curry and Durant.

Now make your own list.

Who should be No. 1—and which player did I completely disrespect by leaving out?