In honor of the random, unexpected role players who step up at this time of year, here are 10 X-factors who came out of nowhere in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
It takes superstars, smart head coaches and some injury luck to win NBA championships. It also takes defense, clutch performances and teamwork to get the job done.
But aside from all the glamorous matchups and late-game execution that always takes the spotlight, one of the best part of the playoffs is the unexpected role players stepping up to swing a series, and the 2017 NBA Playoffs have been no different.
Though we’re only a couple of weeks into the postseason, we’ve seen plenty of unheralded players rise to the occasion with big-time performances that have directly influenced the outcome of pivotal playoff games.
The NBA is a superstar-driven league, and everyone can enjoy the biggest names in the association stringing together unforgettable prime-time performances. But watching a role player step up and take over a playoff game is a unique sensation too, and one that shouldn’t be overlooked even as we creep toward the conference semifinals.
From older, washed up veterans to younger role players on the rise, anyone can have an impact with the slightest of game-to-game adjustments. In that spirit, it’s time to take a look at 10 random, unexpected X-factors who have stepped up out of nowhere during the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.