Trial by fire, the 10 best debuts of the NBA playoffs.
The NBA is an exclusive club but players are not truly baptised into the league until they brave the high intensity seas on the NBA’s postseason. Some players have to wait a long time for the opportunity, other are tossed in immediately, the sink or swim technique can be effective, or disastrous.
While no debut from the current NBA playoffs made the list, Hassan Whiteside and Andre Drummond featured above, did both have their inaugural bout. Drummond, who had a lackluster first appearance in the NBA playoffs, shot 6-for-14 and watched his Detroit Pistons fall to the Cleveland Cavaliers, though he did still have a double-double, posting 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Whiteside hit 9-of-11 shots, scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and most importantly helped lead the Miami Heat to a loud 32 point win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Last season we watched as Kyrie Irving scored 30 points in his NBA playoff debut. The New Orleans Pelicans, while hopelessly out-gunned against the eventual champions, did get to witness superstar Anthony Davis score 35 points in his playoff debut. Neither of those two outings made this list.
There have been so many great moments come the second season, so many magical shots to win series, so many great individual games in the later rounds. But it’s the early games, the first games, and the first steps that are oft forgotten. Thanks to basketball-reference.com for the statistics.
And here are your 10 best NBA debuts:
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