The 2026 NBA playoffs quickly became a battle of attrition. The number of significant injuries that loom over the start of the league’s four conference semifinals are proof enough.
It’s not clear yet when NBA star Jalen Williams will return from injury after missing games in the Thunder’s first-round series. Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, hopes to get back on the floor for the Timberwolves sooner rather than later following a hyperextension and bone bruise on his left knee that kept him out of Minnesota‘s final two games of their series against the Nuggets.
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Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers has yet to play in the postseason due to a hamstring ailment. His teammate, Austin Reaves, only just came back. Same goes for the oft-injured Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The injury intrigue adds to the drama with only eight teams left in pursuit of an NBA championship. Some of the league’s marquee names and role players under the spotlight when the second round of the playoffs begins on Monday, May 4.
Here’s one star player and one role player from each remaining team whose performance (or availability) could swing their team’s fortunes during the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs:
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.
See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.
Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The Nike Lebron XXIII shoes worn by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Houston Rockets in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, at Crypto.com Arena.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
Shoes worn by Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 18: The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style
The shoes of Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks are seen during the third quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.
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NBA playoffs 2026: Conference semifinals players to watch
USA TODAY Sports tabbed one star player and one role player from each team remaining in the 2026 NBA playoffs whose contributions could swing their respective teams’ conference semifinals series.
Luka Doncic: The availability and effectiveness of the Lakers’ star is likely the key to them being competitive in the series. Doncic hasn’t played in a game since injuring his hamstring in an April 2 game against the Thunder.
Jalen Williams: The Thunder breezed past the Phoenix Suns in the first round despite a hamstring injury to Williams. His status for the start of this series remains uncertain.
Marcus Smart: Assuming Austin Reaves regains his 3-point stroke, Smart’s two-way presence looms large. He could be a primary defender on Shai Gilgeious-Alexander and called upon to hit 3-pointers in crunch time.
Alex Caruso: He’s a defensive weapon off the bench for the Thunder with a history of raising his level of play in the postseason. He can be deployed on Doncic or Reaves depending on the situation.
Anthony Edwards: When Edwards returns from the knee injury he suffered during the first round, and how limited he is upon getting back on the court, looms over the entire series.
Victor Wembanyama: The Spurs only loss in the first round came in Game 3 when Wembanyama sat out due to concussion protocol.
Rudy Gobert: His defense on Nikola Jokic helped spur the Timberwolves to a first-round upset of the Denver Nuggets. Now Gobert is tasked with making life more difficult on Wembanyama, his countryman from France.
Dylan Harper: No Spurs player had a better NET rating than Harper during their first-round series against Portland.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and Ben Stiller attend Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, and Ben Stiller attend Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2026 in New York City.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller reacts during the second quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Timothee Chalamet cheers on the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 29. The Knicks won to extend the series.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
On May 29, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner share a kiss during Game 5 between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Timothee Chalamet’s boots (shown in a close-up) created some buzz. Here he’s shown at Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on May 21.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
In Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller pose for a portrait prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
On May 23, Timothee Chalamet reacts in the first half between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks during the Eastern Conference Finals.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
During Game 5 in the Eastern Conference series between the Knicks and Cetlics, Timothee Chalamet sits courtside.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
On May 12 in New York, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner sit court-side during Game 4 of the series between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
On May 12, Kendall Jenner (C), Kylie Jenner (R) and Timothee Chalamet celebrate during Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference second round.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Timothee Chalamet (right) celebrates with Bad Bunny during the fourth quarter of Game 6 in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 16.
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12 photos show Timothee Chalamet’s Knicks superfandom
Ben Stiller (left to right) and Christine Taylor sit courtside next to Michael J. Fox and his wife Tracy Pollan and Timothee Chalamet during Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Jalen Brunson: The Knicks series against the Hawks swung in Game 5 when Brunson produced a 39-point gem, and he’s two years removed from averaging 35.5 points and nine assists in a playoff series win.
Mikal Bridges: He was mostly a non-factor in the first round, but came alive for 24 points in a Game 6 blowout over the Hawks. Bridges should factor heavily in the Knicks’ strategy for slowing down Maxey.
VJ Edgecombe: The 76ers’ rookie served as a barometer for Philadelphia in the first round. He shot 50% from the field (including 45% from 3-point range) in the team’s four wins. He shot 30.2% (and went 0-for-16 from 3-point range) in three losses to Boston.
Jalen Duren: The Pistons struggled to get past the Magic in the first round, in part, because Duren hardly resembled the player who blossomed into a dominating big man this season. Maybe a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double in Game 7 was a good sign because the Cavaliers won’t be as forgiving as the Magic if Duren falters again.
Donovan Mitchell: The Cavaliers needed a Game 7 to beat the Raptors because Mitchell shot 38.8% from the field and less than 28% from 3-point range over the final five games of the series. Cleveland will need his shot-making against Detroit’s rugged defense.
Daniss Jenkins: Cade Cunningham needs more help on offense than Tobias Harris for the Pistons to win this series, and Jenkins showed in Game 7 by making four of his five 3-pointers against the Magic that he could be the role player to provide it.
Jarrett Allen: His third-quarter outburst in Game 7 pushed Cleveland past Toronto. The Pistons might not have the firepower inside to combat both Evan Mobley and an inspired Allen.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs second round players to watch for every team, series