The four highest scorers from the NBA’s opening-day playoff games were all 23 years old or younger.
Donovan Mitchell’s 57 points are the most in the playoffs since Michael Jordan’s 63 in 1986. Luka Doncic’s 42 points were the most by anyone in a playoff debut and second among 21-year-olds to LeBron James’ 45 in 2006. Jamal Murray’s 36 points and Jayson Tatum’s 32 were career highs in burgeoning playoff careers.
It often takes an entire postseason to produce one or two 23-and-under 32-point scorers. We have gone years without anyone making the list.