As the NBA regular season winds down this Sunday, the playoff picture is nearly set. While most postseason fates are sealed, a final bit of drama remains in the Eastern Conference, where a tight race could see teams jump from the play-in tournament into a guaranteed top-six playoff spot.

Amidst this closing stretch, seven former Ohio State Buckeyes are making their mark on NBA rosters. Three of these alumni are headed for the bright lights of the postseason, showcasing the talent pipeline from Columbus to the professional stage. For the other four, whose teams occupy the league's lower ranks, there's a silver lining: increased playing time and valuable development opportunities they might not have seen on contending squads.

With the playoffs on the horizon, let's check in on how these Buckeyes have fared this season and what lies ahead for those in the championship chase.

For veteran guard Mike Conley Jr., it's been a season of resilience. Despite averaging a career-low 18.2 minutes per game, his journey took a dramatic turn in February. After a whirlwind series of trades involving Chicago and Charlotte, Conley found himself back with the Minnesota Timberwolves by mid-month. Now, he's peaking at the perfect time. With Minnesota poised to enter the Western Conference playoffs as a likely sixth seed, Conley's experience and recent uptick in form—including multiple double-digit scoring games in April—could be a vital X-factor for the Timberwolves' playoff run.