The NBA All-Star Weekend was a welcome break for the NBA community because most teams have played at least 57 games, or 70% percent of the schedule. The Celebrity All-Star Game was fun with DK Metcalf showing his athleticism could translate from the NFL to the NBA. On Saturday Night, Damion Lillard reminded the world he is a special 3-point shooter while an unsung hero from the G-League named Mac McClung saved the dunk contest with his high-flying display. On Sunday, Jayson Tatum debuted his signature shoes by scoring 55 points to break the All-Star Game record and grab the MVP award. However, as the dust settles from the festivities, the reality of the playoffs looms, and some players will face more pressure than others to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. In this article, we will discuss the top 5 players facing the pressure to win.
5. Jayson Tatum-Tatum is in the MVP discussion because he is averaging 30.6pts, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season. Tatum has led the Celtics to a 42-17 which is the best record at All-Star Break, and the former Duke product has elevated his play this season. However, the pressure is on Tatum to win a Championship because he struggled in the NBA Finals last season to average only 21.5 points, 37% from the field, and 66% from the free throw line. The poor display could have been due to burnout from the high volume of minutes logged during the playoff run, but his critics will not accept that excuse. The narrative from the outside world is that he choked, and Tatum has played this season a mission to silence the doubters. However, he is only number 5 on this list because he is only 24 years old. Tatum may have youth on his side, but winning your first championship should be a hurdle that any young superstar will want to put quickly in the rearview mirror. Tatum can take inspiration from Steph Curry last year won the All-Star MVP after a dazzling shooting display and then won Finals MVP in winning the chip. So for Tatum, it may all be coming together for a memorable season.
4. Nikola Jokic-the Joker is the reigning back-to-back MVP which is an incredible feat in the NBA. This season, some analysts consider his candidacy to be even more impressive because he is averaging a triple-double with 24.7pts, 11.5 rebounds, and 10.1 assists. However, the team has struggled in the playoffs making the Western Conference Finals once during his NBA career at the 2020 Orlando bubble. Nuggets fans will cite injuries to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr as the reason for the past letdowns. This season, the Nuggets have a healthy five-game lead over the Grizzlies for the home court and a game behind the Celtics for the best record overall. Murray and Porter Jr are healthy, and playing on their home court in the altitude will be an advantage to the team. There may never be a better opportunity to win a championship than to get it done this season for Jokic.
3. Paul George- PG-13 is an 8-time All-Star Player, 11 All-League Winner, and won the Most Improved Player Award in the 2012-13 season. This season, George has enjoyed an All-Star season averaging 23.3 points and 5.3 assists which is more than his career average of 20.6pts and 3.7 assists to go along with 6.1 rebounds. However, George has enjoyed a rollercoaster playoff career in the NBA. George struggled against the Nuggets in the bubble when the Clippers had a 3-2 lead and were favored to win the matchup and face the Lakers. Paul rebounded in 2021, to galvanize his team and break through to their first Western Conference Finals against the Suns. The pressure is on Paul George because his superstar partner, Kawhi Leonard, has two chips already, and time may be running out for him at age 32. The superstar duo, incredible depth, and impressive coaching from Ty Lue make this a grand opportunity to land the Clippers their first championship in franchise history.
2. James Harden- Harden is playing great basketball in the city of brotherly love averaging 21.4pts, 6.2 rebounds, and 10.8 assists. The stats are remarkable because he is outplaying his career average in rebounds by 0.6 and 3.8 in assists. Harden is a 10-time All-Star, 2011-12 sixth man of the year, and the MVP trophy in 2017-18. However, his playoff struggles are well-documented because he could never get past the Warriors while with the Rockets. The stint in Brooklyn was disastrous due to injuries and a lack of cohesion among the superstars. James is so desperate to win a championship that it led him to give the Sixers a discount to re-sign with the team, and it allowed the Sixers to sign P.J. Tucker. The Sixers have surged up to third in the East, but the pressure is on Harden to win a championship because, at age 33, time is running out. Also, James has the ability to opt out of his current deal, and an early exit in the postseason could be a deal breaker.
1. Chris Paul-Paul is considered one of the best point guards of this generation because of his ability to dictate the pace and run the offense. Paul is a 12-time All-Star, has 21 All-league awards, and was named to the 75th-anniversary team. However, the missing credential from his resume is NBA Champion. After losing the 2021 NBA Finals to the Bucks many felt that this was CP3’s last opportunity to win a ring. However, in the early morning of February 9, 2023, a seismic shift shook the NBA world when news emerged that the Nets and the Suns had agreed on a trade of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, a 2028 pick swap for Kevin Durant and TJ Warren. The Suns have two dynamic scorers in Durant and Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton is a dynamic big man in the paint. At age 37 and with his injury history, Paul must see this postseason as a golden opportunity to win it all for the first time and cap a brilliant career.