As the NBA season approaches, the excitement builds, and with it, the pressure to perform. After a summer of blockbuster trades and signings, several teams and players enter the 2024-25 season with lofty expectations. Here’s a breakdown of the teams and players under the most pressure to deliver.
**Title or Bust**
Joel Embiid and Damian Lillard are the two players with the most pressure to win a championship. Embiid, now in his ninth year, has yet to make an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. With a superteam surrounding him, the narrative is that the Sixers’ depth is the best it’s ever been, and it’s time for Embiid to deliver. Lillard, meanwhile, is not getting any younger, and the Bucks’ trade for him was made with one goal in mind: winning a title. With a much-improved second unit, the pressure is on Lillard to prove he can lead his team to the promised land.
**Prove Your Team Is For Real**
This group includes players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, Tyrese Haliburton, and Ja Morant. While winning a title would be great, the pressure on these players is to prove their teams are legitimate contenders. They’ve had a taste of success, but now it’s time to show it wasn’t a fluke. For players like Luka, it’s about learning from past experiences and leading his team to the top of the mountain.
**Win Another Ring**
Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kevin Durant are all players who have won championships, but the pressure is still on to repeat. Jokic and the Nuggets need to bounce back from a disappointing playoff exit, while Tatum and Brown must prove they can lead their team to another title. Durant, meanwhile, is under pressure to deliver a championship to the Suns in what could be his last chance at a ring.
**Franchise Players**
Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga are two players who need to take their games to the next level. The Warriors’ future depends on Podziemski becoming an All-Star caliber player, while Kuminga needs to show he can be the franchise player the Warriors drafted him to be.
**Shit or Get Off the Pot**
The Kings, Pelicans, and Heat are all teams that need to either make a deep playoff run or blow it up and rebuild. They’ve had talented rosters, but it’s time to put up or shut up. The pressure is on these teams to finally break through and make some noise in the playoffs.
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