2024 NBA Playoffs: Damian Lillard, James Harden and others among players under most postseason pressure

The 2024 NBA postseason kicks off Tuesday night with the Western Conference play-in games (Lakers at New Orleans, followed by Golden State at Sacramento). The play-in tournament will conclude Friday, and the playoffs will officially begin on Sunday.

Then it’s buckle-up time because this figures to be a wild playoff ride. I could make a case for as many as 10 teams who can look in the mirror and honestly tell themselves they have a shot, if things break right, at making the Finals. With that opportunity comes the pressure to seize the moment.

That pressure falls disproportionately on the shoulders of the best players. Below I have listed six specific players whom I feel are under the most pressure to not just perform this postseason, but carry their teams deep into the playoffs. It’s not always fair, this extra pressure and the scrutiny that comes with it. But that’s the superstar job description.

Now, some have already proved themselves on the biggest stage. Anything that Stephen Curry or LeBron James achieves, for example, is gravy. Nikola Jokic is a two-time MVP and a champion. Same goes for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kawhi Leonard has a ring. Luka Doncic is so great and still so young that nobody with a functional brain is going to question the validity of his status.