2023 NBA Playoffs: 5 Players Still Standing Under Most Pressure to Win Title

• There are several players still standing in the 2023 NBA playoffs under the most pressure to win a title
• Chris Paul and Nikola Jokic are the usual suspects
• Paul has a stellar resume and is a legendary point guard, while Jokic is a two-time MVP

The 2023 NBA playoffs are reaching the most critical stage. Teams who've made the second round have seen their mettle getting tested. Since they've won multiple NBA championships, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant have little left to prove.

Therefore, a few players are under the most pressure to win the NBA title for different reasons. Sports Brief has looked at some of them.

Winning the NBA championship is the ultimate goal for any player in the league. Some icons like, Charles Barkley, and Allen Iverson never won a title, which has somewhat affected their legacy.

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Superstars like Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jo9kic, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Devin Booker Giannis Antetokounmpo are expected to win the title every year. But who needs to win it more this year?

Top 5 players under the most pressure to win NBA title

5. Jayson Tatum

The Boston Celtics superstar is only 24 years old but has arguably the best team in the playoffs. He led them to the 2022 NBA Finals, but they fell short, losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games. He averaged 30.1 points in the regular season but has produced subpar performances in the postseason.

Tatum has never missed the playoffs in his career. In 10 playoff games this season, he averages 26 points per game on 46% shooting from the field. Although he has a few more years to get to more NBA Finals, this year seems like the perfect moment for him and the Celtics two win it, per NY Times. It is hard to predict how the NBA will be in the next few seasons; therefore, with his stature as a superstar, he will be expected to go all the way.

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4. Joel Embiid

The newly crowned MVP will undoubtedly be expected to lead the Philadelphia 76ers, one of the NBA's most storied franchises, to the NBA Finals this season. The Sixers haven't made it out of the East since 2001. The last time they won an NBA championship was in 1983.

The Cameroonian has never advanced past the conference semifinals. In his five last playoff appearances, he's been eliminated in the second round four times and the first round once, per the Athletic. As a superstar in the league now, most of the blame will fall on him. If they lose to the Celtics in the second round again, there will be a lot of conversations about him and his ability to lead the team to the title.

3. James Harden

Harden is indeed a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He's never missed the playoffs in his career and has gotten to the NBA Finals once, in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is a 10-time All-Star, a three-time scoring champ, and a former MVP, per CBS Sports; therefore, only an NBA championship is missing from his excellent CV. He has a reputation for not turning up in the postseason.

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However, in this season's second round against the Celtics, he has had two 40-point games. Still, he was poor in Games 2 and 3. The pressure is on the 33-year-old to win a ring to cement an already solid legacy in the NBA.

2. Chris Paul

Chris Paul recently turned 38 and has a Hall of Fame resume. The only thing missing is the NBA title. Paul and the Phoenix Suns made the Finals in 2021 but were stunned by the Dallas Mavericks in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals last season.

This season, they have Kevin Durant, who has won two titles. Paul is injured and facing the Denver Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic. Injuries have stopped Paul from making an impact in the last few seasons. If the Suns get to the conference finals and Paul recovers from the hamstring injury, he won't have excuses if they lose again, per Deadspin.

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1. Nikola Jokic

Jokic is a two-time MVP meaning he is under the most pressure to win this season. His Nuggets team has good depth and experience. His 53-point display in Game 4 versus the Suns showed how good he can be against elite players like Durant and Devin Booker.

He lost in the first round last season to eventual champions Golden State Warriors. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all time. The Serbian has won at least one playoff series in three of his four postseason appearances, per Sporting News.

This season he led the Nuggets to the No. 1 seed in the West, meaning many will expect at least a finals appearance.

Chris Paul wants an NBA title

Sports Brief earlier reported on Chris Paul saying no one wants to win the NBA championship more than him.

The veteran recently became the only player in NBA history to record at least 20,000 career points and 11,000 assists. 

He already has 11 NBA All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA team appearances, and nine NBA All-Defensive team honors. A title would cement a Hall of Fame career.