Playoff pressure index: 10 NBA figures with most to prove

The playoffs are filled with pressure-packed moments. It's where legacies are solidified, reputations are tarnished, and jobs are on the line. Here are the 10 people across the NBA under the most pressure entering the postseason, ranked in ascending order.

The pressure isn't on Gordon; it's on his hamstrings. Although he isn't Denver's best player, his health may decide the team's fate. The 30-year-old missed over half the season with a lingering hamstring injury, the same issue that limited him in Game 7 of the Nuggets' second-round loss to the Thunder last year. Denver scores 10 more points per 100 possessions when Gordon is on the floor, and its 21st-ranked defense jumps to fifth.

A player making a top-40 salary is expected to perform like one in the playoffs. Fox is averaging the fewest points and minutes of his career, though that's more about his role than a sign of regression. He's taken a back seat to the Spurs' young talent, but San Antonio will rely on the former Clutch Player of the Year for late-game offensive creation. Fox is the only one of the Spurs' top seven scorers with playoff experience.

The only substantial change from last year's Knicks team is on the sideline, where Brown replaced Tom Thibodeau, who led New York to its first conference finals since 2000. One of the criticisms surrounding Thibs was his reluctance to adjust the starting lineup, even as it posted a minus-6.2 net rating in the playoffs. Brown has also refused to tinker with the lineup despite its regular-season net rating being worse than last year's.

New York possesses the talent and tools to win the East, which is why it brought in a new voice. Thibodeau's group defeated the Celtics in the second round last season; Brown will be expected to do the same. Brown's seat won't be warm after his first campaign, but the spotlight will shift in his direction if the Knicks fall short of the conference finals.

Durant has won just two playoff series since leaving Golden State in 2019. While he's dealt with difficult team circumstances in Brooklyn and Phoenix, he's often created the drama and disconnect that tends to follow him. Houston's top scorer may not be the reason for a playoff exit, especially with the team not having a true point guard, but he was brought in to fix the Rockets' clutch offense. Instead, it has slipped from 18th to 20th. Each early exit is another missed opportunity to strengthen his legacy.

Considering the Cavaliers have the NBA's largest payroll, a fourth straight season for this group without a conference finals appearance won't cut it. Altman, the team's president of basketball operations, likely wouldn't be ousted, but he would face pressure to institute major changes.

Donovan Mitchell isn't primarily to blame for Cleveland's playoff shortcomings. After this year's midseason backcourt shake-up, a frontcourt trade involving Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley (likely the former) could be next, particularly if the Cavs are once again physically outmatched, as they have been in previous postseasons.

Cunningham has reached a new tier after leading the Pistons to 60 wins and the East's top seed. Now, he faces enormous responsibility. Cunningham's playoff debut against the Knicks last year was uneven. Although he averaged 25 points in the six-game series, he shot 42% from the field and 18% from three. While that performance can largely be attributed to a lack of experience, the 24-year-old will be expected to deliver this time around. The East is wide open, and Cunningham is relied upon for offensive creation more than any other star in the conference.

Udoka has yet to win a playoff series through his first two seasons in Houston. He's built a tough identity grounded in defense and rebounding. However, he's not an offensive wizard, as evidenced by the Rockets' dysfunctional late-game offense.

Udoka's management of Reed Sheppard is particularly puzzling; he often benches the Kentucky product, one of the team's best shooters, in clutch situations. He also played the 37-year-old Durant the fourth-most minutes in the league. With the Rockets being a heavy favorite against the depleted Lakers, anything short of a first-round win could result in organizational changes.

The Magic took the crown for the most disappointing season. While injuries contributed to their demise, the Banchero-Franz Wagner pairing simply hasn't worked. Assuming there's an early exit ahead, the duo will have failed to win a playoff series in four seasons together, making an offseason split possible. Who's worth keeping is debatable, but the numbers are telling: For the second straight season, Orlando has a negative net rating with Banchero on the court and a positive one when he sits.

What was the Cavaliers' solution to their backcourt problems? Trading Darius Garland for Harden, the most notorious playoff no-show of his era. Harden represents an upgrade and is no longer the centerpiece he was in Houston, but he's played alongside other superstars in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Here's what happened in those situations.

• 2025: Scored 11 and seven points, respectively, in Games 5 and 7 of the first round for the Clippers, with fewer than 10 shots each game.
• 2024: Tallied 23 total points in the final two games of L.A.'s first-round series while shooting 25% from the field
• 2023: With Philly up 3-2 over Boston in the East semis, Harden scored a combined 22 points in Games 6 and 7 on 26% shooting
• 2022: Put up 14 points in Game 5 and 11 in an elimination Game 6 for the 76ers in the East semis

Harden's a former MVP and one of the greatest scorers ever, but his legacy is haunted by dreadful playoff performances. This postseason offers another chance at redemption with a clear path to his first conference finals since 2018.

When Knicks owner James Dolan declared, "Getting to the Finals, we absolutely have to do," in January, it signaled that major personnel changes are likely imminent if that benchmark isn't reached, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially being available this summer.

Towns usually receives the brunt of the criticism when New York unravels. Fair or not, he's polarizing, and his playoff volatility fuels it. The six-time All-Star played well as a scorer last postseason, but questionable defense, boneheaded turnovers, inexplicable fouls, and passivity in key moments have marred his decade-plus run in the NBA.

This postseason is a proving ground for Towns to showcase his consistency and maturity. The Knicks' championship hopes, and his future in New York, depend on it.

Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more basketball coverage.