5 NBA Players Staying Cool Under Pressure
Pressure gets to all of us. In sports, the level of pressure some of the top athletes are faced with is staggering.
Staying cool under that pressure is what makes certain players great. We know all of the great things Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan have done. Those guys were able to put their respective franchises on their backs and carry them out of the darkness.
In today's league, there's a new group of ballers who have embraced that pressure and helped turn their clubs around.
The barometer for this slideshow goes like this: Each guy on this list has developed into a noteworthy player despite having the spotlight shined directly on him. They've also turned around the misfortunes of their teams in the process.
So here goes nothing. Without further ado, let's all check out five NBA players who have managed to stay cool under pressure this season.
Anthony Davis
1 of 5
When you're selected No. 1 overall in the draft, you're automatically expected to do big things.
Some guys can't handle that responsibility—see Kwame Brown—while others flourish. New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis fits into that second category.
In the course of three seasons, he's evolved into one of the league's best players. Coming out of Kentucky, you knew Davis was going to be an elite shot-blocker and defender. But what we didn't comprehend was how good of an offensive threat he would become.
This season, Davis has put it all together. His 24.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game are MVP-caliber numbers. His impressive play on the court also transpires over in the advanced statistics world.
By ESPN's Hollinger metrics, Davis is currently the No. 1-ranked player in the NBA when it comes to player efficiency. His 31.38 PER rating is beyond impressive.
Perhaps Davis' most impressive advanced statistic comes by way of the estimated wins added category. In that respect, Davis is worth 13.1 wins added. That's the most of any player in the league at this point in time.
Davis' Pelicans are only 20-20 on the season, but the way he's been playing, the organization's future is bright.
Who knew staying cool under pressure and living up to the hype would turn out to be Davis' thing?
Jeff Teague
2 of 5
The Atlanta Hawks have become the surprise team of the 2014-15 season so far. With a 33-8 record, the Hawks are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and right now they have the most wins of any team in the basketball.
Near flawless execution on both sides of the court and an offense that's found a groove have turned the Hawks into one of the NBA's elite teams.
There isn't a leader per se, but point guard Jeff Teague has been a revelation. Writing about Atlanta's current trend of dominance, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report spoke about Teague:
"Jeff Teague used to be a nice prospect with potential. But nobody truly believed he'd lift himself out of the crowded second tier of NBA point guards. He has, with a player efficiency rating of 23.1 that ranks 10th in the league, per Basketball-Reference.com."
His numbers aren't on the same level as Stephen Curry or John Wall, but the job Teague's done leading the Hawks can't be overlooked.
Scoring 17.4 points and dishing out 7.4 assists per game, he's quickly turned into the engine of the best team in basketball.
Like we mentioned in the intro slide, staying cool under pressure is all about transcending your game or living up to the hype. Teague has done both so far during the 2014-15 NBA season.
James Harden
3 of 5
When James Harden was traded from Oklahoma City to Houston, he was given the chance to become a superstar.
Minus the shadows of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Harden became the franchise player for the Rockets in 2012. A few seasons later, Harden has transformed from the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year to a hot MVP candidate on a Rockets team that's looked good all season.
The Hollinger index has also been kind to the offensive guard. Harden's 11.9 estimated wins added are huge. That number is good enough for second in the NBA and showcases his true value to this club.
From a PER rate, he's also been sensational. The 26.68 mark he's manufactured this season ranks him fifth in the league.
A player of Harden's stature has a lot of pressure to deal with. He's been roasted for his "lack" of defense, but this year he's ascended from a fringe superstar to a genuine one.
The Rockets are in good hands with James leading the charge. He can't be stopped on offense—scoring 26.6 points per game—and the 6.7 assists he's handing out aren't too shabby, either.
Stephen Curry
4 of 5
There was a lot of hype surrounding the Golden State Warriors entering this season. With young players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes seemingly getting better with each passing game, first-year head coach Steve Kerr's club was trying to go out and elevate itself to the next level.
Thanks to the play of Curry, that leap has happened—and it's happened quickly.
Curry is one of the top guards in basketball. He's another MVP candidate who's become nearly unstoppable on the floor.
Do you remember when he was just a kid at Davidson College? A kid who could sprinkle threes and make timely shots? Well, that scrawny kid has turned into a man—a man who's also a complete, radiant basketball player.
Currently, he's putting up fantastic numbers. Curry's 23.3 points, eight assists and 4.9 rebounds per game have sparked the Warriors. The club's 32-6 record has created a .842 winning percentage. That's tops in the NBA.
What makes Curry so good is his ambition. He isn't afraid to take shots or create space for his teammates to score. When you play with confidence and no fear, you can achieve great things.
Just how valuable is he to his club? Again, filtering the Hollinger statistics, his 10.5 estimated wins added is third-best in the league.
There may be not player quite as entertaining as Curry. He's not only turned the Warriors into a championship contender, he's done it with style and grace.
The phrase "staying cool under pressure" should really be accompanied by a picture of the 26-year-old.
Damian Lillard
5 of 5
We have to start calling Damian Lillard "Young Ice Water." The man hits big shot after big shot and does it with ease.
Lillard's Portland Trail Blazers are another young team looking to taste the sweetness that is an NBA title. Along with LaMarcus Aldridge, Lillard has turned the Blazers into a serious contender this season.
His 22.1 points, 6.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game are big. Those totals have made Lillard worth nine estimated wins added, according to the Hollinger statistics.
No. 0 is a gamer. His ability to take over at any given time is rare. It's something all of the greats have been able to do over their careers.
This whole changing of the guard in the NBA is refreshing to watch. Seeing guys like Stephen Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis and Lillard find their form is why we enjoy this sport so much.
We already know that superstars like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James are going to perform admirably. But it's the younger guys like Lillard who have stepped up, stayed cool under pressure and made this NBA season a special one.
Unless noted otherwise, all game scores, stats and information come courtesy of ESPN.com.
