The 2026-27 NBA season will bring a lot of pressure for some of the league’s biggest names. With teams chasing the championship and making important decisions, some people will have much more at stake than others.

A recent Deadspin report by Dave Del Grande named five NBA figures who could face the most pressure this season. 

Five NBA figures facing major pressure in 2026-27

Not just the players like LeBron James; there are coaches like Mitch Johnson and owners like Bob Iger who will face the heat going forward. Here are the five figures discussed below.

LeBron James

LeBron James could face huge expectations in Philadelphia after joining the 76ers. The team signed him partly because of concerns about Joel Embiid’s availability.

With Jaylen Brown also on the roster, the 76ers clearly want to win the championship. As reported by Dave Del Grande of Dead Spin, James has won titles with Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles. If Philadelphia fails, Del Grande believes James could face much of the blame. 

According to Basketball-Reference, LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field in 60 games last season.

At age 41, LeBron faces pressure to remain an elite contributor and help Philadelphia contend immediately.

LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball will face a different kind of pressure this season. Dave Del Grande, in his same report on Dead Spin, looked at Minnesota as a team that could become one of the West’s top teams, with Anthony Edwards expected to be its main star.

However, the report questioned whether Edwards and Ball can play well together. Edwards is seen as the team’s main player, while Ball likes to play in a more free-flowing way.

This could cause problems between the two players. If the partnership does not work, Ball could face a lot of criticism.

Last season, LaMelo averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.1 assists while playing 72 games for Charlotte, according to the NBA.

After joining Minnesota, LaMelo faces pressure to prove he can become a consistent star on a playoff contender.

Mitch Johnson

Mitch Johnson will have pressure to get the best out of San Antonio’s talented team. Del Grande’s report questioned some of Johnson’s coaching decisions, especially how he used Victor Wembanyama on offense.

Wembanyama is becoming one of the NBA’s biggest stars, so San Antonio needs to use his talent well. If Johnson continues to make similar decisions during the 2026-27 season, his position could come under more pressure.

Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. also faces a lot of pressure as the Warriors try to stay competitive around Stephen Curry.

Del Grande praised Dunleavy for bringing in Jimmy Butler III. However, he also questioned why the Warriors did not make more big moves, including their failed attempt to sign LeBron.

If Golden State struggles, Curry’s future with the team could become a bigger concern. Dunleavy’s decisions could then have a major impact on the franchise.

Bob Iger

Los Angeles Lakers owner Bob Iger faces a different kind of pressure. Del Grande focused on the possible problems around the Lakers’ ownership situation and its political connections.

Iger will need to handle these bigger ownership issues while keeping the Lakers focused on basketball. He will also need to help the team stay competitive.

The 2026-27 season could bring major pressure for these five NBA figures. James and Ball will be judged by their performance and team success.

Johnson will face pressure over coaching, Dunleavy over roster moves, and Iger over ownership issues. All five have a lot at stake this season.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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