7. Kobe Bryant, 2009 & 2010
The Los Angeles Lakers made a history-altering decision to stick with Kobe Bryant and trade Shaquille O'Neal. It's one of the most monumental decisions in NBA history, as it broke up one of the most dominant duos North American sports has ever seen.
With Bryant prioritized over O'Neal after three championship seasons, the Lakers effectively placed an impossibly heavy burden on their franchise player's shoulders.
Bryant won two scoring titles as the Lakers looked for ways to help him compete at the highest possible level. Those efforts ultimately paid off, as Los Angeles made three consecutive NBA Finals appearances between 2007-08 and 2009-10.
Heartbreak was the result in 2008, but Bryant responded by delivering back-to-back championships yet again between 2009 and 2010.
Bryant was beyond dominant in the 2009 NBA Finals, tearing the Orlando Magic's hearts out at every key turn. He scored 40 points to lead the Lakers to a Game 1 victory, offered up 29 points and eight assists in Game 2, dropped 32 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds to create a 3-1 series lead, and closed Orland out with a game-high 30 points in Game 6.
A year later, Bryant avenged 2008 and did what defines every true Lakers legend: He led Los Angeles past the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, winning Finals MVP for a second time.
Few players have carried greater expectations than Bryant, and even fewer thrived beneath the weight of them.