Throughout NBA history, there have been iconic teams and players whose names are forever etched in stone as the greatest.
Behind every one of these great teams is one or two players that have led them to these heights. If you think about it, there has always been an iconic duo behind most of the NBA’s greatest teams and organizations. Dating all the way back to the 50s and 60s, there has almost always been a duo on the front lines of winning and success in the NBA.
Some duos spent over 15 seasons together, chasing championships and rewriting history along the way. Other duos only spent a short time together and still conquered the NBA in ways that others couldn’t or haven’t yet. The duos on our list today have combined some of the greatest players to ever play the game and, ultimately, have each other to thank for their individual standing. In some cases, there is a Batman and a Robin. In other cases, there are simply 2 Batmans coming together for one simple goal, to win the NBA championship.
These are the 10 best duos in NBA history.
Honorable MentionIsiah Thomas And Joe Dumars
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 2
NBA Finals: 3
One of the best duos of the 1980s and early 90s was the duo from Detroit of Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas. The duo played 9 seasons together from 1986 thru Thomas’ retirement in 1994. Dumars went on to play 5 more seasons, while Thomas was in the NBA for 4 seasons before Dumars arrived. The two led one of the most iconic and hated teams in NBA history to 3 NBA Finals appearances from 1988 thru 1990, winning back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.
The 2 led the Pistons to the 1988 NBA Finals for a matchup with the Lakers. Despite Dumars and Thomas combining for 33.1 PPG and 13.6 APG, the Pistons fell in 7 games. The following season was a different story, as Detroit matched up with Los Angeles for a rematch. The Pistons swept the Lakers in 4 games behind the duo’s combined 48.6 PPG and 13.3 APG. Dumars was named Finals MVP, averaging 27.3 PPG and 6.0 APG. The Pistons would find themselves in a 3rd straight Finals in 1990, led by Thomas and Dumars. This time, the duo came together to defeat the Trail Blazers in 5 games. Thomas and Dumars combined for 48.2 PPG and 12.6 APG, with Thomas taking home the Finals MVP trophy.
Kevin Durant And Stephen Curry
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 2
Finals Appearances: 3
The Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry duo were the NBA’s top villains for their 3 years together from 2017 thru 2019. Fans and media members alike had serious qualms with the pair for teaming up in a move that shifted the competitive nature of the NBA for those 3 seasons. Whatever your feelings were or are on the two coming together and forming a superteam, there is no doubt to be left about the beauty in which they played the game of basketball.
With the duo providing a 1-2 punch, the likes of which weren’t seen since the Kobe and Shaq days, Golden State became unstoppable. Durant was the talented scorer he has always been, and while teams had to respect his game, they had to respect Curry’s as well. The pair led the Warriors to 3 straight NBA Finals appearances from 2017 thru 2019. In the first 2 Finals, the Warriors went 8-1 in 2 series against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. In the 3rd Finals, Durant played a total of 12 minutes in 6 games after going down with an Achilles injury. Durant was named Finals MVP twice during that stretch, and while it came to an abrupt end, the duo left their mark on NBA history forever.
Julius Erving And Moses Malone
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 1
Finals Appearances: 1
The duo of Moses Malone and Julius Erving is one of the more short-lived duos on this entire list. The pair only played together for 4 seasons from 1983 thru 1986, but in those 4 years, they made a big impact on the game and, more specifically, the City Of Philadelphia. Malone was a 2-time MVP with Houston before arriving in Philadelphia, where Erving had led the Sixers many times to the Finals but always came up short. When Malone arrived in 1983, that all changed for the better.
Malone arrived with a chip on his shoulder, having lost in the NBA Finals himself in 1981 against the Celtics. Malone would win the 1983 MVP award averaging 24.5 PPG, 15.3 RPG, and 2.0 BPG on the season. The Sixers finished with a 65-17 record on the year and earned a spot in the NBA Finals against the Lakers. Malone, Erving, and the Sixers would proceed to sweep the Lakers in 4 games, with Malone taking home Finals MVP. Erving contributed greatly along the way as well. Erving and Malone would spend 3 more seasons together, making the playoffs every year. They were never quite able to capture the Magic of 1983 again despite the greatness they both possessed.
10. Karl Malone And John Stockton
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 0
Finals Appearances: 2
Karl Malone and John Stockton are easily two of the greatest NBA players who have never won an NBA championship. Stockton is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists, thanks large in part due to the ability of Karl Malone to score the ball. Malone is 3rd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list due largely in part to Stockton’s ability to find him with any pass in any situation. The two meshed perfectly on the court, utilizing their strengths to the absolute fullest and forming one of the greatest duos in NBA history.
Unfortunately for Malone and Stockton, they played at a time when the league was ruled by other great NBA duos. In the 80s, they couldn’t get past the Lakers, Rockets, and Pistons. In the 90s, they finally broke through and earned 2 trips to the NBA Finals. However, once they got there, the duo couldn’t overcome the dominance and pure strength of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Stockton and Malone may not be NBA champions, but they are undoubtedly one of the greatest duos in NBA history.
9. Wilt Chamberlain And Jerry West
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 1
Finals Appearances: 4
Individually, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain are two of the greatest players in NBA history. Together, they formed one of the best duos the NBA has ever seen. West’s career can be defined by bad luck, leading his team to the NBA Finals 9 times in his career but always ending up running into a dynasty. Chamberlain flooded the record books with his unbelievable scoring display and rebounding ability. Chamberlain was able to win an NBA title with Philadelphia before joining West in 1968-69.
The duo would terrorize the NBA along with their 3rd member, Elgin Baylor. They would hunt for NBA championships with 4 appearances in the NBA Finals. Together, they amassed a 214-74 record together in the regular season and a 43-25 record in the playoffs. In 1972, the duo finally reached the mountaintop together, securing the NBA championship over the New York Knicks. In the Finals, West and Chamberlain combined for 39.2 PPG, while Wilt grabbed 23.2 RPG and won Finals MVP. West dished out 8.8 APG as well in that series, taking down the Knicks in 5 games with Wilt grabbing Finals MVP.
8. LeBron James And Dwyane Wade
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 2
Finals Appearances: 4
When we spoke earlier of the duos that were short-lived, impactful, and shrouded in villainy, the duo that encompasses all of that rolled into one is the duo of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade with the Miami Heat. James had spent the first part of his career with the Cavaliers before deciding to join Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. He became a martyr who ignited the player empowerment movement in the NBA and allowed players to take back control of their destinations moving forward.
On the court, the duo of Wade and James took over the NBA with blazing speed and profound moments in time. The duo led the Heat to 4 straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011 thru 2014, winning 2 NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. Wade has been and always will be the King Of Miami, but James stamped his claim to the legacy during this time. LeBron grabbed both Finals MVP awards and the first 2 championships of his career. Wade solidified his spot amongst the all-time greats as well as his 2nd and 3rd NBA championships.
7. Tim Duncan And Tony Parker
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 4
Finals Appearances: 5
Under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan exceeded the expectations of a No. 1 overall pick out of Wake Forest, while Tony Parker became a better point guard than anyone expected him to be. Parker and Duncan did these things together as they both helped each other grow the San Antonio Spurs into a modern-day dynasty. Together, Duncan and Parker won 4 NBA championships while appearing in 5 NBA Finals during the 2000s and 2010s.
With Parker and Duncan, the Spurs won NBA championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Duncan was named the MVP of the Finals in both 2003 and 2005, while Parker received the award in 2007. Altogether, Duncan averaged 20.8 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 2.4 BPG in his NBA Finals career. Parker appeared in 16.5 PPG and 4.5 APG in his Finals career. Parker and Duncan weren’t the flashiest or the loudest, but they certainly became one of the greatest duos in NBA history during their time together with the Spurs.
6. Larry Bird And Kevin McHale
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 3
Finals Appearances: 5
When speaking of the duo of Kevin McHale and Larry Bird, we mustn’t forget the 3rd member of their incredible trio, Robert Parish. Also, the other member of those incredible Celtics teams, such as Dennis Johnson and Cedric Maxwell, deserves recognition. The 2 players above them all were McHale and Bird, who revolutionized basketball in Boston. McHale began his career as one of the best bench players in the league and evolved into a crafty power forward with some of the best post moves and footwork you’d ever seen. Bird was, well… Bird was Bird. He was a legend from the moment he stepped foot on the court.
During the 1980s, the Celtics, led by McHale and Bird, found themselves in 5 total NBA Finals while winning 3 in 1981, 1984, and 1987. Bird was named Finals MVP for 2 of those wins, while Maxwell took home the other. The Causeway Street duo, as they were nicknamed, ranked 2nd and 6th in regular season win shares during their time together and 2nd and 4th in the playoffs. While the rest of the Celtics were a sight to behold, Bird and McHale were the shining stars.
5. Stephen Curry And Klay Thompson
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 4
Finals Appearances: 6
The next duo on our list is a backcourt that changed the game forever. Over the last 9 years and counting, we have watched as Stephen Curry became the greatest shooter in NBA history while Klay Thompson is right behind him. The duo was aptly named the Splash Bros. for their ability to shoot the long ball with great volume and pinpoint precision. Together, they have turned the Warriors into a dynasty with 4 NBA titles in the past 8 seasons and 6 berths in the NBA Finals.
Obviously, Stephen Curry is at the forefront of it all with the way he changed the game is played. Everyone born after 2005 thinks they have what it takes to be Curry and shoot the way he does from 3, but there is only one. Thompson has taken advantage of his partnership with Curry with clutch performances in the playoffs and otherworldly shooting displays of his own. Curry and Klay have been staples of the NBA over the last decade, and it continues on to this day.
4. Bill Russell And Bob Cousy
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 6
Finals Appearances: 7
Bob Cousy and Bill Russell were considered to be the best duo in NBA history before the 1980s took place. Cousy was an innovative and creative magician on the court who garnered the nickname The Houdini of the Hardwood for his display of handles, passing, and speed ahead of his time. Russell came in a little after Cousy and quickly became one of the best defenders, rebounders, and winners the game has ever seen. Together, the 2 ruled over the NBA for what seemed like forever.
The truth of the matter is that Russell only had Cousy for 6 of his 11 NBA championships. The duo made 7 straight NBA Finals appearances together from 1957 thru 1963, suffering only 1 defeat at the hands of Bob Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks. Russell and Cousy played off each other perfectly, mastering parts of the game outside of scoring to be the perfect compliments to team success. The success part was no issue for the duo, who are still considered, as they should be, to be a Top 5 duo in NBA history.
3. Shaquille O’Neal And Kobe Bryant
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 3
Finals Appearances: 4
The narrative around Kobe and Shaq in the 2020s is enough to make the people who actually watched them in the 2000s cringe in disappointment. Shaq and Kobe Bryant were the best duo the NBA had seen since the Bulls of the 90s, and they achieved so much alongside one another. They like to say that Shaq carried Kobe to 3 NBA championships, completely disregarding what Bryant did on those 3 title runs. Was Shaq the best player on the floor? Sure. Did he carry Kobe to NBA titles? Not by any stretch of the imagination.
The truth is that Shaq and Kobe perfectly complimented each other on the court. O’Neal was the big man who just needed to be fed in the post and go to work. Kobe was the creative and meticulous assassin on the perimeter who could do whatever he wanted when he touched the ball. The duo led the Lakers to the NBA’s 3rd three-peat since the Celtics of the 60s, destroying any and all who stood in their way from 2000 thru 2003. After a drama-filled breakup following the 2004 Finals loss to the Pistons, Shaq and Kobe needed years to make amends and squash the beef. Shaq would go on to win another NBA title with the Miami Heat in 2006 alongside Dwyane Wade. Bryant would go to 3 more NBA Finals and win 2 championships, but absolutely none of that can take away from what they accomplished as a duo.
2. Magic Johnson And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 5
Finals Appearances: 8
The duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar combines 2 of the Top 5 players to ever play the game of basketball. This duo was destined for greatness the moment Magic stepped foot into the NBA and led them to a championship in his rookie season. Magic and Kareem were a perfect complement to one another, with Magic’s innate ability to throw any pass that he wanted with pinpoint accuracy and Kareem’s ability to finish in the paint. With Magic and Kareem, the Lakers went to 8 NBA Finals during the 80s and took home 5 NBA championships as a result. Magic, of course, went to another NBA Finals in 1991 but fell to the Bulls in 5 games.
Magic and Kareem split the accolades that came with their incredible run in the 80s. Magic was crowned a 3-time Finals MVP as well as a 2-time MVP alongside Kareem. Abdul-Jabbar earned an MVP and Finals MVP award alongside Magic as well. Kareem and Magic were destined to play with one another and fuel the Showtime Lakers to new heights and dominance over the decade. This run cements them as a Top 2 duo in NBA history.
1. Michael Jordan And Scottie Pippen
Credit: Fadeaway World
Championships: 6
Finals Appearances: 6
Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan are two of the greatest players in Chicago Bulls’ history without question. They wreaked so much havoc on the NBA that today, a certain fanbase uses them to discredit each other. Pippen and Jordan were the perfect duos on the basketball court. They were both great defenders and willing passers, while Jordan took care of the scoring and Pippen handled most of the playmaking.
In their run together during the 90s, the Bulls, Pippen, and Jordan went to 6 NBA Finals in 8 seasons from 1991 thru 1998. They won 6 NBA titles by way of 2 three-peats as champions, solidifying them as the best duo and best team of the 90s. Jordan claimed all 6 Finals MVP awards during their time together, but Pippen was also an extremely valuable asset to their success. Overall, Jordan and Pippen went 514-177 in their time together with the Bulls and 117-51 in the playoffs. There is simply no other choice for the greatest duo in NBA history other than Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan.
Source: fadeawayworld
