NBA Top 10 Greatest Duos of All-Time

1. Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen: Whether you enjoy “The Last Dance” or not, it’s undeniable the chemistry and the dependability these two had for one another. Although Jordan was putting up unseen numbers before Pippen entered the scene, Jordan couldn’t propel his Bulls teams to ultimate glory by himself. He needed that one piece of the puzzle; a partner in crime. When Pippen joined the Bulls 1987, he provided a physical perimeter defensive prowess that became the catalyst for the Bulls. Even after Jordan left the league to pursue a career in baseball, Pippen continued to shine and showed the league that he could play the “Robin” role, but he was also capable of being “Batman” for a franchise too. Ultimately, Jordan and Pippen won six championships together by way of two, three-peat championship runs. From 1991-1998, Jordan and Pippen were the faces of the NBA, and arguably, the greatest duo the NBA has ever seen.

2. Earvin “Magic” Johnson & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: There’s a reason when you hear the nickname “Showtime Lakers,” these two are at the center of the conversation. At 6’9”, Johnson was not the prototypical point guard everyone was accustomed to. His big frame and magician-like court vision offered everyone the opportunity to become a part of a highlight reel. Although the 7’2” big man from Milwaukee saw his numbers decline upon arriving to Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar saw his numbers in championships rise. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar won five titles between 1980-1988 while also collecting four Finals MVP’s as a pair (2 each). Any NBA fan will tell you that although the 90s were ran by Jordan and the Bulls, the 80s were most notably controlled by Magic and Kareem.

3. Larry Bird & Kevin McHale: While the Lakers were creating something special over on the west coast in the 1980s, Boston was creating a dynasty of their own over in the east. The Celtics were arguably the only team that was able to slow down the locomotive of Los Angeles. Bird played the role of the tall sharp shooter while McHale was known for his tenacity on the offensive glass. Bird finished his 13-year career as a 3-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, 3-time All-Defensive Player, and earned many more accolades. McHale was no slouch himself finishing his 13-year career as a 7-time All-Star, 6-time All-Defensive Player, and 2-time Sixth Man of the Year. The pair would win three championships together along the way and cement themselves in NBA history.

4. Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal: It’s no secret these two rubbed each other the wrong way during their time in LA, however, there’s also no denying how prolific and explosive this duo was in the late 90s and early 2000s. Having already made a name for himself in Orlando, pairing Shaq with rising star Kobe Bryant seemed unfair for any opponent the Lakers crossed paths with. Because of the attention Shaq required down low from opposing teams, Kobe and he was able to be more creative on the perimeter. Both Shaq and Kobe were averaging over 25 and 30 points per game while paving the road to their three consecutive championships. Most notable among those title runs was the 2001 championship. The Lakers went 15-1 in the playoffs with their lone loss coming in the finals by way of a 48-point outing by Allen Iverson. Kobe and Shaq will always be recognized as one of the greatest duos to play the game together.

5. John Stockton & Karl Malone: Want to know why these two aren’t considered a top 2 or 3 duo in NBA history? Take a look at their hands and you’ll find some jewelry missing. However, the pair absolutely deserve to be recognized in the top 5. Malone was drafted by the Jazz one year prior to Stockton so the pair was able to develop a tight bond right away. Stockton, one of the league’s best assist kings in the game, would lead the league in assists for nine consecutive seasons courtesy of “The Mailman.” Malone’s game was an incredible concoction of a lethal mid-range jumper and a thunderous paint presence. Combine that with Stockton’s pass first mentality and the Jazz had a recipe for success. The pair would lead the Jazz to two NBA Finals appearances, but unfortunately miss the mark as the Bulls would eventually prevail over the Jazz in both meetings.

6. Lebron James & Dwyane Wade: With more than 40 players drafted to the NBA straight out of high school, there have only been a handful that would be as dominant as Lebron James. When Lebron made the decision to leave Cleveland and go to the Miami Heat, he would form a “Big Three” with then Toronto Raptor forward Chris Bosh and Heat legend Dwyane Wade. It was no secret that out of the three, Wade and James had the best chemistry. With cross-court, hail-mary, alley-oop passes and countless jaw-dropping highlights, they quickly became the more dominant duo in recent history. The pairing made an NBA Finals appearance in their first year together and would appear in four straight Finals, winning two. James would depart back to Cleveland and finally lead the Cavaliers to their first title in 2016 while Wade would travel to Chicago before returning to Miami. Time will tell whether this duo will be recognized as a top 10 duo of all-time, but there’s no questioning that there Miami Heat squad will go down as having one of the better duos and trios the NBA has seen.

7. Penny Hardaway & Shaquille O’Neal: Before Shaq would go on to team up with Kobe and cement his legacy as one of the best centers in the league, he started off his NBA career in Orlando alongside another famous guard Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Not long after the Magic were formed, they found immediate success through the unstoppable pair. In Shaq’s rookie year, he compiled a career high in blocks, averaging nearly four per game. By his third year, he won his first scoring title scoring nearly 29 points per game and led the Magic, along with Hardaway, to the NBA Finals. The Magic would get swept by the Rockets and as quick as the Magic saw success, they experienced great loss. Shaq would depart to Los Angeles and Hardaway struggled with injuries for the remainder of his career. One can only imagine how many championships these two would’ve won together if the Magic were willing to re-sign Shaq to a more lucrative contract.

8. Patrick Ewing and John Starks: During the years the Bulls were dominating the league, they always seemed to come across one team that gave them trouble. In the late 80s, it was Boston and Detroit, and in the 90s, it was the Knicks and the Pacers. From 1990 to 1998, Ewing and Starks were the face of the Knicks. Ewing was one of the league’s most dominant centers, averaging a double-double for nine consecutive seasons. Starks numbers weren’t anything too flashy, but he was a decent shooter and a hound of a defender giving the Bulls trouble in their playoff runs in the 90s. In 1994, the Knicks finally reached the Finals, but unfortunately lost a seven-game series to the Rockets. Although the pair never claimed a title, they were arguably the toughest duo Jordan and the Bulls would run into.

9. Isiah Thomas & Joe Dumars: Integral parts of the “Bad Boys,” Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars would form arguably one of the best backcourts the NBA has seen. From 1985-1994, both played as teammates for the physically imposing Detroit Pistons. Dumars took upon the role of being the lead scorer while Thomas, who was a prolific scorer in his own right, also became one of the best facilitators the game has witnessed. The duo would win two consecutive titles in 1989 and 1990 and each win a Finals MVP. Thomas and Dumars, along with Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, and company would form arguably the greatest Detroit Pistons basketball team assembled.

10. Tim Duncan & Tony Parker: After David Robinson left San Antonio, Tim Duncan was left to find another counterpart and continue the winning tradition Spurs fans grew accustomed to. Then came French point guard Tony Parker. The pair would win three championships together as well as three Finals MVP’s between the two of them. Parker’s incredible vision partnered with Duncan’s ability to provide leadership and consistent scoring led the Spurs to tremendous success in the multiple years Duncan and Parker played together. The duo is extremely deserving of being in the top 10 of all-time tandems.

Honorable Mentions:

- Wilt Chamberlin & Jerry West (Los Angeles Lakers)

- Bob Cousy & Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)

- Gary Payton & Shawn Kemp (Seattle Supersonics)

Author: Spencer Robb