The top 25 NBA duos of all time

The NBA, at least over the last few four of five decades, has been a league of superstars. However, when it comes to team success and winning championships, two are usually better than one.

The NBA, at least over the last few four of five decades, has been a league of superstars. However, when it comes to team success and winning championships, two are usually better than one.

Here’s a ranking of the NBA’s top teammate duos throughout league history.

1 of 25

25. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images

Dirk and Nash spent six seasons together in Dallas from the late 1990s and into the 2000s. Though they did not deliver an NBA championship to Mavericks fans, the pair led the club to four straight playoff appearances during that stretch. As perhaps the premier guard-forward combo at the time, Nowitzki and Nash were consistent scoring threats.

3 of 25

23. Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns

Getty Images

Chuck and KJ helped build the Suns into a Western Conference power during their four seasons (1992-93-1995-96) together in Phoenix. In their first of the four, Barkley and Johnson led the Suns to the 1993 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls. While Barkley also spent time in Philadelphia and Houston, Johnson played all but a bit of his 12 NBA seasons with the Suns.

4 of 25

22. Willis Reed and Walt Frazier, New York Knicks

DOUG KANTER/AFP via Getty Images

There were plenty of key contributors during the New York Knicks’ two title teams in the early 1970s (1970 and ’73), but these two were the focal points. The 6-foot-9 Reed was the star of the show, averaging at least 20 points in five of his 10 seasons with the Knicks. Frazier, meanwhile, was the showman. From the 1969-70 season to the ’73-74 campaign, “Clyde” as he was known, averaged 21.5 points while New York reached the NBA Finals three times during that span.

5 of 25

21. Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter, Portland Trail Blazers

Getty Images

Drexler and Porter made up one of the best backcourts in NBA history. Unfortunately, they were unable to bring a championship to Portland but did take the Trail Blazers to the Finals in 1990 and 1992. Perhaps one of the more underrated aspects of their game was the physical play they brought to the court. They were not afraid to mix it up — on both ends of the floor.

6 of 25

20. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

It’s still kind of surprising (though not completely) that Durant and Westbrook were unable to bring a title to Oklahoma City during their time together. (they came close in 2012.) As we’ve learned, the two might not have had the best relationship as time went on. Again, not completely surprising when you have two prolific offensive players who also have decent-sized egos. Still, can’t argue with the talent both brought to the table when together.

7 of 25

19. Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic

Todd Spoth/Icon Sportswire

Drexler and Olajuwon failed to win an NCAA title at Houston. However, the pair did bring the city one of the NBA variety during the 1994-95 season. During that campaign, Hakeem averaged a stellar 33 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Drexler, meanwhile, posted 20.5, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest en route to recording his only NBA championship.

10 of 25

16. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, Milwaukee Bucks

Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

Though injuries have kept these two stars off the court of late, they are rightfully amid the best duos in the history of the game — at the moment and in the annals of the league. Curry, a career 23.5-points-per-game scorer, and Thompson, at 19.5, have keyed the Warriors three NBA titles and five total Finals appearances from 2014-15 to 2018-19. Once healthy, it will be interesting to see if they can find that championship form again.

13 of 25

13. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, Seattle SuperSonics

Brian Bahr / Getty Images

Payton ended up winning a championship with Miami in 2006, but he and big-man Kemp enjoyed some solid success in Seattle during the 1990s. In 1992-93, they helped the Sonics reach the Western Conference finals. Three seasons later, with Kemp putting up 19.6 points and 11.4 boards per game and “The Glove” scoring 19.3 a game while dishing out 7.5 assists and playing his air-tight defense, Seattle reached the NBA Finals before losing to Chicago.

14 of 25

12. Julius Erving and Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers

Bettmann/Getty Images

The Sixers most recent NBA championship came in 1983. And Philadelphia fans can thank Dr. J. and Moses for making that possible. With Erving and Malone leading the way during their first of four seasons together in Philly, they averaged nearly 50 points combined. The Sixers reached the Eastern Conference final two seasons later with the two again at the forefront.

15 of 25

11. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

While Curry and Klay Thompson have established themselves as Warriors legends, the addition of Durant added to the dominance. It also brought together two of the league’s biggest superstars. In the three seasons (2016-17-2018-19) Curry and Durant led the Golden State charge, the club won two championships and reached the Finals in 2019. Also during that time, Curry averaged 26.3 points and Durant 25.8.

16 of 25

10. Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

Yes, Chris Bosh played an integral part of Miami’s dominance during the first half of the last decade. Obviously, James and Wade were the superstars and had the Heat playing at an elite level. From 2010-11 to 2013-14, LeBron averaged 26.9 points and Wade scored 22.2 per game as Miami won two titles and also lost in the Finals the two other times. We won’t go into their 2017-18 reunion in Cleveland.

19 of 25

7. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Staff/Icon Sportswire

We touched on Duncan’s success with David Robinson, but Parker was there for that 2003 title. Together with Duncan, Parker and the Spurs won three more NBA championships (2005, ’07 and ’04). Another great inside-outside pair, Parker and Duncan had the kind of chemistry needed to win titles. Parker also proved himself as a capable scorer and earned NBA Finals MVP honors in 2007.

20 of 25

6. Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah Jazz

Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images

A pair of Olympic Dream Teamers and Hall of Famers, Malone and Stockton were fun to watch. and it wasn’t just because they were great players but also because they knew each other so well. Stockton knew when and where to feed to Malone, playing to his strengths while also utilizing their collective dynamic. Though the Jazz reached the NBA Finals in 1997 and ’98, Malone and Stockton never won a title together.

21 of 25

5. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

Focus on Sport via Getty Images

These two were the heart of the Celtics run of three NBA titles and five Finals appearances from 1980-81 to 1986-87. While Bird was the superstar, McHale started out as a guy who would do the dirty work. But from 1984-85 to 1989-90, McHale averaged nearly 21 points in each of those seasons. Credit Bird, by the way, with making it a point to help elevate McHale’s game, especially on the offensive end, without compromising his own.

22 of 25

4. Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics

Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire

As we know, Shaq and Kobe had their issues when together, but they still won three straight NBA titles from 2000-’02. They also reached the NBA Finals another time, yet many believe the Lakers could have been even more dominant with the two together. Over time, their relationship healed, and O’Neal delivered a touching tribute to his late former teammate earlier this year.

24 of 25

2. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers

Staff/Icon Sportswire

The true architects of “Showtime” in Los Angeles, this legendary duo helped the Lakers dominate the 1980s by winning five NBA titles and reaching the Finals another three times while together. There was also a mutual respect for the other, something that stars of today tend to have a hard time mustering with egos and paychecks clouding things. No teammates played off each other better than Magic and Kareem.

25 of 25

1. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls

BRIAN BAHR/AFP via Getty Images

Those who have been taking in “The Last Dance” got a glimpse into the relationship between these two Hall of Famers who helped the Bulls to six NBA titles during the 1990s. Jordan is arguably the greatest player in NBA history but admits he owes a good deal of that success to Pippen. Hailing from a small town in Arkansas, Pippen is regarded as one of the game’s all-time great defenders and averaged 20.3 points from 1990-91 to 1997-98.