Throughout the extensive history of the NBA, we have been fortunate enough to see many transcendent players team up to dominate all competition. No matter what era, these collections of talent have made their imprint on league history with their legendary play. These are the best duos to grace the hardwood.
1. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
The NBA in the 1990s was just absolutely dominated by these two, as the pair were the catalysts for 6 championships over the course of the decade. There wasn’t any aspect of the game that these two just didn’t excel at. Both were MVP candidates and multiple time All-Stars. Jordan is immortalized as arguably the best player of all time and Pippen had the flexibility to play all five positions at the highest level. There just isn’t a duo in the history of the NBA quite like this one, both in terms of greatness and overall skill.
2. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal
Despite the rocky relationship these two shared towards the end of Shaq's tenure with the Lakers, they still were just about as impactful as any other great duo to come either before or after them. The two led the Lakers to three consecutive championships, becoming one of four teams to ever win that many consecutively. Kobe became one of the best point scorers of all-time while Shaq offered jaw-dropping plays anywhere within 5-10 feet from the rim. It’s too bad egos got the best of them, or we could’ve seen these two dominate the hardwood even longer and have even more of an impact.
3. Kevin Durant and Steph Curry
Both of these guys are absolutely dominant on the offensive side of the court. Their styles of play put together are just simply magic and make the Golden State Warriors pretty much unbeatable. In their first postseason together, the pair helped the team break the NBA record for longest winning streak in the playoffs. I also consider the both of them individually to be top ten offensive players of all-time. Durant seemingly puts the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court and Curry is hands down the best 3-pt shooter the league has ever seen. They’ve won two championships together already, and it seems as if there is no stopping them. Not even the most efficient player in NBA history (LeBron James) can beat this team. It may not be too long until they could challenge Jordan and Pippen as the best duo in league history.
4. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The legendary “Showtime” Lakers dominated the league with dazzling passes, ridiculous dunks, and a flair that just simply has not been matched since these two shared the court together. Kareem, who holds the record for most total points scored all-time, simply dominated the competition with his magical hook shot that has become his trademark. Magic also made an impact with his famous with crowd-awing flashy passes and overall playmaking abilities. The duo helped the Lakers reach the Finals eight times, winning five. Between the two, they earned four Finals MVP’s and two regular season MVP’s. Not only was their skill on the court unmatched, but the impact they had on the way the game is played puts them this high on the list.
5. Karl Malone and John Stockton
Although the pair really never won anything of any importance, they are one of the most iconic duos to ever grace the hardwood. This pair were basically locks for the playoffs year-in and year-out for almost two decades. In a league dominated by the greatest pairing in NBA history, they still managed to stay competitive. During a seven-year stretch in the 90s, they were able to reach the WCF five times. Their unique pick-and-roll game made Stockton the all-time assists leader in NBA history and landed Malone in second for most points scored over a career. The two were so great at basketball, and provided Utah with their first bona-fide stars since "Pistol" Pete Maravich played in Salt Lake City.
6. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade
This legendary pairing (along with Chris Bosh) took the NBA by storm immediately after their conception. Not only did they become best friends, but together they were able to etch their names in NBA History together. Their team went to four straight Finals and even won two of them. LeBron churned out some of the most efficient MVP seasons the league has ever seen and Dwayne Wade finally provided LeBron with a meaningful superstar to take some of the pressure off him. It was the perfect place for the long time star who only saw the Finals once in his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They also were the figureheads of the legendary Heat Streak where the team went on a 27-game win streak. For a quarter of a season, THEY DID NOT LOSE A GAME. They even reunited on the Cavs this past season, although their second-stint together didn’t go as well.
Honorable Mentions
Larry Bird and Kevin McHale
Tony Parker and Tim Duncan
Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West