Basketball is a team sport, but there have been some awesome duos who have pushed their teams to greatness in a way that others couldn’t.
From Shaq and Kobe blending absolute dominance in the paint with perhaps the second best shooting guard the league has ever seen, to Jordan and Pippen forming the best defensive duo in league history.
These duos have defined eras, won multiple rings, and become legends where when you think of one – you think of the other.
The Best NBA Duos In History
Let’s take a look at the best NBA duos of all time, the pairs who brought out the best in each other and wreaked havoc on the rest of the league.
*Just a heads up that these player stats are only for the duration that the duos played together.
1. Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen
Chicago Bulls
- Championships: 6
- Years Together: 1987-1998
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan | 31.5 | 6.3 | 5.4 |
| Scottie Pippen | 17.7 | 6.7 | 5.3 |
When we think of the greatest duo in NBA history, Jordan and Pippen are the first names that come to our mind.
MJ and Scottie led the Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s (including two three-peats), forming the backbone of one of the greatest dynasties all of sports.
Jordan was the ultimate scorer and competitor, while Pippen was the perfect complement, providing elite defense and playmaking.
Their chemistry on both ends of the floor was unmatched, and they set the standard for all future NBA duos.
2. Magic Johnson & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Los Angeles Lakers
- Championships: 5
- Years Together: 1979-1989
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Johnson | 19.5 | 7.2 | 11.2 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.1 | 9.4 | 3.3 |
Magic and Kareem were the center-pieces of the “Showtime” Lakers, a team that dominated the 1980s with fast breaks, no-look passes, and skyhooks.
Magic’s highlight-reel passes and leadership matched perfectly with Kareem’s unstoppable skyhook and old-head poise.
Together, they won five NBA rings and brought some damn good nightlife to the city of Los Angeles at their peaks.
3. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL & KOBE BRYANT
Los Angeles Lakers
- Championships: 3
- Years Together: 1996-2004
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaquille O’Neal | 27.0 | 11.8 | 2.5 |
| Kobe Bryant | 23.9 | 5.2 | 4.5 |
Yep, some more Lakers.
Shaq and Kobe were a dominant force in the early 2000s, leading the Lakers to three straight NBA championships from 2000 to 2002.
The Big Diesel was the most physically dominant center of his era, and one of the greatest NBA centers of all-time, while Kobe brought a killer mentality and scoring ability that made them virtually unstoppable at their peak.
Their on-court chemistry was undeniable, even if their off-court relationship was often rocky.
4. Larry Bird & Kevin McHale
Boston Celtics
- Championships: 3
- Years Together: 1980-1992
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Bird | 24.3 | 10.0 | 6.3 |
| Kevin McHale | 17.9 | 7.3 | 1.7 |
Bird and McHale were the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics’ 1980s success.
Bird’s basketball IQ and shooting ability made him one of the greatest players of all time, while McHale had a massive bag of tricks in the post and a solid defender.
Together, they led the Celtics to three NBA rings and countless battles with Magic’s Showtime Lakers.
Bird and McHale’s inside-outside game was just the right blend of skill and toughness.
5. LeBron James & Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat
- Championships: 2
- Years Together: 2010-2014
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 26.9 | 7.6 | 6.7 |
| Dwyane Wade | 22.0 | 4.7 | 5.4 |
LeBron and Wade joined forces in 2010, in what some would call dodgy circumstances, building one of the most dynamic duos, and one of the great super teams in NBA history.
Their partnership led the Miami Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances and two championships in 2012 and 2013.
LeBron’s all-around game and Wade’s scoring and leadership made them a nightmare for opponents.
Their chemistry on fast breaks and their highlight reel is a great YouTube watch, and they set the standard for modern ways to form great super teams.
6. Tim Duncan & Tony Parker
San Antonio Spurs
- Championships: 4
- Years Together: 2001-2016
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Duncan | 19.0 | 10.8 | 3.0 |
| Tony Parker | 15.8 | 2.8 | 5.7 |
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were the pillars of the Spurs’ dominance in the 2000s and early 2010s.
“The Big Dundamental’s” consistency, defense, and leadership made him the anchor of the Spurs, while Parker’s streaky speed and playmaking were the perfect complement.
Together, they won four NBA championships and embodied the “Spurs Way” of selflessness, teamwork, and excellence along with Manu Ginóbili, one of the best sixth-men in NBA history.
7. Steph Curry & Klay Thompson
Golden State Warriors
- Championships: 4
- Years Together: 2011-2024
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steph Curry | 24.6 | 4.6 | 6.5 |
| Klay Thompson | 19.8 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
The “Splash Brothers” changed the game with their three-point shooting and led the Golden State Warriors to three NBA championships.
Steph Curry’s range and ability to play off the ball and create his own shot paired perfectly with Klay Thompson’s catch-and-shoot prowess and elite defense.
Together, they formed the greatest shooting backcourt in NBA history and changed the way the game is played.
8. Jerry West & Elgin Baylor
Los Angeles Lakers
- Championships: 0
- Years Together: 1960-1971
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry West | 27.0 | 5.8 | 6.7 |
| Elgin Baylor | 27.4 | 13.5 | 4.3 |
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor were one of the most awesome scoring duos in NBA history, even though they played in an era before the three-point line.
West’s shooting and court-vision, paired with Baylor’s athleticism and scoring, made them a almost impossible to contain on a nightly basis.
Although they fell short of winning a championship together, their impact on the game and dominance as a duo is undeniable.
9. Karl Malone & John Stockton
Utah Jazz
- Championships: 0
- Years Together: 1985-2003
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Malone | 25.0 | 10.1 | 3.6 |
| John Stockton | 13.1 | 2.7 | 10.5 |
Karl Malone and John Stockton defined the pick-and-roll, and their chemistry led the Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals appearances, ultimately falling short of their rings twice to the Bulls.
Stockton, one of the greatest assist makers in NBA history, found Malone in the perfect spots, leading to Malone becoming the second all-time leading scorer in NBA history.
While they never won a championship, their partnership was one of the longest and successful in NBA history.
10. Julius Erving & Moses Malone
Philadelphia 76ers
- Championships: 1
- Years Together: 1982-1986
| Players | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julius Erving | 24.2 | 8.5 | 4.2 |
| Moses Malone | 20.3 | 12.3 | 1.4 |
Julius Erving and Moses Malone formed a flashy duo in the early 1980s, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship.
Erving’s grace and crowd-pleasing dunks paired well with Malone’s toughness and rebounding ability.
Together, they formed the nucleus of a team that was simply too powerful for the rest of the league, culminating in a sweep of the Lakers in the 1983 Finals.
Malone famously predicted the playoffs against the Lakers would go “Fo’, fo’, fo’,” and while they lost only one game, his prediction wasn’t far off.
From the unstoppable force of Jordan and Pippen to the long-range barrage of the Splash Brothers, these duos have rewritten the record books, won championships, and become legends of the sport.
Check out our best NBA coaches of all-time and our list of the top 10 NBA players of all-time.
