If you are a superhero fan, then you probably like Batman and Robin. Every great superhero needs a sidekick.
In the NBA, you usually need an NBA duo of two stars to win a championship. Sometimes, those stars play the roles of Batman and Robin where one will defer to the other. Occasionally, there will be two elite stars on a team that play well together at an elite level (more like Batman and Superman).
Across the history of the NBA, there have been some iconic NBA duos. Here is a ranking of the top five NBA duos of all-time.
5. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
Over the course of his 20 year career, LeBron James has played with several NBA greats. The greatest teammate he has ever had is Dwyane Wade. The two united on the Miami Heat in 2010.
In four seasons as an NBA duo, LeBron and Wade reached the NBA Finals four consecutive times. They won two back-to-back championships together. Few have accomplished what LeBron and Wade have. That is why they deserve a spot on this list.
4. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson
While in the case of LeBron it was choosing which teammate to pair him with, in this case it is choosing which Warriors duo is greater. Stephen Curry is the greatest Warriors player of all-time. However, he played with two great superstars in Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
While Kevin Durant is a better overall player than Klay, the duo of Steph and Klay is ultimately more iconic. The duo has now won four NBA championships together and have played on the Warriors for their entire careers.
3. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant
Shaq and Kobe had an interesting dynamic in that they were both the alpha dogs. That often led to some clashing between the two. Despite all of that, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant still managed to be very successful as teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers. They won three championships in a row together. This is arguably the greatest pairing of stars in NBA history.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated the1980s with the introduction of “Showtime” basketball. They were a perfect fit for each other, as Kareem was an elite scoring superstar, and Magic was a pass-first playmaker.
Kareem and Magic won five NBA championships together. That puts them in very exclusive territory when it comes to NBA duos.
1. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
Of course, when you think of NBA duos, there is perhaps no duo more iconic than Jordan and Pippen. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen won six NBA championships together, the most of any duo on this list.
Obviously, Michael Jordan is considered the greatest of all-time and is the main reason why this duo should be considered the greatest of all-time. However, Scottie Pippen was also an NBA legend and perfectly complemented Jordan. He was a great playmaker and a tremendous defender. There would be no Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen.
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