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Everyone who's played youth sports has heard some coach utter the words, "There's no 'I' in team." As corny as it sounds, it's true. Just look at any successful team and there's usually at least a pair of star players that compliment each other. The sport where such duos are most prominent is professional basketball. Whether it was Bill Russell and Bob Cousy way back in the day or Shaq and Kobe just a decade ago, every Batman needed a Robin.
One half of one of the best pairings in sports history, John Stockton, turned 50 yesterday. He, along with Karl Malone, steadily etched their names into the record books. Stockton is the all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265), while Malone is second on the scoring list (36,928). As a late birthday gift we decided to compile a list of the NBA's best tandems. We were sure to have the old-school and the new-school included. There's everyone from Kareem and Magic to Wade and James in here. The game and the times have changed, so we ranked them accordingly. Some duos had success in terms of hardware, others in terms of numbers like the aforementioned Stockton and Malone. So, if you're into precisely executed pick and rolls and give and gos check out the rest of the 15 Best Duos in NBA History.
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15. Payton and Kemp
Seasons Played Together: 7 (1990-1997)
NBA Titles: 0
One of the most entertaining and flashy duos in history. The Glove and the Reign Man alley-ooped their way into our hearts; GP with his constant trash talk and stifling defense and Kemp with his pure athleticism and power. Once George Karl got hold of them, the Seattle Supersonics were consistently one of the top teams of their era winning 50+ games six out of the seven years Gary and Shawn were teammates. Unfortunately, they played during the same time as MJ and The Dream. Not to mention the stunning upset they suffered during the first round of the '94 playoffs at the hands of the Mutumbo-led Nuggets. That being said, bring the NBA back to Seattle!
14. Durant and Westbrook
Seasons Played Together: 4 (2008-present)
NBA Titles: 0
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have a weird relationship. Rumors were swirling about arguments during practice and games, but all that was put to bed when Russell Westbrook signed a five-year extension in January. They both score at will, which has led to criticism toward Westbrook who plays the point guard position more like a shooting guard. Despite the rumors and speculation, KD and Westbrook managed to make it to the Western Conference Finals last season. Without Westbrook's versatility at both ends of the floor this team would not be considered elite. The same goes for Durant's uncanny scoring ability and leadership. These two might be top 5 when it's all said and done. Relax, old heads. We said, "might be."
13. Wade and James
Seasons Played Together: 2 (2010-present)
NBA Titles: 0
These two still have a lot to prove. They teamed up to win not one, not two, not...you get the point. Wade and James have the potential to be this generation's Jordan and Pippen. They made it to the Finals their first year together with the help of Chris Bosh and a rec league squad. This year, the Heat have a deeper team that's playing at a faster pace and more importantly, they're playing as a unit. The full-court passes alone should tell you about the chemistry these guys have. With Derrick Rose battling nagging injuries, Miami should have no problem making another trip to the Finals.
12. Duncan and Robinson
Seasons Played Together: 6 (1997-2003)
NBA Titles: 2
The best thing to ever happen to the Spurs was the injury to David Robinson's back during the '96-'97 season. That injury resulted in the No. 1 pick of the 1997 NBA Draft. And with the first pick they made the Earth sick. They drafted Tim Duncan, which gave them on of the best big men tandems in league history. The very next season (which happened to be a lockout year), they won the championship against the Knicks. Four years later San Antonio won another one vs. the Nets and sent the Admiral out on top.
11. Thomas and Dumars
Seasons Played Together: 9 (1985-1994)
NBA Titles: 2
Along with Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman, Zeke and Joe D's intense style of defense gave the Pistons their "Bad Boy" identity. Isiah was the little man with a big game, while Dumars was the undersized silent assassin. They made it to three straight Finals while coming away with two and they absolutely owned the Bulls during the late '80s. So much so that people were saying MJ would never win a ring—sound familiar?
10. Erving and Malone
Seasons Played Together: 4 (1982-1986)
NBA Titles: 1
When Moses Malone signed with Philly they automatically became threats to the likes of the Celtics and the Lakers. The Sixers had lost to the Lakers in the Finals the year before (1981-1982) and Moses was the missing ingredient. Dr. J with his high-wire act complimented by Malone's prowess in the paint was too much for teams to handle. Moses famously predicted an undefeated playoff run with the words, "fo', fo', fo'." The Sixers delivered with a 12-1 record during the '83 playoffs, sweeping the big, bad Lakers during the Finals with their only loss coming against the Bucks during the Eastern Conference Finals.
9. West and Chamberlain
Seasons Played Together: 5 (1968-1973)
NBA Titles: 1
The Logo and Wilt the Stilt should've been first on this list, but it didn't quite work out how they planned. When the Lakers landed Wilt Chamberlain in a trade with the 76ers folks thought it was going to be a wrap. Jerry West and Elgin Baylor were going to the Finals nearly every year during the '60s and it seemed like all they needed was a 20 and 20 7-footer to get them over the hump. When they acquired Wilt, they made it to four Finals in five years but could only come up with one. We still know a few Hall of Famers that would kill for that one ring, though. What up, Chuck and Karl?
8. Frazier and Reed
Seasons Played Together: 7 (1967-1974)
NBA Titles: 2
We know what you're saying, "What about Pearl?" Earl Monroe came to the party a little late. It was Clyde and Reed's team by the time he got there, since they had already won a title in 1970. Walt Frazier was too smooth shooting the rock and too relentless when D'ing up. Willis Reed was the hard worker that led by doing and seemed to play injured every night. The Captain's toughness was immortalized in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals when, despite a torn muscle in his thigh, he came out of that Garden tunnel to hit two jumpers and inspire his team to victory over the Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and the Lakers; Clyde added 36 points and 19 assists. The Red Holzman Knicks made it to the Finals three times bringing home two chips in the process.
7. Robertson and Kareem
Seasons Played Together: 4 (1970-1974)
NBA Titles: 1
When these two became teammates, Kareem was entering his second season in the league while the Big O was 32 and in his eleventh year, still without a ring to go along with the individual accolades. The first year Oscar and Kareem played together they won 66 games and went 12-2 in the playoffs beating the Baltimore Bullets in the Finals. After Robertson retired in 1974, Abdul-Jabbar forced his way to the Lakers where he would later have another Hall of Fame point guard to share the crown with.
6. Stockton and Malone
Seasons Played Together: 18 (1985-2003)
NBA Titles: 0
Yes, we know they didn't win any rings, but shouldn't the record books mean something? John Stockton and Karl Malone made the playoffs in all their 18 seasons together and are the best 1-2 punch in terms of numbers. John Stockton is the all-time assist leader with 15,806 dimes (he's also the all-time steals leader with 3,265) while The Mailman sits at No. 2 on the all-time scoring list behind Kareem with 36,928 points. Both led the Utah Jazz to five Western Conference Finals and two Finals appearances in seven years. If you want to teach aspiring ballers the pick and roll, just put on game tape of these two and walk away.
5. Bird and McHale
Seasons Played Together: 12 (1980-1992
NBA Titles: 3
Bird and McHale are two-thirds of the greatest front court to ever live. Robert Parish was the anchor in the middle, but Larry and Kevin were game changers on both ends of the floor. Whether McHale came off the bench or started, it didn't matter. His long arms wreaked havoc on the defensive end and made his shot unblockable. Larry Legend was the leader, doing it all from rebounds to assists to steals to dropping buckets on fools all while crushing the dreams of opposing fans everywhere.
4. Shaq and Kobe
Seasons Played Together: 8 (1996-2004)
NBA Titles: 3
These two could never get along, but that didn't stop them from winning three out of four Finals appearances. Shaq left Penny and the Magic for the money and a chance to play for a franchise that had a reputation of building contenders around dominant centers. The Lakers swapped Vlade Divac for a high-schooler named Kobe Bryant. The rest is history. Along with Phil Jackson (and Robert Horry), Shaq and Kobe dominated a stacked Western Conference and took advantage of weak Eastern Conference opponents in the Finals. If they could've gotten along, they could've easily won two or three more.
3. Magic and Kareem
Seasons Played Together: 10
NBA Titles: 5
After forcing his way out of Milwaukee once the Big O's skills started to decline, Kareem was still in need of a point guard to give him the ball. In the 1979 Draft, his prayers were answered by a kid from Lansing, Mich. Fresh off winning a national title at Michigan St., Johnson stepped right in and helped the Captain lead L.A. to the Finals to face the 76ers. In Game 6 of that series Kareem was out with an injury and the rookie point guard stepped up to play center. The Lakers won and made it to seven more Finals in the next nine years.
2. Cousy and Russell
Seasons Played Together: 7 (1956-1963)
NBA Titles: 6
Bob Cousy and Bill Russell will forever be the greatest tandem in Celtics history. Bill led the defensive end while Cousy quarterbacked the offensive side of the ball. Under Red Auerbach, these two, along with legends like K.C. Jones and Hondo, revolutionized the game of basketball for generations to come. Cousy was a wizard with the ball and Russell turned shot-blocking into an art form. The Celtics changed the game by implementing the role of the sixth man and breaking color barriers.
1. Jordan and Pippen
Seasons Played Together: 10 (1987-1993, 1995-1998)
NBA Titles: 6
MJ always gets the shine but would he be considered the GOAT without Pippen by his side? We doubt it. Both fed off each other and it resulted in six NBA titles in six tries, never once playing in a Finals Game 7. Both were elite defenders and even better competitors who pushed each other to become the best. When it comes to the greatest NBA duos of all time, these two are on their Ray Charles steez.