The great debate on prolific pairs
The Warriors’ championship season struck even the most experienced observers as something rare and distinctive, worthy of its own place in NBA history. Kevin Durant’s arrival was a gift from the basketball gods, and it seemed almost unfair to have him playing alongside twotime MVP Stephen Curry.
Which raised the question: Is this the greatest duo the league has ever seen?
Well, hold on. That’s a hasty conclusion for two players who have spent just a year together, and it contradicts the true essence of the Warriors, who will be best remembered for their exceptional depth of talent. Still, the league hasn’t seen anything quite like the combination of Durant — as Klay Thompson put it, “almost 7 feet, shoots like Dirk Nowitzki, with the athleticism of Dominique Wilkins” — and Curry, historically unparalleled from long range.
Let’s see how the next few seasons play out, given that the Warriors are forecast to win at least three or four more titles in the Durant-Curry era. Longevity is a big factor in this discussion, not to mention stylistic progression: The Warriors’ pair are deadliest from three-point range, and that wasn’t even an option in decades past.
Consider the hierarchy of two-man greatness before sending our local heroes to the penthouse.
Bill Russell and Bob Cousy CELTICS, 1957-63
Together, they revolutionized the game. Cousy’s fancy dribbling was a revelation, launching the age of fastbreak basketball and sleight-of-hand point guards, while Russell set standards in defense and cerebral influence that have not been matched. They won six titles together, five straight until Cousy retired after the ’63 Finals. Discount them only if you’re among the clueless folks who think the game was stodgy and prehistoric back then.
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor LAKERS, 1961-72
The greatest clutch shooter of all time — yes, that includes Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant — and the high-flying, creativegenius model for Connie Hawkins, Julius Erving and all frontcourt greats to follow. Their cumulative statistics are mind-blowing, but try this: West averaged 31 points per game in the seven-game 1962 Finals against Russell’s defensive-minded Celtics, while Baylor averaged 40 and 18 rebounds. The absence of a title does not diminish their accomplishments.
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAKERS, 1980-89
For the balance of halfcourt offense and a blinding fastbreak, they represented perfection. Magic was the greatest point guard ever to set foot on court, peerless in the open floor, and if the Lakers needed a basket — any time, against anyone — they just dumped the ball into Kareem for the skyhook. The scoreboard: five NBA titles.
West and Wilt Chamberlain LAKERS, 1969-73
Both men were a bit past their prime in ’72, but that’s the year the Lakers won 33 straight games and knocked off the mighty Knicks for the title. Thank goodness this happened for West: his first and only title after a decade’s worth of playoff heroics. For Wilt, who led the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, it was title No. 2.
Larry Bird and Kevin McHale CELTICS, 1981-92
Probably the greatest pair of forwards ever to land on one team, good enough to squeeze three titles into the Lakers’ “Showtime” era. Try to imagine today’s Warriors against these long-ago Celtics, with such radical differences in how the game is played, and you see the futility of the comparison game.
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen BULLS, 1988-98
Six Finals together, six titles. If a crisis came up, Jordan simply willed his way through. You can do that when you’re the best offensive and defensive player in the league. Pippen was a landmark talent, paving the way for the long-limbed, defendanyone forwards so prevalent today.
Tim Duncan and Tony Parker SPURS, 2002-16
Coach Gregg Popovich still looks over his shoulder to see if Duncan might feel like suiting up. Parker misses him, too, after celebrating four titles together. San Antonio will always be remembered for its team concept, but these two were the centerpieces.
Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal LAKERS, 1997-2004
They didn’t much care for each other, but at their best, stack them up against any center-guard combination. Although the Eastern Conference was weak back then (sounds familiar), the Kobe-Shaq teams turned the Finals into mismatches during their three-year title run (2000-02).
Just one title, but memorable
Abdul-Jabbar teaming up with the aging-but-commanding Oscar Robertson for the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks, and the Julius Erving-Moses Malone Philadelphia 76ers of ’83.
Honorable mentions
Just for kicks — and keep in mind that many of these teams had more than just two dynamic players — some other combinations to remember: 1950s-60s: George Mikan-Jim Pollard (Minneapolis Lakers), Bob Pettit-Cliff Hagan (St. Louis Hawks), Robertson-Jack Twyman (Cincinnati Royals), Robertson-Jerry Lucas (Cincinnati), Chamberlain-Paul Arizin (Philadelphia Warriors), ChamberlainHal Greer (Philadelphia 76ers), Gus Johnson-Earl Monroe (Baltimore Bullets), Rick Barry-Nate Thurmond (the ‘66-67 Warriors, reaching the Finals against Philadelphia). 1970s: Dave Cowens-John Havlicek (Boston), Robertson-Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee); Bob Love-Chet Walker (Chicago), Bob Lanier-Dave Bing (Detroit), Calvin Murphy-Rudy Tomjanovich (Houston), Pete MaravichLou Hudson (Atlanta), Elvin Hayes-Phil Chenier (Washington), Bob McAdoo-Randy Smith (Buffalo Braves), Julius ErvingGeorge McGinnis (Philadelphia), Paul Westphal-Walter Davis (Phoenix), Gus Williams-Dennis Johnson (Seattle). 1980s: Isiah Thomas-Joe Dumars (Detroit), Murphy-Malone (Houston), George Gervin-Larry Kenon (San Antonio), Adrian Dantley-Darrell Griffith (Utah), David Thompson-Alex English (Denver), Marques JohnsonSidney Moncrief (Milwaukee), Hakeem Olajuwon-Ralph Sampson (Houston), Mark AguirreRonaldo Blackman (Dallas), Bernard King-World B. Free (Warriors; can’t resist). 1990s: John Stockton-Karl Malone (Utah); Shaquille O’Neal-Penny Hardaway (Orlando), Olajuwon-Clyde Drexler (Houston), Duncan-David Robinson (San Antonio), Chris Mullin-Mitch Richmond (Warriors). 2000s: Chris Webber-Peja Stojakovic (Sacramento), Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix), LeBron James-Dwyane Wade (Miami), Paul PierceKevin Garnett (Boston), Dirk Nowitzki-Jason Kidd (Dallas), Allen Iverson-Carmelo Anthony (Denver), Bryant-Pau Gasol (Lakers), Durant-Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City).