The best NBA duos of the 21st century combined elite talent with titles. Any ranking is subjective, so this one weighs championships, years of dominance and how much each pair defined its era. Here are eight duos, from the top down.
- Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant (Lakers). They won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002 and made four Finals in eight years together. Shaq’s power and Kobe’s scoring made them the most dominant one-two punch of the century’s early years.
- Tim Duncan and Tony Parker (Spurs). They won four championships together and played more than 1,200 games side by side. Duncan was Finals MVP in 2003 and 2005, and Parker took the award in 2007.
- Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (Warriors). When Durant joined Golden State, the two were among the league’s elite-tier stars, and the pairing produced one of the most feared offenses ever.
- LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (Heat). They reached four straight Finals from 2011 to 2014 and won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013, in a run that lasted only four seasons.
- Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (Warriors). The Splash Brothers won four championships together between 2011 and 2023 and reshaped modern three-point shooting.
- Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (Nuggets). They won the 2023 title, with Jokic taking Finals MVP, and have made Denver a regular contender.
- LeBron James and Anthony Davis (Lakers). They brought the franchise its 2020 championship and remained a difficult matchup for opponents afterward.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton (Bucks). The pair led Milwaukee to the 2021 title and have been a core of the franchise for years.
The Next Generation
Oklahoma City and San Antonio are building possible future entries. Read our look at the Thunder’s dynasty case and the Spurs’ contender case. Where would you place them?
Sources: Yardbarker, The Quick Report, Sportskeeda, San Francisco Chronicle.