Kevin Love-Ricky Rubio and the 12 Best 1-2 Punches in the NBA

Over the years, the NBA has been filled with great one-two punches.

We've seen Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, John Stockton and Karl Malone and many others—so many that I could go on for days.

We've also got some dynamic duos in the NBA this season.

Here's a look at the best one-two punches in the league right now.

As a note, the Memphis Grizzlies' combination of Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph would have made this list if Randolph wouldn't have missed considerable action up to this point in the season.

Let's jump right into it.

12. Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets

This is a young duo that shouldn't be confused with the top one-two punches in the NBA, but it has a great deal of potential and can be a very exciting combination in the future.

Ty Lawson is a lightning-quick dynamic point guard who gets better by the week, and Danilo Gallinari is a gifted young scorer.

They've combined to average over 33 points per game and are a big reason why the Denver Nuggets have gotten off to a good start to the season.

11. Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin, Houston Rockets

The Houston duo of Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin is one of the pure backcourt duos on this list.

Martin averages over 20 points per game, and Lowry has quickly become one of the best point guards in the NBA.

They recently led the Rockets to a seven-game win streak and have them in contention for the Southwest Division lead.

10. Monta Ellis and David Lee, Golden State Warriors

You could include Stephen Curry in the mix as well, but Monta Ellis and David Lee give the Warriors a nice inside-outside combination.

The Warriors aren't winning, but Lee and Ellis are contributing nearly 42 points per game combined.

It could be just a matter of time before Golden State gets things figured out.

9. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls

The reigning MVP Derrick Rose and Luol Deng form Chicago's best one-two punch on the best team in the Eastern Conference.

As a duo, they average a triple-double with 37.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game.

They might not be considered a top duo, but they are a productive one.

8. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Joe Johnson has always been productive for the Atlanta Hawks. With Al Horford, they have formed a productive one-two punch throughout the past few years.

But with Horford on the shelf, Josh Smith has assumed that second half of the duo, and the Hawks have been very good since.

Together, the Johnson-Smith combination has averaged 34.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists per night.

Most importantly, the Hawks have gone 6-2 through their last eight games.

7. Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

On paper, the Carmelo Anthony-Amar'e Stoudemire combination should be one of the top two or three in the NBA, but it hasn't worked out that way so far.

Since Anthony was acquired last season by New York, the Knicks are an under-.500 team, and Anthony and Stoudemire have had their problems playing well together.

They are still two of the better players in the NBA, though, so there is still hope for them.

Together, they put up good numbers. As a duo, they are averaging 41.4 points, 15.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

Those are numbers that should have them higher on the list, but something is missing in the Big Apple.

6. Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Sure, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are still in Boston, but it's Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce that are the Celtics' best one-two punch.

When healthy, these two are tough to deal with and will be a big reason that Boston will get things back on track.

They've been banged up so far, and both have missed time, but together, they are averaging 32.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 14.5 assists per night.

That's solid production in my book, and I would expect the scoring numbers to increase as well.

5. Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota has a great up-and-coming one-two punch with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.

The great young point guard paired with one of the game's best big men will be a solid combination for years to come.

The numbers will get better as Rubio becomes a consistent NBA scorer, but so far they are averaging 36.4 points, 18.3 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game.

4. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

It's still Pau Gasol who forms the best one-two punch with Kobe Bryant—not Andrew Bynum just yet—although that could change very soon.

The Lakers have been inconsistent on offense, but the Bryant-Gasol one-two punch can be hard to deal with when the Lakers are playing well.

Even though they haven't been clicking as a team all season, the Lakers are still getting 46.4 points, 15.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per night from this combo.

3. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin could be the NBA's most exciting one-two punch and together have turned the Clippers' fortunes around.

They produce 38.0 points, 14.7 rebounds and 11.7 assists per night, and as long as Griffin doesn't rub Paul's head, they will continue to be a dominant combination.

2. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

It's hard not to have these guys in the top spot after the season the Thunder are having.

This young one-two punch is nothing short of outstanding, though. It averages 46.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists per night on the best team in the NBA right now.

With both signed long-term in Oklahoma City, this duo will produce big things for years to come.

1. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade has been banged up pretty much all season, but he and LeBron James are still the best one-two punch in the NBA.

When both are playing well, they are next to impossible to stop on a consistent basis, if at all.

They average a combined 48.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 12.5 assists per night.

There's been much made this season about the fourth-quarter struggles of James and how the regular season really doesn't mean much to Miami, but given a choice of any duo, I'll go with Wade and James ahead of every other combination currently in the NBA.