Three Amigos: Ranking the NBA's 10 Best Trios of the Last 20 Years
We as NBA fans have seen a few legendary trios come and go over the years.
In the 1980s, the Boston Celtics featured arguably the greatest frontline ever in Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.
And you can't forget about their hated rival, the Lakers, who were spearheaded by Earvin "Magic" Johnson", Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy.
This article will consist of the NBA's top ten trios since 1990.
We'll focus more on actual trios instead of dynamic duos added by a role player. So with that being said, don't expect to see Orlando's combination of Shaquille O'Neal, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and Nick Anderson/Horace Grant.
10. Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, and Sam Cassell (Milwaukee Bucks)
The "Big Dog" (Robinson), "Jesus Shuttlesworth" (Allen), and "Sam I Am" (Cassell) formed a high-scoring trio for the Bucks in the early 2000's.
The group enjoyed their best season together in 2000-01 as they led Milwaukee to their best record, 52-30, in fifteen years. They took the eventual Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers to seven games in the conference finals.
9. Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and Larry Nance (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Long before LeBron James came to town, the Cavs were a dangerous Eastern Conference threat in the early '90s. That's because the team was sparked by the All-Star trio of Price, Daugherty, and Nance.
Price is perhaps one of the most underrated players in history and a nighty threat from downtown. Daugherty was a tremendously gifted passing big man, and Nance was a well known shot-blocker.
All three were named to the All-Star team in 1993.
8. Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Charles Barkley (Houston Rockets)
Olajuwon and Drexler wanted to win another title for the Rockets before they retired so the team went picked up Barkley in a trade from the Suns.
The three thirty-somethings would have possibly created a dynasty if they had played together years earlier. However, they still enjoyed a bit of success in their two seasons together, leading the Rockets to the conference finals in 1997.
7. Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks)
After ten straight losing seasons, the Mavs reached the playoffs in 2001, led by the trio of Nowitzki, Nash, and Finley. Nash was the solid playmaker, while Nowitzki and Finley were the 20-point game scorers.
The three All-Stars played six years together, helping the team reach the 50-win plateau four straight seasons, including 60 in 2002-03.
6. Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, and Tim Hardaway (Golden State Warriors)
Back in the day, there was a rap group called Run DMC. And on the basketball court, there was a famous trio known as Run TMC . Tim Hardaway made up the "T", Mitch Richmond was the "M", and Chris Mullin the "C."
Nope, they never won a championship in their two years together, but were truly fun to watch. Each member of the star-studded trio averaged at least 22 points per game during the 1990-91 season.
The group was broken up in '91 after Richmond was dealt to the Sacramento Kings for "The Next Magic Johnson" Billy Owens.
5. Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Detlef Schrempf (Seattle SuperSonics)
The one-two-three punch of Payton, Kemp, and Schrempf was hard to stop in the '90s. Payton was a "shut-down" defender, Kemp was known for his amazing athleticism, and Schrempf possessed a fine all-around game.
The trio led the Sonics to a franchise-best 64 wins in 1995-96 and a second trip to the NBA Finals, where they were defeated by Chicago in six games.
All three members of the trio were All-Stars together in both 1995 and 1996.
4. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen (Boston Celtics)
The 2006-07 Celtics finished with the second-worst record in the league (24-58). The following offseason, the team acquired Allen and Garnett to join Pierce, and just like that, they won a league-best 66 games and a NBA title in their first season together.
The trio pulled off 62 wins in 2008-09, but came up short in their quest for back-to-back championships. An unhealthy Garnett had a lot to do with it. Boston has a chance to hang another banner to the rafters this year.
3. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs)
Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili have won three titles in their eight seasons together. Duncan is considered one of the greatest big men in league history, Parker is one of the most exciting point guards, and Ginobili just knows what it takes to help his team win.
There's no doubt that each member of the "Big Three" will see their uniform numbers retired by the Spurs after their memorable careers come to an end.
2. Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Jeff Hornacek (Utah Jazz)
Malone and Stockton formed one of the greatest duos in sports history. The two Dream Teamers starred for the Jazz for nearly 20 years and never missed the playoffs.
But it's hard to talk about those great Jazz teams without giving props to Stockton's pure-shooting backcourt mate Hornacek.
Hornacek teamed with Malone and Stockton for six-and-a half seasons in Utah, helping the Jazz reach the finals in both 1997 and 1998.
Malone's 32, Stockton's 12, and Hornacek's 14 are retired by the team.
1. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman (Chicago Bulls)
When Rodman was traded to the Bulls in 1995, Jordan and Pippen got a new teammate who they had despised during the great Chicago-Detroit rivalry of the late 1980s-early 1990s.
However, the trio made up fast as they led the Bulls to a history-making 72 win-season in '95-96 and three consecutive NBA titles.
Jordan was the greatest player in the game, Pippen was the premier "in your face" defender" and Rodman was a tremendous rebounding specialist, maybe the best ever.
