Kobe Bryant & Pau Gasol and the 10 Best Inside-Outside Duos in the NBA
When looking through the annals of NBA history, the best teams almost always have at least one great perimeter player along with a talented big man.
This seems to be a winning formula because as defenses collapse inside, the interior player can pass out to the perimeter star, who can find a way to score.
Likewise, when a dominant outside player gets stymied by perimeter-opposing defenses, he can throw the basketball to the inside player for an easy hoop.
This give-and-take makes it difficult for defenses to stop a team as they cannot focus on just one star player. In addition, the combination of the inside-outside duo spreads out the defenses even more.
Some of the best duos in the league today are perimeter players, such as Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry of Golden State or LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of Miami.
However, this article strictly focuses on inside-outside duos.
The rankings are determined in part by both individual performances and team performances.
Hence, top duos such as Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin who have impressive stats cannot make a high ranking on this list because their Los Angeles Clippers sport a dismal 1-13 record.
Feel free to comment on the picks. Was there any combination that should have made the list? Are any duos ranked too high or too low?
Without further ado, here are the top inside-outside duos in the NBA this season.
Honorable Mention: Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge
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Brandon Roy: 18.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 91% FT
LaMarcus Aldridge: 18.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 apg
The Portland Trailblazers duo of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge barely misses out on the top 10 inside-outside duos this season. Portland has a respectable 8-6 record. However, neither player is performing as an MVP candidate.
In recent years, Brandon Roy has also performed as a top three or four shooting guard in the league. With his recent knee injury though, Roy has yet to turn up his game to its potential.
Once again, it looks like the Trailblazers will be stricken with injuries this year, with the recent announcement that Greg Oden will not play. Despite the injury bug last year, the team still managed to win 50 games.
This season will probably result in a similar outcome, being led by the tandem of Roy and Aldridge.
Honorable Mention: Joe Johnson and Al Horford
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Joe Johnson: 18.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.0 apg
Al Horford: 17.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 65% FG (first in the NBA)
After the Atlanta Hawks won their first six games this season, the team has since won only five out of seven games. If it weren’t for the recent team struggles, Joe Johnson and Al Horford may be ranked higher on this list.
While neither player is putting up MVP-worthy numbers this year, both Johnson and Horford provide a formidable one-two punch. Joe Johnson provides the team with a reliable go-to guy in close games, while Horford provides steady production in the middle.
Al Horford deserved his recent contract extension, as he is leading the league in field-goal percentage and has career highs in points, assists, and free-throw percentage.
With the duo of Johnson and Horford, Atlanta should at least be assured of another playoff spot in April.
Honorable Mention: LeBron James and Chris Bosh
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Lebron James: 23.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 8.8 apg, 1.9 spg
Chris Bosh: 17.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 51% FG
At first glance, two players such as LeBron James and Chris Bosh may deserve to be ranked higher on this list. If one were to look at last season’s numbers, both players were arguably among the top 10 players in the league.
However, this season has been presented a different story, as the Miami Heat have not met expectations with an 8-5 record.
Along with Dwyane Wade, these two players have struggled to fit into Miami’s new system. While there is plenty of time left in the season to improve, some things cannot be ignored.
The harshest criticism falls on Chris Bosh. A player with his talent should be a bigger force in the middle, grabbing rebounds and protecting the basket. With all the attention on Wade and James, Bosh should have no problem being a dominant big man.
The problem seems to be that Bosh has played more like a small forward than a power forward thus far. Fortunately, recent games have shown an improvement on his part.
If James and Bosh can continue to improve and lead Miami to more wins, they can climb up this list as the season progresses.
10. Kevin Martin and Luis Scola
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Kevin Martin: 23.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 39% 3FG, 91% FT
Luis Scola: 22.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 53% FG
The Houston Rockets may not have a great record so far at 3-9, but Kevin Martin and Luis Scola have quietly made a potent duo in the southeastern part of Texas.
Scola is one of the few big men in the league that is both a dominant scorer and rebounder. With Yao Ming playing limited minutes and being injured, Scola has been the man in the middle for the Rockets and has filled in superbly.
Kevin Martin has outplayed many other top players to climb up the ranks of the greatest shooting guards in the league. His efficient shooting marks have helped make him one of the leading scorers in the NBA.
Once Aaron Brooks and Yao Ming come back from injuries, the Houston Rockets will probably make a strong push into the playoffs. If Martin and Scola can continue to produce like they have, they might move up on this list.
9. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah
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Derrick Rose: 25.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 8.5 apg
Joakim Noah: 14.9 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 bpg, 53% FG
Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have powered the Chicago Bulls, in the absence of Carlos Boozer, to a 7-4 record and the top of the Central Division.
This year Rose has had an MVP-caliber season with career highs in points, assists, steals, and three-pointers. He has proven to be nearly unstoppable and displays his talents nightly as one of the best finishers around the basket.
Similar to Rose, Joakim Noah is having a career year, especially in scoring and rebounding.
While Noah may be the NBA’s best garbage man in cleaning up missed shots, he does not bring the same offensive repertoire that Boozer or other inside players on this list have.
A healthy Boozer and Rose would probably get a higher ranking on this list, but Noah’s offensive limitations keep this pair from a much higher position.
8. Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard
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Jameer Nelson: 14.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.6 apg, 41% 3FG
Dwight Howard: 21.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.7 bpg, 59% FG
Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard have led the Orlando Magic to the best record in the Eastern Conference at nine wins and three losses.
At first their statistics may not seem to be the most impressive. But when one considers that both players have been on the court in limited minutes (Nelson at 29.2 minutes per game and Howard at 32.9 minutes per game), it is relatively easy to assume that their statistics would be higher if they averaged closer to 40 minutes per game like many other players on this list.
Still, Howard is playing like an MVP candidate and is once again a defensive force in the middle for the Magic.
Orlando’s system thrives with feeding the ball down low to Howard, with him being able to score efficiently (59 percent). Once he is double-teamed, he can kick out the ball to perimeter players to knock down wide-open threes.
Nelson provides a perfect complementary player to Howard in being able to get him the ball and routinely knocking down outside shots.
The season may be long but it would be wise to assume that Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson will lead Orlando to one of the top seeds in the East.
7. Chris Paul and David West
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Chris Paul: 17.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 10.2 apg (second in the NBA), 2.8 spg (second in the NBA), 52% FG, 52% 3FG
David West: 17.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 53% FG
This season the New Orleans Hornets have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA, en route to an 11-1 record.
Leading the way is Chris Paul, who is having an MVP-worthy season and reminding people that he is the best all-around point guard in the league when healthy.
He may be the only point guard in the league that can score efficiently both inside and out, is one of the top playmakers, and is an excellent defender.
David West started the season slow but is gaining speed. While he needs to improve his rebounding to help New Orleans succeed, West can efficiently turn Paul’s passes into sure baskets.
As a duo, West and Paul may not have the gaudiest stats. But the dominance of Paul’s play, combined with the team’s success so far, put this pair in a respectable position on this list.
6. Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph
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Rudy Gay: 21.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 40% 3FG
Zach Randolph: 17.1 rpg, 11.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 51% FG
Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph have performed as one of the best duos for the Memphis Grizzlies.
After missing the first few games of the season with injury, Randolph is slowly picking up his play throughout the season and he is almost guaranteed to put up 20 points and 10 rebounds on any given night.
Rudy Gay has been making the most of his 41.3 minutes per game by being a top scorer with a decent outside shot. His recent play was highlighted by a game-winning jumper against Miami on Saturday.
Together, Gay and Randolph form the top rebounding inside-outside duo on this list. With a healthy Zach Randolph, this duo could improve its ranking if Memphis can improve upon its 5-9 record.
5. Monta Ellis and David Lee
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Monta Ellis: 27.7 ppg (second in the NBA), 4.0 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.6 spg (third in the NBA), 52% FG
David Lee: 14.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.8 apg
Monta Ellis and David Lee comprise the next dynamic duo of inside-outside players.
With Lee’s elbow injury limiting him to just eight games thus far, the potential of the two has yet to be reached. However, the Golden State Warriors’ 7-5 record is a huge improvement over last season.
Lee is an underrated inside player who is almost a guaranteed double-double. Once he returns to playing, the Warriors will be much improved.
Meanwhile, Ellis is currently slightly behind Kevin Durant for the NBA’s scoring title. He is scoring at an impressively efficient clip, despite being short (6’3”) for a shooting guard.
With all the young talent on the Warriors, a healthy Ellis and Lee should help lead an exciting team to watch this year.
4. Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki
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Jason Terry: 18.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 5.1 apg, 50% FG, 42% 3FG
Dirk Nowitzki: 24.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 53% FG
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry have helped lead the Dallas Mavericks to another great season, currently with an 8-4 record.
Terry is mostly known as a super-sub off of the bench who can score efficiently around the court. This year he is also playing as an effective playmaker.
One of the best facets of Terry’s game is his clutch ability, often taking and making difficult shots in close fourth quarters.
Like Terry, Dirk Nowitzki also shines near the end of games. Possibly the best shooting big man of all-time, Nowitzki is a nightmare matchup for opposing forwards.
While he is only shooting 28 percent behind the arc this year, that number should improve throughout the season.
While Nowitzki is always one of the league’s leading scorers, he and Terry would form a more potent duo if he could rebound and defend the basket more vigorously.
3. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett
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Rajon Rondo: 11.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 14.8 apg (first in the NBA), 2.5 spg, 50% FG
Kevin Garnett: 15.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 52% FG
At first glance, one may wonder how the duo of Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett form such a high-ranked inside-outside combination. After all, they only average about a combined 27 points per game.
However, looking at the Boston Celtics’ squad starts to provide the answers. With scorers like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce on the roster, Rondo and Garnett play their roles to near perfection.
Both players act as defensive catalysts for their team. While Garnett is the emotional leader of the team, Rondo is the engine that makes it run.
Mostly due to Rondo leading the NBA in assists with an incredible 14.8 average per game, Rondo and Garnett form the pair with the most assists on this list.
More importantly, take Rondo and Garnett off of the Celtics and the team’s 9-4 record would not nearly be as impressive.
2. Deron Williams and Paul Millsap
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Deron Williams: 21.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 9.8 apg (3rd)
Paul Millsap: 20.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 57% FG
Deron Williams and Paul Millsap have consistently been one of the top duos in the NBA this year.
Each of them is nearly a double-double threat and they have led the Utah Jazz to an impressive 9-5 record, including several come-from-behind victories on the road (after being behind by double digits).
While Williams may not be as well-rounded as Chris Paul, he may be the better point guard of the two. Deron Williams has been on a mission the past few years to prove the naysayers wrong who snubbed him from the All-Star games.
With his strength, penetrating drives and outside shooting, he may be the most talented scorer of all the point guards in the league.
Likewise, Paul Millsap has been playing so well this season that he may be an upgrade over Carlos Boozer's contributions of recent seasons. He is an efficient scorer and now seemingly has an improved outside shot, which will only make him that much more difficult to guard.
Together Williams and Millsap are a dominant inside-outside duo worthy of being near the top of this list.
1. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol
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Kobe Bryant: 26.1 ppg (third in the NBA), 6.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 88% FT
Pau Gasol: 22.4 ppg, 12.3 rpg (third in the NBA), 4.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, 54% FG
With the only inside-outside duo where both players are playing at an MVP level, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol come in at No. 1 on this list.
Despite playing limited minutes this season, Kobe Bryant has worked his way back from multiple injuries and offseason knee surgery to prove he is once again the top shooting guard in the league.
Meanwhile, Pau Gasol has raised his game to the point where many NBA pundits feel he is the best big man in the league this year.
Both are extremely knowledgeable of the game and have led the Los Angeles Lakers to an impressive 11-2 record.
Together they rank as the top scoring duo on this list. If Gasol and Bryant keep up their level of play and the Lakers’ record stays this good, this pair will be tough to knock off the top.
