NBA Power Rankings: Carmelo, Amar'e and the 50 Best Scoring Duos in NBA History
The National Basketball Association has a long line of scoring greats in its history, but the list of dynamic duos playing, scoring and winning together is a bit smaller.
Putting two players on a team together who can score the basketball is one thing, but how they play together and what it means for their team is even more important.
Certainly one player can score the basketball in dominant fashion but with two players working in unison it becomes extremely difficult to stop.
On a 1-to-5 scale, the duos will be judged in three categories and the total overall score will determine where they rank.
Using a simple system of scoring, longevity and success, we will rank the top 50 scoring duos in NBA history and flesh out which pair really is the best.
50. Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
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Plain and simple, it is way too early to judge these guys as a duo but when you put two of the league's biggest stars together, naturally the expectations are high.
Carmelo Anthony averages 24 points per game for his career while Amar'e Stoudemire averages 21.8.
This season Melo is averaging 25.3 points per game and Amar'e is averaging 26 per game in the up-tempo New York offense.
Only time will tell how good these two can be, but as it stands now they are still too new to judge.
49. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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These youngsters are two of the very best players in the league.
Kevin Durant is the youngest player to ever win the scoring title and Russell Westbrook has quickly become his dominant sidekick.
Durant averages 25.9 points for his career and this season he is averaging 28.5
His point guard, Westbrook, averages 17 points per game for his career but he is on pace to raise that noticeably this year, with an average of 22 per game so far this season.
If the Thunder can keep this duo together, they could easily become one of the best ever and it could start with them getting their first series win this postseason.
48. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
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The two biggest talents in South Beach still have a long way to go.
LeBron James has the regular season MVPs, Dwyane Wade has a ring and NBA Finals MVP (with a guy who will certainly appear on this list later) and the pair of them average well over 50 points per game for their careers.
James puts up 27 points per game for his career (is averaging 26.2 in Miami) and Wade averages 25.4 for his career and he is averaging 25.5 this season.
Like Melo and Amar'e, it is still too early to judge these two as a pair. They have the individual talent but they need to start playing together if they want to become the best duo we have ever seen.
47. David Thompson and Dan Issel, Denver Nuggets
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Scoring (2): These two combined for over 40 points per game in five straight seasons during the late 1970s and into the 1980s. Only four players in the league averaged over 30 points per game for an entire season during that stretch and the Nuggets fortunately had two big men to help them score buckets.
Longevity (1.5): These two lasted only five seasons together. During the 1979-80 seasons, Thompson missed half of the games played.
Success (.5): Thompson and Issel were good, but during their stretch Denver made a postseason run in only three of the five years.
Total: 4
46. Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe, Denver Nuggets
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Scoring (2): English and Vandeweghe were scoring machines. Immediately following the Thompson-Issel run, these two posted three straight seasons of over 45 combined points, with the latter years (1982-1984) well over 50 points per game.
Longevity (1): Unfortunately, it did not last very long and their scoring run ended after only three seasons in the early 1980s.
Success (1): The Nuggets were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round twice and once in the Western semifinals, with Kiki and Alex as their go-to players.
Total: 4
45. Walter Davis and Larry Nance, Phoenix Suns
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Scoring (1.5): These two posted close to 40 points per night during their scoring stretch of the mid-1980s, with about 19 points each per season.
Longevity (2): This duo lasted five seasons, from 1982-1987, as the leading scorers for the Suns.
Success (.5): They were bounced in the first round of the playoffs twice, reached the Western Conference finals once, but they also missed the playoffs in both latter years.
Total: 4
44. Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee Bucks
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Scoring (2): Ray Allen is one of the most prolific shooters the game has ever seen and in his early years he was paired up with a guy, Glenn Robinson, who could also score the basketball. Over a six-year stretch, these two averaged approximately 40 points per night in the late1990s into the 2000s.
Longevity (2): The Allen-Robinson duo hung around from 1996-2002 before heading for greener pastures.
Success (.5): Milwaukee only made the playoffs in three of the six seasons and the Bucks were bounced in the first round twice and were in the Eastern Conference Finals just once.
Total: 4.5
43. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
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Scoring (3): Allen Iverson was one of the most dynamic scorers the game has ever seen and during his time in Denver he was chasing a shot at getting a ring. He was paired up with one of the game's more prolific scorers, Carmelo Anthony, and the two averaged over 50 points per game together.
Longevity (1): This partnership lasted all of two seasons and Iverson was gone at the start of the 2008 season.
Success (.5): Denver's scoring amounted to little as they were bounced in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs in the first round each year.
Total: 4.5
42. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics
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Scoring (3): Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker brought some excitement to the Celtics and the pair averaged well over 40 points per game in the early portion of the 2000s.
Longevity (1): What was a promising tag-team ended when Antoine was taking ridiculous shots and he was sent out of town after only a four -ear stretch of what could have been a much better pairing.
Success (1.5): The Celtics missed the playoffs twice in the beginning of the decade but then made some progress before getting beat in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002 and the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2003.
Total: 5.5
41. Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors
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Scoring (3): Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond were a pair of ballplayers in the early 1990s. Together, early in their careers, they scored the basketball with ease and over a three-year stretch they averaged over 45 points per game.
Longevity (1): Richmond did not last long as a Warrior and he was a member of the Kings after the 1991 season, Their run lasted all of three years.
Success (1.5): The Warriors made the Western Conference Semifinals twice, but they got no further and missed the playoffs altogether in the 1989-1990 season.
Total: 5.5
40. Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, Dallas Mavericks
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Scoring (2): The Nash and Dirk tag team propelled the Dallas Mavericks in the early portion of the 2000s. With Nash's offensive creativity and Dirk's range and versatility, the pair put up between 36 and 42 points per game for a four season stretch.
Longevity (2): Nash and Dirk could still be running today but the Canadian point guard went to Phoenix to help a few other scorers and won two MVP awards in the process. Dirk and Nash's best days ended after four years.
Success (2): The Mavericks made the playoffs every year behind these two but never got any further than the Western Conference Finals.
Total: 6
39. Clyde Drexler and Kiki Vandeweghe, Portland Trail Blazers
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Scoring (3): We have already seen Kiki once on this list and we know he can score the basketball. Clyde "the Glyde" Drexler was also quite the performer and together they averaged almost 45 points per game for the Blazers in mid-1980s.
Longevity (2): Kiki ended up on the Knicks in 1989 after only four seasons at Clyde's side.
Success (1): The Blazers made the playoffs in each of those four seasons but only got out of the first round once and were then bounced in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Total: 6
38. Bob Love and Chet Walker, Chicago Bulls
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Scoring (2): The combination of Bob Love and Chet Walker put up over 40 points per game for six seasons in Chicago. The steady pair were top scorers for the Bulls in a game that was quickly changing. Between 1970 and 1974, the team scoring in the NBA dropped from 116.7 points per game to 105.7. (Bill Simmons, Book of Basketball)
Longevity (2): This pair stuck together for a decent amount of time, but it was easier to keep players back then.
Success (2): The Bulls made the playoffs six straight seasons behind Love and Walker but never reached the NBA Finals.
Total: 6
37. Pete Maravich and Lou Hudson, Atlanta Hawks
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Scoring (3): "Pistol" Pete Maravich and "Sweet" Lou Hudson were two 1970s basketball players who could score the rock. The duo averaged close to 49 points per game in the early portion of the decade and were the Hawks go-to scoring options.
Longevity (2): The duo did not last too long as the Hawks leading scorers—the run ended in 1974.
Success (1): Atlanta made the postseason in three of the four seasons but never made it past the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Total: 6
36. Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic
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Scoring (2.5): The "Big Diesel" started his career down in Orlando and his first sidekick (we will see the others later for sure) was Penny Hardaway. The duo combined for almost 50 points per game (Shaq close to 30) in the mid-1990s.
Longevity (1.5): This potential dream pairing ended when Shaq got away and became part of the Lakers after only three years with Penny on his wing.
Success (2): The Magic made the postseason in each of the three seasons but suffered losses in the first round, Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals.
Total: 6
35. Dale Ellis and Xavier McDaniel, Seattle Supersonics
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Scoring (3): This late 1980s Seattle combination could certainly score the basketball. Over a four-year period, Ellis and the "X-Man", Xavier McDaniel, put up almost 47 points per night.
Longevity (2): The Sonics duo only lasted four seasons before a couple of new faces (who we'll see later) took over the show in Seattle.
Success (1.5): They made the playoffs in three of their four years as the leading scorers and were bounced in the Western Conference Finals, Western Conference Semifinals and in the first round.
Total: 6.5
34. Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan, Atlanta Hawks
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Scoring (2): Averaging just about 50 points per game back in the late 1950s, early 1960s, seems wild but the average NBA score for a team in 1961 was 118.8 points per game so I can't give this duo too much credit for consistently hitting the 50 mark.
Longevity (2): Five straight seasons, 1957-1962, Pettit and Hagan were the guys you knew were going to score for the Hawks.
Success (2.5): They won the title in 1958, lost two back-to-back titles games in 1960 and 1961 and then missed the playoffs altogether in 1962. They were moderately successful, but with only one title in a small league I cannot push them too far.
Total: 6.5
33. Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers, Phoenix Suns
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Scoring (2.5): KJ was a mainstay on the Phoenix Suns for a long, long time (in fact, he may make another appearance), but with Tom Chambers on the court, the pair averaged nearly 45 points per night in the late 1980s, early 1990s and had a good overall team.
Longevity (2): Four seasons was all Chambers and Johnson had as the lead men for Phoenix and their run ended in 1992.
Success (2): All four years the Suns made the playoffs, but they never got past the Western Conference Finals. They were also bounced once in the first round and once in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Total: 6.5
32. Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat
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Scoring (3): Big 'Zo and little Timmy Hardaway were part of feisty Miami Heat teams in the 1990s. Zo and Hardaway were great together, averaging almost 48 points per game and they were one of the league's best duos at the time.
Longevity (2): It was about four-and-a-half years that 'Zo and Hardaway spent together at the top of the Miami chain before things ended.
Success (1.5): They made the postseason each of those five seasons spent together, but lost three times in the first round and never passed the Eastern Conference Finals altogether.
Total: 6.5
31. Mark Price and Brad Daugherty, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Scoring (1.5): Price and Daugherty were not the biggest scorers in the world, but they did average about 37 points per game for the better part of a decade.
Longevity (3): From 1987-1994, this duo played effective basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had their bumps along the way (Price missed some time in 1991 and Daugherty missed significant time during 1990 and 1994) but they found ways to score.
Success (2): Six out of seven years they took the Cavs to the postseason, but they were bounced in the first round four of those six times. They lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992 and the Eastern Semifinals in 1993.
Total: 6.5
30. Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento Kings
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Scoring (3): The Kings had some players in the early portion of the 2000s and Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic were the biggest guns. The duo averaged almost 45 points a night with Peja working the perimeter and Webber on the inside.
Longevity (2): It was an average stint for a team that could not get over the hump and the duo only lasted four seasons.
Success (2): The Kings were a tough team in an even tougher conference. They made it to the playoffs in all four seasons but only once made it beyond the Western Conference Semifinals.
Total: 7
29. Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
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Scoring (2.5): Nash is not a primary scorer all the time but he is the catalyst for every team he has ever played for and he can score when necessary. His top target, Amar'e Stoudemire, was one of the league's best big men when healthy. Together they combined for 40 points every night the last few seasons.
Longevity (2.5): Amar'e ran into injury trouble during the 2005-2006 and 2008-2009 seasons but they were always great on the court before the big man left for the Big Apple this offseason.
Success (2): They were a contending team with Nash and his back-to-back MVP seasons and lost in the Western Conference Finals in both of those years and in the 2010 season as well. The duo made the playoffs five out of their six seasons together.
Total: 7
28. Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman, Dallas Mavericks
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Scoring (3): The Mavericks were a new franchise at the start of the 1980s and their big two were Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman. Together for the better part of the decade, they averaged about 45 points per game and were the engine that drove Dallas.
Longevity (2.5): Six seasons was a good amount of time for the duo and they did not drop off until after the 1988 season.
Success (1.5): Dallas made the playoffs five straight teams with these two following the 1982-1983 season and got the farthest in 1988 when they lost in the Western Conference Finals.
Total: 7
27. Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns
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Scoring (2.5): Sir Charles joined KJ and the Suns in hopes of grabbing a title ring in the mid-1990s. The duo, anchored by Barkley, averaged about 40 points per game over a four-season span.
Longevity (2): Barkley came and went rather quickly as a Phoenix Sun. After his 11th season in the league he joined up with the Houston Rockets in his chase for a title after the 1996 season.
Success (2.5): The Suns duo made the postseason each year but peaked in Barkley's first year (1992-1993) with a loss in the NBA Finals to Jordan and the Bulls.
Total: 7
26. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks
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Scoring (2.5): Dirk can score from anywhere on the floor and Jason Terry does not care if he starts or comes off the bench. He just wants the opportunity to play basketball. Together they put up just over 40 points per night and have been doing so for the better part of the decade.
Longevity (3): A lot of pieces come and go around the Mavericks but Terry and Dirk have been doing it since the 2004 season.
Success (2): Dallas continually makes a run to the playoffs but has only gotten out of the first round 50 percent of the time. They lost in the 2006 Finals but have not been further than the Western Semifinals since.
Total: 7.5
25. Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati Royals
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Scoring (3.5): Oscar was a machine, we all know that, but the game was a bit different back then. Together, in the 1960s, he and Jerry Lucas averaged 50 points per game and they are two of the best to ever play basketball.
Longevity (3): This duo lasted six seasons for the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings).
Success (1.5): Unfortunately all of Oscar's numbers and Jerry's sidekick tricks were not enough to propel the Royals to much success. They made the playoffs four out of six seasons but only got to the Eastern Conference Finals once.
Total: 8
24. Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, Seattle Supersonics
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Scoring (2): "The Glove" Gary Payton and his running mate, Shawn Kemp, were a feisty bunch up in Seattle. Payton did not always have to put up points but together they averaged nearly 40 points per game for the better part of the 1990s before Kemp moved on.
Longevity (3.5): Seven years amidst an NBA that saw a lot of movement was a solid number for these guys.
Success (2.5): They lost one NBA Final, made it to one other Western Conference Final, and were bounced in the first round and conference semfinals the other five times.
Total: 8
23. Magic Johnson and James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers
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Scoring (4): Magic and Worthy are two of the most notable NBA players to play the game, but together, at the top of the L.A. heap, they only had a few short years. Together they averaged 42 points per game for the Lakers at the start of the 1990's.
Longevity (1.5): The 1989-1991 seasons, that is all the time they spent as the No. 1 and No. 2 guys.
Success (2.5): They lost once in the Western Conference Semifinals and also lost in the NBA Finals to Jordan and the Bulls.
Total: 8
22. Gus Williams and Jack Sikma, Seattle Supersonics
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Scoring (2): Williams and Sikma were not the biggest scorers in the league but they were very effective. Over a stretch of late 1970s, early 1980s basketball, they averaged about 38 points per game as the go-to guys for Seattle.
Longevity (2.5): They were together for a span of five seasons between 1978-1984.
Success (3.5): Seattle won a championship in 1979 over the Washington Bullets but never got back to the Finals after that as a duo. They missed the playoffs once, got bounced in the first round twice and lost in a Western Conference Semifinals and Western Conference Finals as well.
Total: 8
21. Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Houston Rockets
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Scoring (3): Hakeem "the Dream" is one of the best big men to ever play the game and Clyde is also a Hall of Famer. Together they averaged 45 points as the Rockets No. 1 and No. 2 guys in the mid-1990s.
Longevity (1.5): Olajuwon had just won a title when Clyde came aboard and they won a second one immediately after. Their numbers dropped off a bit after that and the partnership was over after only three seasons when Clyde retired.
Success (3.5): They won the title in 1995 and then lost in the Western Conference Semifinals and Western Conference Finals the two following seasons.
Total: 8
20. Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
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Scoring (3.5): Shaq joined forces with the younger D.Wade and the duo averaged about 45 points per game for the Heat in the mid-2000s.
Longevity (1.5): Shaq's stay with the Heat did not last too long and he left town for another shot at a title after the 2008 season.
Success (3): Miami got their long-awaited title with "Flash" and "the Diesel" at the controls in 2006. They duo got bounced once in the first round and lost another in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Total: 8
19. Moses Malone and Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers
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Scoring (2.5): Moses Malone and Dr. J averaged 45 points per game as Philadelphia's go-to men. During the mid-1980s, at the end of the Doc's career, he could still score the basketball.
Longevity (2): This duo only stayed together for four years before Moses left for Washington and J retired the very next season.
Success (3.5): In their four years together they won one NBA title and lost in the first, semifinal and final rounds of the Eastern Conference once each as well.
Total: 8
18. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
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Scoring (2.5): Two extremely prolific scorers who find ways to score when their team needs them the most. Allen may be one of if not the best shooter to ever play the game. Pierce is a crafty scorer of his own and the pair average nearly 35 points per game since they got together.
Longevity (2): Still in progress as we go here, but Pierce and Allen, although at the end of their careers, have only been together for three seasons.
Success (3.5): They won an NBA championship, lost in the Finals once and lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals once as well. They are still a contender and could be the best team in the East again this season.
Total: 8
17. Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter, Portland Trail Blazers
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Scoring (2.5): "The Glide" spent the majority of his career in Portland and his running mate for later portion of the 1980s into the 1990s was Terry Porter. Together they made a good pair and averaged close to 40 points per night.
Longevity (3): Six seasons, from 1988-1994, Clyde and Terry ran on the same court for the Blazers.
Success (3): Unfortunately they never won the title but in fact lost twice during their run. They were bounced in the first round of the playoffs three separate times and made the Western Conference Finals once more.
Total: 8.5
16. Patrick Ewing and John Starks, New York Knicks
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Scoring (2.5): Ewing is certainly one of the best Knicks to ever play basketball and could score like a monster. His best running mate throughout the 1990s, however, happened to be a guy who scored when needed. John Starks and Ewing led the Knicks to a lot of good years, averaging nearly 39 points per game.
Longevity (4.5): They played together for the better part of seven seasons, 1991-1998.
Success (3): They made the playoffs every season during their stretch, made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals five times, lost in the NBA Finals once and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals another time.
Total: 10
15. Tim Duncan and David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
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Scoring (2.5): Timmy joined forces late in the career of "The Admiral", but that did not stop them from dominating. Together they averaged about 37 points per game as Duncan started to take over the league.
Longevity (3.5): Robinson was closing out his career but lasted six years into the start of Duncan's reign in San Antonio.
Success (4.5): The Spurs won two NBA titles with the "Twin Towers" roaming around and made runs into at least the Western Conference Semifinals three out of the other four times they were in the postseason.
Total: 10.5
14. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
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Scoring (2.5): Kobe got a gift in the form of Pau Gasol a few seasons ago and they have been great together. Kobe still scores the ball as well as anyone and Pau quietly does his work underneath; together they average about 45 points per night.
Longevity (3): Still in progress, Kobe and Pau have been together for about four years now.
Success (4): They have already won two NBA titles and lost in the NBA Finals in their other postseason appearance.
Total: 11
13. Bill Russell and John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
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Scoring (2): Bill Russell never had to be the biggest scorer to help his team win and Havlicek scored when it was necessary. Russell was a clutch scorer who could take over if he wanted to and his running mate led the team in the latter portion of Russell's career.
Longevity (4): They were together for a ton of titles, but together, after Cousy retired, they were the top Celtics from 1964-1969.
Success (5): They won five titles in the absence of Hall of Famer Bob Cousy and Russell even coached the team during the last two title victories.
Total: 11
12. Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
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Scoring (3): They were not the biggest of scorers and only averaged 40 points between the two of them once during their run, but Thomas and Dumars scored enough to propel their team to victory.
Longevity (3.5): Dumars joined Isiah and the Pistons in the late 1980s and they were together for seven seasons before Isiah called it quits.
Success (4.5): They lost one NBA Finals series in '88, but then won the next two titles. They only got back to the postseason twice during the rest of their run but three finals appearances and two titles in seven years is just fine by a lot of standards.
Total: 11
11. Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and Oscar Robertson, Milwaukee Bucks
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Scoring (4.5): The end of Oscar's illustrious career and the beginning of Kareem's landed these two with a 48 point per game average for their short stint together.
Longevity (2.5): Oscar joined Kareem from 1970-1974 while still playing 30 minutes per game.
Success (4): They won one championship, lost another and were in the postseason for the other two seasons in Milwaukee as well.
Total: 11
10. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers
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Scoring (4): Quite simply, they averaged nearly 60 points per game together.
Longevity (4): They were the engine for the Lakers for all of nine seasons from 1961-1970.
Success (4): They were in a remarkable seven NBA Finals with zero championships. Although they never won the big one, they were there nearly ever year (they can thank Bill Russell for the lack of rings).
Total: 12
9. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
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Scoring (2): Duncan's numbers have gone down in recent years but you can look up how good they really were for a long time. Parker, as his point guard, scores when he needs to and he is part of this incredibly successful machine. Together they average nearly 38 points per game.
Longevity (5): These two have been at it since 2002 and took over when "The Admiral" said goodbye to the game. They are still doing it too.
Success (5): Three NBA titles as the front runners for the Spurs in today's NBA says enough.
Total: 12
8. Larry Bird and Robert Parish, Boston Celtics
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Scoring (5): Bird and Parish were the big guns for the early Celtic runs and averaged just over 40 points per game in the early 1980s.
Longevity (2): Parish stuck around but Bird got himself a new No. 2 and we will see him later.
Success (5): As Bird's next running mate was still young, Parish was his sidekick for the two NBA titles in four seasons from 1981-1984.
Total: 12
7. Willis Reed and Walt Frazier, New York Knicks
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Scoring (3): The Knicks were a team with a lot of talent in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Willis and Frazier led the way with nearly 37 points per game during their stretch.
Longevity (4): This duo lasted for six seasons overall (including Willis' injuries) from 1968-1974.
Success (5): New York was led to its two NBA titles behind this duo, and they suffered one NBA Finals loss and were a consistent contender during Willis and Frazier's run.
Total: 12
6. Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics
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Scoring (2): Cousy and Russell never had to score too many points, but they did so when it was necessary.
Longevity (5): From 1957-1963 these two icons ran the show in the NBA.
Success (5): Six NBA titles in seven seasons; if that's not success, I do not know what is.
Total: 12
5. John Stockton and Karl Malone, Utah Jazz
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Scoring: (3.5): "The Mailman", Karl Malone, could score at will and his running mate, John Stockton, is the best assist man to ever play basketball. They averaged 38 points per game during their illustrious run.
Longevity: (5): They are the definition of longevity with 16 seasons from 1987-2003.
Success: (4.5): Sixteen straight playoff appearances, two finals losses, no championships.
Total: 13
4. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
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Scoring (5): They simply scored a ton of points and averaged almost 53 points per game during their time together.
Longevity (3.5): This is what kills this duo, as they could have been so much better but only lasted five seasons on the same team with Phil Jackson as the coach.
Success (5): With three NBA titles as well as one Finals loss, Kobe and Shaq had it all if they could have kept it together.
Total: 13.5
3. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
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Scoring (5): Bird and McHale were together so long during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s that their numbers declined a bit. They still averaged over 40 points per game as a duo.
Longevity (5): These two took control of Boston in 1984 and did not relinquish it until 1992.
Success (4.5): They won one title as the No. 1 and No. 2 guys (won two earlier when Bird and Parish were on top), lost two NBA Finals and never got back to the NBA Finals after 1987.
Total: 14.5
2. Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Los Angeles Lakers
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Scoring (4.5): Magic averaged less that 20 while Kareem averaged just over 20 per game and the duo led a dominant Lakers team through the 1980s.
Longevity (5): They played 10 seasons as the top dogs for L.A. between 1979-1989.
Success (5): They won five NBA titles, appeared in three more NBA Finals and were simply a tremendous duo to watch on the court.
Total: 14.5
1. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls
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Scoring (5): MJ is the best basketball player we ever saw and Scottie was a lot better than we give him credit for because MJ was there. They were fantastic together, averaged about 48 points per game together and even survived Jordan's "identity crisis" in 1994-1995.
Longevity (5): They ran the show with Phil Jackson as the coach from 1989 to 1998.
Success (5): Six NBA titles, both three-peats and they were virtually unstoppable.
Total: 15
