In a league with the most parity since the 1980s, there are at least a dozen elite dynamic duos around the NBA. This offseason marks the end of the Warriors superteam and likely marks Lebron James’ return to the playoffs. James and the Lakers did not make the playoffs last year after James went to the NBA Finals 8 straight times.
Free agency transactions such as the D’Angelo Russell sign & trade gained little notoriety in this action-filled offseason while a transaction of this pedigree would’ve made all major headlines in every other offseason. Other above-average players such as Bogdan Bogdanovic and Terry Rozier signed massive deals that flew under the mainstream radar.
After all the dust settled, NBA fans were left with a plethora of elite NBA duos. This article will evaluate each major duo’s chances of success.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook
In a crazy turn of events, the Houston Rockets now happen to possess two of the best REGULAR SEASON players, statistically speaking. This will be the second time Harden and Westbrook will step foot on the court together in the same jersey, the first time being early in their careers in OKC.
Their talent as a duo can unquestionably rival any duo across the league, however, the common question is “how can they co-exist”. This concern, while valid, is completely inflated because of Westbrook’s ‘stat-padding’ and Harden’s unprecedented usage rate.
The Rockets will continue to play through James Harden and Westbrook will run as a wing who can catch and blow-by defenders. Their supporting cast still includes plenty of 3-and-D role players which complements the game of both Westbrook and Harden. Their usage rates will dip far below previous years, although I do predict records being shattered for duo usage rate.
Prediction: 2 seed in the West and an eventual Second Round Exit
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson
The best shooting backcourt EVER. Klay Thompson is near uncontestable and Steph Curry makes impossible shots CONSISTENTLY. Both players possess a secondary elite skill, for Curry, it is his playmaking and ball-handling and Thompson is an elite glue guy.
Their talent is unquestioned, despite Klay being less of a superstar than others on this list. However, the splash brothers have clear chemistry that surpasses their ability. They always know where the other is spotting-up to shoot or where the other is cutting. The two always out in transition for Golden State are none other than the splash brothers.
Prediction: 4 seed and an eventual 2nd round exit
Lebron James and Anthony Davis
One of the most talented duos in NBA history, Lebron and AD rival the TALENT of Kobe and Shaq and Jordan and Pippen. They are the presumed successors of the Lakers dynasty that has won a total of 16 NBA championships.
Anthony Davis is a MONSTER in the paint averaging a career 23.7 ppg and 10.5 rpg. Last year, even during a season where the Pelicans limited his minutes, Davis averaged an impressive 25.9 ppg, 12 rpg, and an overlooked 3.9 apg. His presence on offense is all-world, however, his defensive ability separates him from other elite talents.
Davis averages a career 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals a night.
Lebron James, arguably a top 2 player ever, has a LOADED resume that includes 3 NBA championships and 9 NBA Finals appearances. James is an athlete seemingly made in a laboratory. His wide frame allows him to bully anyone in the league and his quickness allows him to blow by premier point guards.
Together, James and Davis should find great success. While neither are great shooters, their shots are respectable enough to where the floor will be spaced decently. Both have great playmaking ability as well which will lead to team involvement and strong team chemistry. This duo is great, the real question is how the rest of the team will perform.
Prediction: NBA champions
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George
The two best two-way players in the league conspired together to land on the LA Clippers. This lethal duo has all-world scoring ability combined with all-time athleticism and defensive ability.
Kawhi Leonard just capped off one of the best playoff runs EVER that ended in a Finals victory. Leonard, of course, drained one of the most clutch shots ever to beat the 76ers in game 7. On top of his heroic moments, Leonard averaged 30.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, and 3.9 apg in the playoffs.
Paul George is also fresh off an MVP and DPOY nomination where he got 28 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, and 2.2 spg. His previous duo with Russell Westbrook underperformed in the playoffs as they were knocked out by the Utah Jazz in the first round.
While this duo is quite impressive, the Lakers star power is unmatched and I predict that the Clippers will remain the little brother team in LA.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals Exit
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons
After an eventful offseason, the 76ers still have their young studs in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Ben Simmons has the size of a POWER FORWARD and the skills of a POINT GUARD (minus shooting). Coming into his 3rd season, Simmons is expected to have a better jump shot or at least a semi-consistent free throw. His stats tell the story of his playmaking ability and unearthly size — 16.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 7.7apg. Unfortunately, his shooting splits tell the right story as well — 60% free throw and 0% three-point.
Joel Embiid is a top 2 big man in the game behind Anthony Davis. He has some hints of guard-like playmaking and can step out and hit an occasional jumper. Not to mention, Embiid possesses one of the most dominant post games in the NBA. Entering his fourth season, Embiid is looking to make a jump from tier 2 to tier 1 NBA talent. His regular-season stats are the following — 27.5 ppg, 13.6 rpg, and 3.7 apg. Looking at these stats, it is a surprise that his name was not mentioned in MVP conversations.
Overall, Embiid and Simmons have terrible on-court chemistry as neither of them possesses a consistent jump shot. Therefore, the paint is constantly clogged and the floor is rarely spaced. Especially with their loss of sharpshooter J.J. Redick, it looks like the 76ers will be knocked out earlier than their free agency activity suggests.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Finals exit.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton
Giannis was the MVP of the regular season and he is only age 24. While James Harden was snubbed in my opinion, Antetokounmpo still put up an impressive 27.7 ppg, 12.5 rpg, and 5.9 apg. The 6’11 greek freak will likely develop a more consistent jump shot over the offseason which will lead to more playoff success.
Middleton, the sidekick of Giannis, earned his first all-star appearance in the regular season. Middleton is in the middle of his prime at age 27. His sharpshooting complements Giannis’s tendency to drive and kick perfectly. His stats(18.3 ppg, 6 rpg, and 4.3 apg), while by no means mediocre, do not fully reflect his leadership and effort. His impact led to him receiving a massive contract this summer. Click here for contract details.
Ultimately, the pairing of Giannis and Middleton is a match made in heaven play-style wise, however, the star power of the Milwaukee Bucks is no match for the Los Angeles superteams nor the 76ers big four.
Prediction: NBA Finals loss
Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum
One of the smallest backcourts in the league, the dynamic duo of Lillard and McCollum finally found success last year in the playoffs when they made an appearance in the WCF. This led to Lillard’s five-year extension, click here for contract details. Their success even easied the reluctance of the Cavs to draft Darius Garland despite Collin Sexton’s spot on the roster.
Damian Lillard, a.k.a king of the 4th quarter, is a top PG and a top clutch player. His stepback 38-foot jump shot sent OKC home early in the first round and cemented Lillard as an all-time clutch performer. Lillard is a pure scorer and his stats reflect that — 25.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, and 4.6 rpg. He is also an efficient shooter — 91.2% free throw, 44.4% field goal, and 36.9% three-point.
Lillard’s sidekick C.J. McCollum also has the clutch gene as displayed in game 7 of the second round against the Nuggets where he made shot after shot. While undersized at 6’3, McCollum runs the 2-guard and is rarely exposed for his height. McCollum does not have the ball as much as Lillard so his stats are lower than his impact –21 ppg, 4 rpg, and 3 apg. McCollum, like Lillard, is also fairly efficient from the field.
Together, their duo has great chemistry and talent. Unfortunately, they aren’t any match for the athletic specimens league-wide. Their ceiling is a second-round exit if the cards fall in their favor.
Prediction: First round exit despite a great regular season
Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum
Following the departure of Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have lost depth and star power. The good news is that the young wing players can receive more touches and develop. Kemba Walker was signed to keep the Celtics in the playoffs and to mentor the younger players.
Kemba Walker is finally in a situation where he can potentially make the playoffs for the FIRST time in his CAREER. Kemba is a very talented and hard-working small PG that has a scoring repertoire similar to former Celtics star Kyrie Irving. He is a top 5 PG in the NBA and is known as a clutch performer, despite his lack of experience with the horrendous Hornets team. His stats reflect these impressive accolades — 25.6 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 4.4 rpg.
After Tatum’s eventful rookie season, he was rather quiet in his performance as he only got 15.7 ppg, 6 rpg, and 2.1 apg. This sophomore slump is common in standout rookies and I anticipate Tatum to bounce back with a season that contends for MIP award. His mentality is very similar to that of Kobe Bryant, Tatum’s mentor, in the sense that he has a next shot mindset and his work ethic is unparalleled. The NBA has all eyes on Tatum with expectations that he will develop nicely.
Overall, the Celtics are in a retooling phase, meaning that they aren’t contenders for a championship or the draft lottery. Kemba and Tatum should form a nice duo that helps the Celtics young talent develop soon.
Prediction: Second round exit
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving
The first of the big FA news, Kyrie and KD teaming up instantly made the Brooklyn Nets serious contenders. After facing off in the NBA Finals, the former MVP Durant and the perennial all-star and best ball-handler ever Kyrie Irving now come together with the young studs on the Nets. However, Durant is injured and is unlikely to play in the 2019-20 season. Their contract details are available here.
Kevin Durant, while injured, will return as one of the best players in the NBA alongside Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard. He is a near 7-foot sharpshooter from both the mid-range and from beyond the arc. His efficiency is all-world as his shooting splits exhibit — 52.1% field goal, 35.3% three-point, 88.5% free throw. Although his stats took a dip due to his incredibly talented supporting cast, his stats were still impressive — 26 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.9 apg.
Kyrie Irving had a rather disappointing season, to say the least. His character and locker room presence was heavily criticized as Irving was attributed as the main cause of turmoil in the Celtics. Despite this, Irving may be the most skilled player in basketball history. His stats do not reflect his sheer ability that is unmatched — 23.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, and 5 rpg. His efficiencies are also through the roof as he almost put up 50-40-90 the past season.
Playing together will be tough as Durant benefits more from ball movement while Irving needs the isolation to thrive. This Nets team may have to worry about ball distribution more than the Rockets. The first year the Nets will miss Durant so I will predict their results for the 2020-21 season.
Prediction: NBA Finals loss
Zion Williamson and Lonzo Ball
The youngest duo on the list, Zion and Lonzo may be the most exciting of all the duos. Zion Williamson is the 2nd heaviest player in the league and has one of the highest verticals. Lonzo ball is one of the most hyped young prospects coming out of college and has a gift for passing. Together, they should rival lob city as one of the teams with the most highlight potential ever.
Zion Williamson is such a unique athletic menace that it is hard to predict his success. The 6’7 near 300-pound beast will likely play power forward and center in small-ball lineups. His crazy athleticism (40+ inch vertical and lightning speed) will instantly make him an elite talent in the league. To take the jump, however, Williamson will need to tighten up his shot mechanics and become a consistent shooter. His stats at Duke were — 22.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.1 spg, 1.8 bpg.
Lonzo Ball, the second pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has a special gift for passing that few others have. Lonzo also has incredible size for the point guard position which allows him to see over the defense. His defense is also near elite and his pairing with Jrue Holiday should be lockdown. The BIG question is his jump shot, why does he shoot on the opposite side of his body? His shooting splits — 40.6% field goal, 32.9% three-point, and a horrendous 41.9% free throw. His stats are quite impressive for a young player despite his low efficiency — 9.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.4 apg, and 1.5 spg.
Lonzo Ball and Zion will likely do the better impersonation of showtime then the Lakers themselves. Despite this, the lack of experience on the Pelicans won’t lead to prolonged postseason success.
Prediction: First round exit
Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis
The highly skilled European duo, Kristaps and Luka, will step foot on the court together for the first time this season. They both have the stereotypical abilities of European players: strong fundamentals, flashy passing, and shooting ability. These skills should make them must-see TV and an SC top 10 threat at all moments for the Dallas Mavericks.
Luka Doncic is coming off an impressive rookie season where he won rookie of the year due to his consistent all-around performances. Luka is not crazy athletic, however, his basketball IQ allows him to slide by defenders and create space for his lethal shot. His stat line for the past year is as follows — 21.2 ppg, 8 rpg, and 6 apg. Unfortunately, Doncic was unable to lead his team to the playoffs because he had little support.
Porzingis, deemed ‘unicorn’ by Kevin Durant, is a 7’3 sniper from deep and handles the ball quite well for a player his size. In fact, Porzingis participated in the skills challenge last all-star weekend and performed well. The acquisition of Kristaps by the Mavericks arose from the Knicks terrible culture that ended in a trade demand. Before the unicorn was injured, his stat line consisted of — 22.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 2.4 bpg on nearly 40% three-point shooting.
As a duo, these two European originated players will have great floor spacing and their usage rates are reasonable enough to where they can share the ball. The real question is how Porzingis will recover from his injury and how much Doncic will develop after playing a full NBA season.
Prediction: First round exit
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