NBA: Top 5 duos formed in the past decade
Since the free-agency saga is finally over, it’s time to look at the National Basketball Association’s latest outlook. In the past decade, many duos have proved that it takes at least two players to win a game. Famous players like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are the perfect examples of what a two-man mean machine should look like.
The recent arrival of LeBron James has provided the Miami Heat with another legitimate star along with Dwyane Wade. Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, who was deprived of an experienced mentor and partner, was blessed when Carlos Boozer left Utah Jazz to join the Bulls.
So let’s take a sneak peek at the top 5 duos formed in the past decade.
5. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have remained under the spotlight ever since they helped the San Antonio Spurs win three NBA Championship titles. The first such occasion came in 2003 when they eliminated the New Jersey Nets by 4-2 as Tim Duncan won his 2nd NBA Most Valued Player Award. The thrilling duo took the Spurs to another champion in 2005 when they beat the Detroit Pistons by 4-3.The third time Tony and Tim came under the limelight was when they helped the Spurs win their 3rd NBA National Championship in 2007 when Tony Parker was given the MVP Award.
Their combined statistics from last year’s playoffs stood at 33.9 points per game with 12.5 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game.
4. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd is one of the most recognized duos in NBA. Although the two players are yet to win a National Championship title, but both players have won various awards and titles in their respective careers. Dirk has been selected to play in the NBA All-Star team on nine different occasions while Jason Kidd has made it to the All-Star team on ten occasions. However, the 37-year-old Kidd seems to be nearing the end of his career, while Dirk shows no signs of aging and wants to end his sterling career with the Mavericks.
Together, the two players have averaged 35.3 points per game with 13.3 rebounds per game and 11 assists.
3. Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups formed a staggering partnership in 2003, when Carmelo was hired by the Denver Nuggets in the NBA drafting season as the 3rd overall pick. After the dynamic duo came together, they were amongst the two most sought after basketball players amongst fans across America. Carmelo has been a very consistent player ever since his draft and has an average of 24.5 points per game. He is also the highest scorer in this year’s playoffs with an average of 30.7 points per game. Chauncey Billups on the other hand is a five-time NBA All-Star player who has maintained an astounding average of 20.6 points per game in the 2010 playoffs. Chauncey is known for his swiftness on the court, as getting around tall players is a piece of cake for the small point guard.
Together, the players average 47.7 points per game with 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game.
2. Paul Peirce and Rajon Rondo are renowned to be an aspiring duo as Paul has helped to form a deadly duo with a rookie like Rajon over a course of only four years. Rajon is a brilliant player but he only measures to a height of 6 feet 1 inches. But despite the shortfalls, Rajon is known to be a great swingman due to his spectacular all-round ability. Although Paul might be one of the aging players in the NBA, but she has written his name all over the Boston Celtics and has quietly produced a marvellous career which will certainly land him in the Hall of Fame very soon.
The two averaged 32 points per game with 8.8 rebounds per game and 12.2 assists.
1. This vibrant duo is arguably the best in NBA, not only because they put up tremendous numbers but have also won back-to-back titles over the years. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol formed a dynamic duo in 2008 but have managed to snatch only two NBA championship titles from every team, once in 2009 and 2010. Bryant is unquestionably the best player in NBA right now. He came to the Lakers in 1996 and since then has dominated the entire league. Kobe took Pau under his wing only two years ago but has trusted him in the most crucial late-game situations. Pau is known to be a soft centre on court, but that does not stop the player from dominating in games. He has increased his game at defence and continues to do so. Experts believe that until these two remain in the Los Angeles Lakers, the team will continue to win NBA Championships in the years to come.
Kobe and Pau’s combined scores make an amazing figure of 45.3 points per game with 16.7 rebounds per game and 8.4 assist per game.
Tags: