The Ultimate Dynamic Duo

With LeBron James and Anthony Davis joining forces to win the 2019/20 NBA Championship for the Los Angeles Lakers, we take a look at some of the other great twosomes that have propelled their teams to glory.

Of course it asks more than two players to win a title but the duos we will be looking at were without doubt, the one and two punch for their teams. Respect should always be shown to Jamal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Byron Scott, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant, Derek Fisher and all the other players who did their part in their team’s success.

Kareem & Magic

Overall Record in Finals: 8/8 (50% win record). Two Championships.

Duo Average Value: ATT 84.9, DEF 74.6, OVRL 160.

Individual Average Value: Kareem - ATT 68.7, DEF 103.8, OVRL 173; Magic - ATT 101.1, DEF 45.4, OVRL 147.

Overall Team Averages: ATT 326.3, DEF 224.3, OVRL 550 (58%)

The 1979/80 season was Magic and Kareem’s first season together. They finished with a 60-22 record and the first seed in the West. They faced Julius Erving’s Philadelphia 76ers in the Final after, Dr J and his crew upset the top-seeded Boston Celtics. The Lakers prevailed in six games.

Although, Kareem was the star of the show for most of the series, he was forced to miss game six due to a sprained left ankle. This is when the rookie, Magic Johnson, not yet the Laker’s point guard floor general, he’d become known as, stepped up like never seen before. Playing all five positions throughout the match, he dominated, and took out the Finals MVP.

Two years later, the Lakers were back in the Finals. Again, they were to face Dr J’s 76ers. This time they wouldn’t have home court advantage after finishing with a 57-25 record, a game behind the second-seeded 76ers. Also, once more, the 76ers had to go through the number one seed, Celtic powerhouse.

LA prevailed in six games, just like last time. Although they had an extremely balanced team with Jamal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Bob McAdoo and Michael Cooper assisting the two star men, it was the almost triple double of Magic Johnson which took home the Finals MVP once more.

Philadelphia would finally get their revenge the following year and in devastating fashion by sweeping the Lakers. Moses Malone had joined Dr J and they still had the scoring prowess of Andrew Toney. Philly were no longer the plucky underdogs, they had stormed to the number one seed with a 65 win record, nine more wins than the Celtics, who were swept by the Bucks in the second round. The 58-win Lakers were no match.

Kareem was now 35 and Magic was still only 23 years old. One star at the end of a storied career, the other still on his first chapter.

Magic & Worthy

Overall Record in Finals: 5-11 (31% win record). One Championship.

Duo Average Value: ATT 86.1, DEF 26.7, OVRL 113.

Individual Average Value: Magic - ATT 110.5, DEF 27.4, OVRL 138; Worthy - ATT 61.6, DEF 26.1, OVRL 88.

Overall Team Averages: ATT 274.8, DEF 121.9, OVRL 397 (57%)

By this stage, Kareem was now in his 40s and on the verge of retirement. The Lakers were now led by Magic and Worthy.

Their first test matched them against the up and coming Detroit Pistons who were at the beginning of their own run out East. The Lakers were comfortably the top-seed of the NBA with a 62-20 record. Detroit were second seeds in the East behind the Boston Celtics.

It was a tough fought, 4-3 series win for theLakers, with James Worthy being named the Finals MVP.

The two teams faced each other again the following Finals series. Detroit had improved dramatically and now owned the League’s best record, 63-19. The Lakers were still the number one out west but the gap between the two was shown in a sweep to the Bad Boys.

LA’s talisman, Magic Johnson, did suffer a hamstring injury in the third quarter of game 2. This limited his minutes for the series to 25 minutes per game and only three appearances.

This duo’s final challenge was one that the whole basketball world was waiting for. Lakers vs Bulls, or more accurately, Magic vs Jordan. Portland were the top seeds in the NBA but the more experienced Lakers proved too good when it counted. This gave the Bulls the home court in the Finals. Worthy and Scott would miss a game each after suffering niggling injuries, however, the hungry Bulls couldn’t be denied, 1-4.

Isiah & Dumars

Overall Record in Finals: 11-5 (69% win record). Two Championships.

Duo Average Value: ATT 88.4, DEF 19.5, OVRL 108.

Individual Average Value: Isiah – ATT 83.4, DEF 31.7, OVRL 115; Dumars – ATT 93.3, DEF 7.4, OVRL 101.

Overall Team Averages: ATT 393.2, DEF 126.3, OVRL 519 (42%)

The back to back Detroit Pistons team aka The Bad Boys really spoiled the Lakers vs Celtics hold on the 80s. Their uncompromising play was a great mix of hard defence and skilled Of course the former, took the headlines. The backcourt pairing of Thomas and Dumars were what drove this collection of misfits to greatness.

The 1987/88 season saw Detroit make their first Championship bid. They made it to the final dance after going through Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and the Celtic Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. They were the second seeds in the East and fourth overall.

In the Finals, they met Magic Johnson and James Worthy, who were owners of the league’s best record (62-20). It was a tough fought ending with the Lakers winning the last two games of the series by a combined four points, taking the series 4-3.

The following year, Detroit had strengthened the squad and were now more experienced as a unit. The Bad Boys were now the owner’s of the league’s best record (63-19) and the number one seed.

Their dominance showed throughout the playoffs. They swept the Celtics, who were missing superstar Larry Bird, 3-0. They swept the Bucks 4-0 in the next round. They beat Jordan’s Bulls in the Conference Finals, 4-2, the only time they dropped games in the whole Championship run.

In the Final they swept the defending Champions after the Lakers saw star point guard, Magic Johnson struck down by injury in game two of the series.

Joe Dumars won the Finals MVP on the back of 27.3ppg and 6apg. Thomas chipped in with 21.3ppg and 7.3apg.

Their final championship came the following season. The Lakers were again the top team in the league but Detroit were second overall and first in the East with a 59-23 record.

They swept Indiana in the first round. Breezed past the Knicks the following round, 4-1. It took them seven games to defeat the Bulls in the Conference Finals. Setting them up with a showdown against the Trailblazers, who had avoided the Lakers thanks to the Phoenix Suns.

Thomas had an impressive Finals, winning the Finals MVP with 27.6ppg and 7.0apg. Dumars offered his support with 20.6ppg and 5.6apg. They saw off Clyde Drexler’s squad, 4-1.

Jordan & Pippen

Overall Record in Finals: 24-11 (69% win record). Six Championships.

Duo Average Value: ATT 83.6, DEF 46.9, OVRL 131.

Individual Average Value: Jordan – ATT 105.3, DEF 39.7, OVRL 145; Pippen – ATT 61.8, DEF 54.2, OVRL 116.

Overall Team Averages: ATT 350.1, DEF 177.6, OVRL 528 (49%)

In their first Championship, the Bulls were the overall second seed and had the top seed in the East (61-21). They would sweep Ewing’s Knicks, beat Barkley’s 76ers 4-1, sweep the Pistons in Conference Finals, to set up a dream matchup in the Finals, Jordan vs Jonson.

The Lakers had upset the top-seeded Trailblazers, 4-2 in the Western Conference playoffs. Injuries to Worthy and Scott, slowed the Lakers down and saw the Bulls win the series 4-2.

Jordan was the Finals MVP with 31,2ppg and 11.4apg. He was assisted by Scottie Pippen, who had 20.8ppg, 6.6 app and 9.4rpg.

Next year, the Bulls were far and away the best team in the NBA, wrapping up the top seed 10 games ahead of Cleveland and Portland, who both had 57 wins.

Despite their regular season dominance, the road to the Finals wasn’t as easy as the year before. Other than the sweep of Miami Heat in the first round, they went the distance with the Knicks and dropped two games to Cleveland.

After trading games with the Blazers early in the series, the Bulls took control to win the last two and close out the series, 4-2.

Jordan was the Finals MVP after an incredible 35.8ppg and 6.5apg, shooting 43% from three, a deliberate shot at his detractors who questioned his long range game beforehand. Pippen was the reliable deputy, grabbing 20.8ppg, 7.7apg and 8.3rpg.

The Bulls had dropped off in the regular season. They won 10 less games and were now second in the East to the 60-win Knicks and third overall. The Phoenix Suns, who had acquired Charles Barkley, owned the best record in the league (62-20).

In the playoffs though, the Bulls class shone through. They swept Dominique’s Atlanta Hawks, and the deep squad in Cleveland. They met the Knicks in the Conference Finals and lost the first two games. After that, it was all Bulls and they won four straight.

They met the Suns in the Finals, who had a battle getting their after going the distance against the Lakers and Seattle. Barkley and Jordan was the battle everyone had hoped for, especially after Sir Charles was named the MVP.

Jordan though had a point to prove and did so emphatically. He averaged 41ppg, 8.5rpg and 6.3apg and shot 40% from three. He was the clear Finals MVP. Pippen was once again the perfect partner with 21,2ppg, 9.2rpg and 7.7apg. The Bulls won 4-2 and became the first team in the NBA to three-peat since the Celtic’s in the 1960s.

Fast forward three years and the Bulls were back at it again. They set an NBA record for wins in the regular season with 72. They were naturally the top seed overall. The Championship seemed a foregone conclusion.

They swept the Heat, they beat the Knicks 4-1 and then swept the 60-win Orlando Magic 4-0 in the Conference Finals.

Facing them in the Finals was a 64-win Seattle Supersonics with one of the league’s best duos, Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. It was the one seed vs the two seed. The Bulls raced to a 3-0 lead but took their foot off the gas which allowed a Seattle team - that had swept the defending champs and took out Utah Jazz in a tough series - to pull two games back. The Bulls would eventually regain their focus and wrap up game six and the series.

Jordan would once again be crowned the Finals MVP but it was much closer between he and Pippen this time around. Jordan had 27.3ppg while Pippen had 15.7ppg, and 8.2rpg. What hurt Scottie was his shooting from the field was well below average and this meant his offensive production was far below his norm.

The following year, they would face a new challenge and a new dynamic duo, the Utah Jazz and John Stockton and Karl Malone. Chicago were still the top team in the NBA, finishing the season with a 69-13 record. Utah were the second best team that season with a 64-18 record.

The Bulls swept the young Washington Bullets, who were led by Chris Webber, in the first round. They beat the 56-win Hawks, 4-1 the next round. Pat Riley’s 61-win Heat were next up in the Conference Final. The Bulls took them out in five games.

The Bulls started the Finals by winning the first two games, before Utah evened the series. The Bulls would then take the next two games by a total of six points.

Jordan was once again the Finals MVP with 32.3ppg, 7rpg and 6apg. Scottie chipped in with 20ppg, 8.3rpg and 3.5apg.

The Last Dance for the Bulls would see them match up with the Jazz once more. Pippen has missed 38 games that season through injury but the Bulls still finished with the equal best record in the league with 62 wins (the Jazz also had an identical record).

Once more the Bulls would sweep their first round opponents, this time it was the New Jersey Nets. They would drop a game to the Hornets the next round before a seven-game thriller against Reggie Milker’s Indiana Pacers.

The rested Jazz, who swept their Western Conference opponents, were waiting with home court advantage. They would take the first game off the Bulls but subsequently lost the next three. In game two, the Bulls held the Jazz to 54 points. Utah’s two wins were for a combined five points. In fact, every game except the second one, was close.

Michael Jordan would finish his Bulls career as the Finals MVP, having more than double the points of the next highest scorer, Pippen, and more than Pippen and Kukoc combined.

Shaq & Kobe

Overall Finals Record: 13-7 (65% win record). Three Championships.

Duo Average Value: ATT 44.1, DEF 57.7, OVRL 102.

Individual Average Value: Shaq – ATT 31.0, DEF 73.1, OVRL 104; Kobe – ATT 57.2, DEF 42.2, OVRL 99.

Overall Team Averages: ATT 232.8, DEF 187.1, OVRL 420 (48%)

When Shaquille O’Neal joined Kobe Bryant in LA, Championships were a matter of when not if. In 2000, the “when” was answered. They were clearly the best team in the regular season with 67 wins. In the playoffs, they had to battle hard, going the distance against the Sacramento Kings in the first round and Portland in the Western Conference Finals. They beat the Suns, 4-1 in the second round.

Indiana had the third best record in the league and the best in the East. They also had a battle to get to the Finals, dropping two games every series. The Lakers took a two-game lead before Indiana pulled one back. In a nail-biter, LA gave themselves a 3-1 lead. The Pacers would blow the, out in the next game by 33 points. Phil Jackson didn’t do game sevens in the Finals tough, and the Lakers wrapped up the series in six.

Shaq was the Finals MVP with 38ppg and 16.7rpg. Kobe had 15.6ppg.

The following year, the Lakers were not as dominant in the regular season with an equal second best record of 56-26. The Spurs had the best record (58-24) and the 76ers were the best team in the East with 56 wins.

As opposed to last season when they dominated the regular season but had to fight for their chip, this year was the opposite. They swept Trailblazers, the Kings and the Spurs.

In the Finals, they dropped the first game thanks to an amazing performance from Allen Iverson but one the next four. Iverson was a stand out but the Lakers were an unstoppable force in the post-season.

Shaq was the Finals MVP again, averaging 33 points and 15.8 rebounds. Kobe’s production had increased to 24.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists.

It was another solid but not spectacular regular season for the Lakers. They were once more the owners of the joint-second best record with the Spurs (58-24). The Kings had the best record (61-21), in fact the top four teams were all in the West. The Nets had the fifth best record (52-30), five games off fourth-placed, Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers swept the Blazers again in the first round, comfortably beat the Spurs the following round 4-1, before a war with the Kings that would go the distance.

The Nets, who had a deep but young squad, would offer no resistance in the Finals. The Lakers got the sweep with both their superstars firing. Shaq was the MVP of the series again (36.3ppg, 12.3rpg) and once more Kobe’s offensive production increased (26.8ppg).

After a disappointing year following their historic threepeat, they were back in the Finals for the 2003/04 season. They were the third seed in the West behind Minnesota Timberwolves and the Spurs, and fourth overall.

They never needed a deciding match in the playoffs to get to the Finals, beating Houston in the first round and the two sides who finished above them in the West, both in six games.

In the Finals, they avoided the league’s top seed, Indiana, after they were upset by the Pistons. This gave the Lakers the home court advantage for only the second time in the playoffs. It wouldn’t matter though, with the Pistons pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, winning 4-1.

Shaq and Kobe did not perform to their high standards. Shaq had 26.6ppg and 10.8rpg while Kobe had 22.6ppg off 38% shooting. It was a disappointing end to a dynasty and one of the best duos to ever do it.