With the NBA trade deadline having ended Feb. 6, the league has had a lot of changes with teams stacking up, and there are new big duos around. But which duo is the best?
Starting the list with an honorable mention, we have the Golden State Warriors duo, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. This duo just has made a lot of noise in the NBA world, since Butler just recently got traded to the Warriors. With Curry averaging 24.5 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 6.1 assists per game, while Butler is averaging 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists, tacking on 1.2 steals as well. The duo is doing their part, leading their team on a 12-1 record since Butler was traded. The team’s overall record stands at 37-28 as the 6th seed in the Western Conference.
At fifth on the list we have Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. With Antetokounmpo averaging 30.9 points per game, 12 rebounds per game and 5.8 assists per game, and Lillard averaging 25.5 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and 7.1 assists per game. This duo has led their team to a record of 36 – 27, while being the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. Can this duo lead their team to win it all? Only time will tell how far this team can go.
Coming in fourth place is one of the more interesting duos in the NBA, due to their young age, that doesn’t get much credit. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s power duo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. These two have surprised many as they’ve led their team to be the number one seed in the Western Conference and have the second best record, standing at 46-10. Their star MVP candidate Gilgeous-Alexander, is averaging 32.7 points per game (1st in the NBA,) 5.1 rebounds per game and 6.2 assists per game. He is also ninth in the league averaging 1.8 steals per game. With their All star Willam’s averaging 21.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 5.3 assists per game. Can this duo lead their team to win it all this year? The world awaits to see what they have in store for the rest of the season.
At the third spot, we have the Los Angeles Lakers duo Lebron James and Luka Doncic. This duo is very new and one of the hottest, if not the hottest, topics in the NBA right now. With a blockbuster trade that ended up sending Doncic to the Lakers, they are undoubtedly a team to watch out for and could be possible underdogs to win it all. With James averaging 25 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 8.5 assists per game, and Doncic averaging 26.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and 7.9 assists per game, this team looks very scary from now on and is a team to keep an eye on.
At number two is the Denver Nuggets duo Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. This duo has carried their team to a terrific season, having a record of 42-23. Their MVP candidate, Jokic, is averaging 28.9 points per game, 13 rebounds per game and 10.5 assists per game. He is leading this team and keeping them in championship contention. The Robin to Jokic, Murray is averaging 21.5 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game and 6.1 assists per game. This duo can do anything they could lead the team to the championship like how they did in 2023? Or they can have another downfall season like last year?
To end it all at number one is the Boston Celtics duo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. These two young stars led their team to win it all last year and could do it again this year. Their MVP candidate, Tatum, is averaging 27.1 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game and 5.8 assists per game. While their All-Star Brown is averaging 23.3 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game. This duo is leading their team as the 2nd seed, being 47-18. They’ve shown that they’re still championship contenders, and you can’t count them out as defending champs.
As we go into the playoffs, this list may surely change as some players will perform well or fold under pressure. Until then, though, these are the highest-performing duos in the league.
