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NBA: Who is the best duo from each franchise’s history

By Christopher Jeter

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 6: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls is seen talking to Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on May 6, 1997 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 6: Scottie Pippen #33 of the Chicago Bulls is seen talking to Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on May 6, 1997 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Best duo from Golden State Warriors history: Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant

Boiling the Golden State Warriors‘ recent dominance down to two people is a disingenuous proposition since their rosters over the last few years have resembled the results of a fantasy draft on NBA 2K. But if one were to go through the exercise, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson seem like the obvious choices.

After all, it was the “Splash Brothers” who pulled the franchise out of the septic sludge it was stuck in for almost all of the 90s and 00s. It was the Splash Brothers who guided the Warriors to the NBA title in 2015 and were the engine behind their record-breaking 73-win season (we won’t talk about how that year ended).

There’s a strong case for the Curry/Thompson combo — and the Curry/Draymond Green tandem as well — but in terms of production, neither matches what Curry and Kevin Durant brought to Oakland between 2016-17 and 2018-19.

Take last year, for instance. During the regular season, the Curry/Durant concoction finished with a +15.7 net rating, barely eclipsing Curry and Thompson’s +13.6 figure and Curry and Green’s +14.3. While all of those totals are impressive, it should surprise no one that the glorified NBA Jam twosome are more fruitful than the ones that feature a player who can’t create their own shot.

The supercharged Warriors with Curry and Durant at the fore brought the team three Western Conference crowns and two NBA Finals wins, with Curry and Durant collaborating for .228 WS/48 in their three seasons together. Those Dubs were superteams, but it was the two former MVP’s that made them super.