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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 Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) /

Best duo from Milwaukee Bucks history: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson

When the Milwaukee Bucks acquired trend-setting point guard Oscar Robertson from the Cincinnati Royals (the future Sacramento Kings) in 1970, he wasn’t the same player that became the first to average a triple-double for an entire season.

Don’t get it twisted, he was still a very good player, but age and the weight of carrying those mediocre Royals teams rendered him less than his former MVP-level self. Fortunately for him, the Bucks had a transcendent center to pair him up with: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Known originally as Lew Alcindor before changing his name in 1971, the UCLA standout was taken first overall by Milwaukee in 1969 and by the time Robertson joined him as his co-star, Abdul-Jabbar had already established himself as the game’s preeminent two-way big man.

Abdul-Jabbar’s nimble footwork and length made him a terror on offense and defense, especially after his body filled out, and once Robertson — who, again, wasn’t what he once was, but could still finish and shoot over smaller guards and create for others — came aboard, the Bucks began bludgeoning their opponents.

This culminated in a 1970-71 season in which Milwaukee’s offensive rating was 6.7 points above that season’s league average and their defensive rating sat 4.1 points below the mean en route to 66 wins (still a team record) and the franchise’s only NBA championship — in just their third season of existence.

Though the Abdul-Jabbar/Robertson team-up (.232 combined WS/48) only lasted four seasons — Robertson retired in 73-74, two seasons before the Bucks traded Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers — they led the greatest teams in Bucks history and brought the city a title. Not too bad.