Who Is The Greatest NBA Duo Of All Time?
Today I will be naming the greatest duo in NBA history.
Throughout NBA history, there have been some great duos. Many have been labeled as the best. But who actually is? Today I will be naming the greatest duo in NBA history.
Here are the candidates:
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
John Stockton and Karl Malone
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Lebron James and Dwyane Wade
And my pick for the greatest duo is… Kobe and Shaq. Now let me tell you why Kobe and Shaq is the best duo of all time.
Status of Players
The Kobe and Shaq duo lasted from the 1999-00 season to about the 2003-04 season I would say. Starting with the ’99 season, Shaq had already established himself as one of the top big men in the NBA. He was an inside force. He would just back-down people and bully them [insert Chris Dudley clip]. Shaq was the best center in the league by far. None could compare.
Kobe Bryant was drafted in 1996, and in his rookie year he did not play much and averaged only 7.6 points. In his next season, he got 11 more minutes and he improved to 15.4 points. The next season he was getting 38 minute per game and averaging 19.9 points. This was the 1998-99 season, and many considered it to be Kobe’s breakout year.
The 1999-00 season would be the start of Kobe’s prime. Shaq was already in his prime. This is one of the few duos where both of the players were in their prime years.
Winning/Accolades
From the 1999-00 season to the 2003-04 season, Kobe and the Shaq led the Lakers to lots of success. Year after year, both of them racked up the awards and wins. Here’s a recap of them all.
1999-00 season
Kobe and Shaq were both All-Stars
Shaq was the All-Star Game MVP
Shaq led the league in scoring (29.7)
Shaq was the league MVP
The Lakers won the NBA Championship this season
Shaq was Finals MVP
Shaq was on All-NBA First Team
Shaq was on All-Defensive Second Team
Kobe was on All-NBA Second Team
Kobe was on All-Defensive First Team
2000-01 Season
Kobe and Shaq were both All-Stars
The Lakers won the NBA Championship this season
Shaq was the Finals MVP
Shaq was on All-NBA First Team
Shaq was on All-Defensive Second Team
Kobe was on All-NBA Second Team
Kobe was on All-Defensive Second Team
2001-02 Season
Kobe and Shaq were both All-Stars
Kobe was All-Star Game MVP
The Lakers won the NBA Championship this season
Shaq was Finals MVP
Shaq was on All-NBA First Team
Kobe was on All-NBA First Team
Kobe was on All-Defensive Second Team
2002-03 Season
Kobe and Shaq were both All-Stars
Kobe was All-NBA First Team
Kobe was All-Defensive First Team
Shaq was All-NBA First Team
Shaq was All-Defensive Second Team
2003-04 Season
Kobe and Shaq were both All-Stars
Kobe was All-NBA First Team
Kobe was All-Defensive First Team
Shaq was All-NBA First Team
Throughout these 5 seasons, Kobe and Shaq combined for 3 titles, 3 Finals MVP’s, 1 MVP, 10 All-Star appearances, 8 All-NBA First Team Appearances, and 8 All-Defensive Teams.
Kobe and Shaq were also winning, a lot. In these 5 seasons, they had a regular season record of 287-123, which is a win percentage of 0.7 or 70%. In the playoffs this duo was 64-28, which is a win percentage of 0.695 or 70%.
During their time as a duo (1999-2004)
Shaq averaged 27.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks while shooting 57.6% from the field.
Kobe averaged 26.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists with 1.7 steals. He shot 45.8% from the field and 32.9% from 3.
Although Kobe and Shaq’s relationship fell through and the duo ended prematurely, their 5 prime seasons together are some of the greatest seasons ever, both in the stats and in the trophy case. These two reasons alone are enough for Kobe and Shaq to be the best duo of all time.
But, what do you think? Are Kobe and Shaq the greatest duo of all time? If not, who is? Leave all of your comments down below.
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