As most of us are aware, basketball is a team sport that relies on all five players on the court coming together, playing their roles well, and executing to near perfection in order to be successful. Basketball is the ultimate team sport where even one weak spot can be exposed, and it can all fall apart from there in an instant. The key to any great team success begins with the backcourt. Often referred to as the first line of defense, the backcourt can make or break a possession depending on if they can either contain a defender on defense or create opportunities for themselves and others on offense.
- 10. Chauncey Billups And Richard Hamilton
- 9. Bob Cousy And Sam Jones
- 8. Kobe Bryant And Derek Fisher
- 7. Walt Frazier And Earl Monroe
- 6. Tony Parker And Manu Ginobili
- 5. Jerry West And Gail Goodrich
- 4. Isiah Thomas And Joe Dumars
- 3. Michael Jordan And Ron Harper
- 2. Stephen Curry And Klay Thompson
- 1. Magic Johnson And Michael Cooper
The greatest backcourt duos consist of the best and most successful point guards and shooting guards in NBA history. Each one of these duos’ worked together to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming NBA champions and did it better than any other backcourts in NBA history. The backcourts below are NBA champions, MVPs, Finals MVPs, All-Stars, and All-NBA Team selections because of their willingness to work together amongst themselves and their teammates, as well as their skill, hard work, and dedication to their role in the backcourt.
These are the 10 greatest backcourts in NBA history.
10. Chauncey Billups And Richard Hamilton
Years Together: 7 (2002 -2009)
NBA Finals: 2
NBA Championships: 1
Chauncey Billups’ Stats: 17.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Richard Hamilton’s Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
The backcourt duo of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton was one of the best in the NBA during the early 2000s for the Detroit Pistons. Billupos and Hamilton would lead the Pistons to two NBA Finals appearances in 2004 and 2005, with a remarkable NBA championship run in 2004. They were indeed the starting point for the best defensive team in basketball, with both serving as disruptive and savvy defenders. Each player would earn three All-Star appearances as teammates but it went well beyond that for them on the court.
Along with the defense they provided, both Hamilton and Billups were beyond clutch and fed off of each other perfectly in big situations. In their 2004 championship run, Billups was named the Finals MVP, but it could have easily been Hamilton taking home the hardware with 21.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.0 APG. Either way, this duo led those Pistons teams, along with Ben and Rasheed Wallace, to their first NBA championship since 1990, forever leaving a mark on Detroit and NBA history.
9. Bob Cousy And Sam Jones
Years Together: 6 (1957-1963)
NBA Finals: 6
NBA Championships: 5
Bob Cousy’s Stats: 17.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.9 APG
Sam Jones’ Stats: 13.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG
The Boston Celtics of the 1960s were a dynasty the likes of which the NBA had never seen nor seen since. When mentioning their legendary backcourts, Bill Sharman must be mentioned as well before the arrival of Sam Jones in 1957. Cousy and Sharman won four NBA titles together in Boston before Jones became the full-time starter. Cousy was already an MVP and the best point guard in basketball when he and Jones came together as the starting backcourt for the Celtics, but when they did, it was off to the races.
From 1959 thru 1963, Cousy and Jones would win five NBA titles in six seasons, with their only loss coming to the Hawks in 1958. Jones would become an All-Star by the 1962 season and began to score at an 18.0 PPG to 19.0 PPG rate. Cousy was still among the best in the game when he retired in 1963 but was starting to wear down with age. Cousy and Sharman were spectacular, but Cousy and Jones became the gold standard.
8. Kobe Bryant And Derek Fisher
Years Together: 12 (1996-2004), 2007-2011)
NBA Finals: 7
NBA Championships: 5
Derek Fisher’s Stats: 7.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Kobe Bryant’s Stats: 25.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG
The Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant duo is something we saw in two separate stints during their NBA careers. Fisher was the Lakers’ first-round pick in 1996, while Kobe was brought in later in one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. From 1996-97 thru 2004, Fisher did not earn a full-time starting job until 2003-03, after the Lakers had completed their three-peat. Bryant, on the other hand, had earned his starting shooting guard position by the time the 1998-99 season began and played an enormous role in their three NBA championships from 2000 thru 2002.
The second stint with each other is an entirely different story. In 2008, Bryant would go on to win the MVP award with Fisher back by his side in the starting backcourt. The team would advance to the NBA Finals but lose to the Boston Celtics. Over the next two seasons, Fisher and Bryant would lead the Lakers’ backcourt while they went back-to-back as NBA champions. Fisher started all 82 games in all three seasons that they went to the Finals, while Bryant was performing at the best we had ever seen him. This duo may have been uneven in their contributions to success, but there is no denying what they accomplished when they joined forces.
7. Walt Frazier And Earl Monroe
Years Together: 6 (1971-1977)
NBA Finals: 2
NBA Championships: 1
Walt Frazier’s Stats: 20.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Earl Monroe’s Stats: 18.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Midway through the 1971-72 season, the New York Knicks made a deal that would send Mike Riordan, Dave Stallworth, and cash to the Baltimore Bullets in exchange for Earl Monroe. Little did they know that they were forming one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history. Monroe arrived after four and a half seasons with the Bullets that saw him make two All-Star teams and average 23.7 PPG. The ball would be out of his hands less in New York but paired with Frazier, the Knicks made magic on the floor.
Frazier has always been considered one of the best two-way point guards to ever play the game, and that did not stop when Monroe arrived in 1971. Frazier would make six All-Star games in their six years together and continue to be a 20.0 PPG scorer. In 1972, the duo would lead the Knicks to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Lakers. They would avenge that loss the following season with a five-game series win over the Lakers, as Frazier averaged 16.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 5.2 APG in the series, and Monroe averaged 16.0 PPG and 4.2 APG. The Knicks were world champions once more, and the legend of Earl the Pearl was born, while the legend of Walt “Clyde” Frazier had been cemented in Knicks’ history forever.
6. Tony Parker And Manu Ginobili
Years Together: 16 (2002-2018)
NBA Finals: 5
NBA Championships: 4
Tony Parker’s Stats: 16.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Manu Ginobili’s Stats: 13.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
In terms of wins, there has been no other backcourt in NBA history more successful than Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, with 132 wins in the NBA playoffs. The duo was two-thirds of the most successful Big 3 in NBA history alongside Tim Duncan. Although Ginobili wasn’t usually a starter, he was certainly a close as he and Parker often shared the court in the game’s biggest moments. Each delivered in their own way in those moments as playmakers and scorers.
Ginobili was also good for some incredibly clutch defensive plays at his peak. The two were impossible to stop on the attack of the basket whenever they got a head of steam which made for some sound offense and beautiful basketball. The duo would advance to five NBA Finals series in their careers together, with four NBA titles to their name. Parker was the 2007 Finals MVP and a six-time All-Star, while Ginobili was the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year, a two-time All-Star and All-NBA Team selection, and now, a Hall of Famer. This backcourt is simply one of the best ever and one of the few with numerous NBA championships to their name.
5. Jerry West And Gail Goodrich
Years Together: 7 (1965-1968), (1970-1974)
NBA Finals: 5
NBA Championships: 1
Jerry West’s Stats: 27.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Gail Goodrich’s Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Jerry West and Gail Goodrich were as dynamic of a backcourt as we have ever seen throughout NBA history. The two can be known as the original Splash Brothers considering they were the two best shooters in the game when they were teammates both times in the ate 60s and 70s. West had an unlimited range and was pretty much impossible to stop in isolation. Goodrich was a more than talented scorer but was an equally great facilitator and foul shooter.
The two went to five NBA Finals together, including back-to-back appearances in 1972 and 1973 as the starting backcourt. In 1972, the duo led the Lakers in scoring and finally got over the hump to win the only NBA titles of their careers. In the Finals, Goodrich led the way with 25.6 PPG on 46.9% shooting. West struggled to shoot the ball but finished with 19.8 PPG on 32.5% shooting. As great as the other duos on this list are, none were more exciting than West and Goodrich.
4. Isiah Thomas And Joe Dumars
Years Together: 9 (1985-1994)
NBA Finals: 3
NBA Championships: 2
Isiah Thomas’ Stats: 18.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Joe Dumars’ Stats: 17.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG
As much as the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons were a defensive and physical team, their offensive abilities were carried by the presence of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. While they were both great team defenders, they also contributed the most on offense for the Pistons during their best seasons during the late 80s and early 90s. As a duo, the two would go to three straight NBA Finals from 1988-1990 and take home back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.
After falling to the Lakers in the 1988 NBA Finals, the pair led the Pistons back in 1989. This time, the Pistons would win in a sweep behind Joe Dumars’ 27.3 PPG and 6.0 APG as he was named Finals MVP. Thomas contributed 21.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 1.5 SPG. The following season, it would be Isiah’s turn to deliver for Detroit as the pair led them back to the NBA Finals. Thomas claimed Finals MVP with 27.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.0 APG, and 1.6 SPG in a five-game route of Portland. Dumars contributed 20.6 PPG and 5.6 APG this time around to carry the offense for Detroit.
3. Michael Jordan And Ron Harper
Years Together: 3 (1995-1998)
NBA Finals: 3
NBA Championships: 3
Ron Harper’s Stats: 7.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Michael Jordan’s Stats: 29.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Whenever your backcourt has the greatest player to ever play the game, that backcourt is bound to be somewhere in the Top Three. This duo did not get together until much later in their careers. Harper was six years removed from his 20.0 PPG days and became a defensive stalwart for the most part and embraced the role to perfection. Jordan was just coming out of retirement and off a loss to the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals. What they did next was incredible.
Harper took on the role of the defensive mastermind as he and Jordan became the best defensive backcourt in basketball. Jordan would win a couple of MVPs along the way, but the Bulls as a team were the true beneficiaries. The Bulls went to three straight NBA Finals and won them all while fielding the greatest team ever in 1996, when they won 72 games and the NBA championship. Harper was hardly recognized for what he meant to those Bulls teams’ success, but he had a ton to do with it considering the level of defense he and Jordan were playing on the perimeter.
2. Stephen Curry And Klay Thompson
Years Together: 12 (2011-2023)
NBA Finals: 6
NBA Championships: 4
Stephen Curry’s Stats: 25.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Klay Thompson’s Stats: 19.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Now we get to the point in our list where we come across THE most dynamic dup on the entire list. Both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are two of the greatest shooters in NBA history. While Curry has taken it to another level, Klay has had his moments as well. Curry and Klay were prematurely dubbed the greatest shooting backcourt of all time by former coach Mark Jackson before it actually came to fruition under Steve Kerr.
Stephen Cury and Klay Thompson have each played a major role in four NBA championships. They have each done their part along the way as well, with Curry winning two MVP awards and Thompson hitting clutch shots and having overall clutch performances. In the NBA Finals, Curry has claimed one Finals MVP while averaging 27.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 6.0 APG in 34 career Finals games. Klay has played 33 Finals games and averaged 18.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG. They are not only one of the best backcourts ever, but they also are one of the greatest duos ever overall.
1. Magic Johnson And Michael Cooper
Years Together: 11 (1979-1990)
NBA Finals: 8
NBA Championships: 5
Magic Johnson’s Stats: 19.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 11.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Michael Cooper’s Stats: 8.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG
The number one backcourt of all time is one in a peculiar position. Michael Cooper was rarely, if ever, a starter in the Showtime Lakers lineup, but he was definitely a closer as their best perimeter defender by a long shot. Magic Johnson was developing into the greatest point guard ever during the 80s and dishing out assists, scoring at will, and playing elite defense all at the same time. The duo would be a perfect oil and vinegar-like mix that blended to the tune of five NBA championships.
Cooper was so impactful on the defensive side of the ball he was named to eight All-Defensive Teams in his career and was named the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year having made just two starts. Meanwhile, Magic controlled the offense like a conductor controls an orchestra, and the pair never looked back. Magic and Michael Cooper were an unorthodox duo, with Cooper only ever averaging 10.0 PPG or better twice in his career. The point is they played off each other’s strengths to become the most beloved and successful team of the 1980s.
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