Ranking The Top 10 Best NBA Duos For The 2022-23 Season

The NBA is a superstar drive league, and that has never been more apparent than right now in the 2022-23 season. With the widespread amount of talent in the NBA these days, the amount of duos with star-caliber players has risen dramatically. Historically, the greatest duos are always remembered as such. Magic and Kareem, Shaq and Kobe, and Jordan and Pippen are the first names that come to mind when the topic of great NBA duos comes up. The reason for that is because of what they accomplished together, and the amount of winning those players did together.

There can only be one NBA champion every season, thus allowing only one NBA duo or trio to enter their names into the history books. The 2022-23 season has not had its shortage of dynamic duos who could potentially lead their teams to an NBA championship this season. Today, we will break down the Top 10 duos in the league by how they work with one another, the success they have had together, and the efforts they put in as separate entities. This list is sure to pique your interest so pay close attention.

These are the Top 10 NBA duos for the 2022-23 season so far.

10. LeBron James And Anthony Davis

The duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis was No. 1 on this list just a few short seasons ago. Injuries and lack of cohesive time on the court together have derailed their rankings and the Lakers franchise for the most part. Anthony Davis was having a career year in 2022-23 as one of the league’s best defenders and offensive juggernauts. A foot injury has left Davis out for what looks like it is going to be over a month, killing his momentum. As for James, he has been in and out of the lineup as well with injuries and rests, leaving the Lakers in the 13th seed as of December 22.

When healthy, this duo could easily be No. 1 or, at the very least Top 3. Together, this duo has played just 19 games together and has a record of 8-11. You would figure that two premier players, such as James and Davis, could figure it out, but this is not to be. Through 25 games, Davis was averaging 27.4 PPG, 12.1 RPG, and 2.1 BPG on 59.4% shooting. When Davis is healthy, James averages 25.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 6.6 APG. I know it may be weird to see this duo at the bottom of the Top 10, but in order to climb up this list, they need to remain healthy and win a lot more than they have so far.

9. Zion Williamson And Brandon Ingram

Heading into the season, there was a buzz surrounding the New Orleans pelicans that I don’t know I have ever seen before for this team. The reason for that was the potential of Zion Williamson coming back and joining forces with Brandon Ingram once again. For various reasons, the duo has only played 12 games together this year and has an overall record of 7-5 in those games. Three of those games have been blowout wins in favor of New Orleans, leaving much to be desired once these 2 can stay on the same page.

With Ingram on the floor, Zion is averaging 22.2 PPG and 5.9 RPG. He is currently Top 10 in the MVP race due to his performances and the New Orleans Pelicans in the hunt for the top spot in the Western Conference. Ingram has dealt with injury issues all season long in 2022-23. When healthy and with Zion on the floor, Ingram is averaging 21.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.3 APG. If the Pelicans truly wish to make some serious noise in the postseason this year, Zion and Ingram must remain healthy in order to do so.

8. Jalen Brunson And Julius Randle

The buzz in New York City this season has been electric through 32 games as the Knicks stand at 18-14 on the season, right in the thick of the playoff hunt. It has mostly been due to the duo of their offseason big fish Jalen Brunson and Manhattan mainstay Julius Randle. The dup have combined for 42.9 PPG this season and have played every game together so far this season. Obviously, there have been some chemistry issues at times, but that is to be expected when the dynamic of the team changes, as it did with the arrival of Brunson.

That hasn’t stopped the duo from producing some great basketball. Brusno has always been a good playmaker, but that has elevated surrounded by Randle and RJ Barrett. Randle, on the other hand, has seemed to slow down his pace of play, and it is working to his advantage for now, at least. With each player being a contributing factor in more ways than one, the Knicks could be a formidable playoff opponent once the postseason starts.

7. Joel Embiid And James Harden

The fact that James Harden and Joel Embiid are at No. 7 on this list is telling in multiple ways. First, Harden was injured for the majority of the season so far, having missed 14 of 30 games this season. Embiid has battled injury as well, but that is nothing new for the big man who is steadily making his case for MVP. Embiid is currently leading the NBA in scoring with 33.3 PPG, while Harden is averaging over 10.0 APG for the 4th season in a row. The duo has immense amounts of potential together but hasn’t spent the necessary amount of time together to warrant a higher spot today.

Why is this duo so dangerous? Well, Embiid can score pretty much any way that he wants to, and the same goes for Harden and his creation for teammates. The pick-and-roll is a dangerous set for these 2, considering the skills they both bring to the table. Harden can knock down outside shots and get to the foul line, while Embiid dominates the post and mid-range game. The pair’s skill sets work perfectly together if they can just get it right and stay healthy.

6. Donovan Mitchell And Darius Garland

The duo of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell is one that many questioned would work when the Cavs traded players and picks to land the stud-shooting guard. Their defense and chemistry were called into question heavily before they had even stepped on the court together for the 2022-23 season. The way they have come out of the gates in 2022-23 has been remarkable to watch as the Cavaliers have gotten off to a 22-11 start and the 3rd spot in the East.

Mitchell seems to be a much-improved defender and has exploded on the offensive side of the ball. Garland continues to make tremendous leaps in his game as a shooter, scorer, and playmaker. The pair has combined for 50.2 PPG, 12.3 APG, and 2.7 SPG in 33 contests this year, even with Garland’s short stint on the bench due to an eye poke. It seems the critics are eating their words as the vibes and chemistry in Cleveland haven’t looked this good since LeBron James donned the uniform.

5. Nikola Jokic And Jamal Murray

The duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray is an interesting one, to say the least. Just for the presence of Nikola Jokic, this duo is Top 5, but they could be even higher if Murray was not struggling to adjust to being back to NBA action. Jokic is having another MVP-caliber season after winning the award in both 2021 and 2022. Murray, in the meantime, has shot just 43.7% from the field and leads the Nuggets in turnovers.

The pair has helped the Nuggets reach the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference at 19-11 on the season. To combine their stats would do no justice so let’s take a look at them separately. Jokic is averaging a near triple-double with 24.7 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 9.2 APG. Murray has contributed as well with 17.5 PPG, 5.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG. The patterns suggest Murray will turn things around after missing over a year with a knee injury. When he does get it right, look for the Nuggets to emerge as title favorites for the 2022-23 season.

4. Ja Morant And Demond Bane

Surprise, Surprise, the Memphis Grizzlies are one of the best teams in their conference again. The talk of the town this past offseason was the projected inevitable downfall of the Grizzlies. So far, in 2022-23, they have done anything but fall off. The many fans and experts calling for the Memphis deterioration said that there was no way Morant and Bane could repeat the success they had last season. Now that the Grizzlies are 19-11 and tied for 1st in the West, they are eating their words.

Morant has been playing at an MVP level for the majority of the season, averaging 27.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 7.8 APG. Desmond Bane has become one of the better shooters in basketball and has improved on his 2022 campaign. He is currently averaging 20.0 PPG and shooting 45.1% from three on 8.5 attempts per game. There are many other factors as to why the Grizzlies are having success once again in 2022-23. At the top of the list has to be the duo of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo And Jrue Holiday

What do you get when you put together the best player in the world and the best perimeter defender in the NBA? You get one of the best duos and teams in basketball. I do realize that most of the time, this has been the duo of Giannis and Middleton, but Middleton has been available for just 7 games so far, which eliminates him from eligibility. Holiday has been the team’s 2nd-leading scorer with 18.8 PPG and their leading assist man with 7.6 APG, so using him for this duo is not the bad choice it may seem to be.

Giannis is busy doing Giannis things as the MVP frontrunner heading into the next week of the NBA season. He is averaging 31.4 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.0 BPG. If those aren’t MVP numbers, then I don’t know what are. The Bucks currently sit at 22-9 on the year behind Holiday and Giannis’s play but with many more contributing to their early-season success. Holiday and Giannis are a Top 3 duo no matter which way you try to slice it, and it has been backed up repeatedly on the court.

2. Kevin Durant And Kyrie Irving

After a tumultuous and lackluster start to the 2022-23 season, the Brooklyn Nets have arrived and started to play their best basketball together. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving spent the summer clouded in controversy and rumors of trade requests amid a first-round sweep in last year’s playoffs. Now that the drama has subsided and they have gotten back to basketball, the Brooklyn Nets have won 7 games in a row and are 9-1 in their last 10.

The team currently sits at 20-12 for the season, which has them in the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference. On offense, the duo has combined for 56.2 PPG, with Durant averaging over 30.0 PPG himself. Durant has also been one of their best assist men with 5.3 APG, which is 2nd on the team. Irving is shooting 49.0% from the floor, while Durant is shooting an incredible 56.4%. The duo may have had their issues recently, but now that things are getting back to normal, the Nets are one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA.

1. Jayson Tatum And Jaylen Brown

There simply has been no better duo in the NBA to begin the 2022-23 season than Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. The two have been one of the 5 best duos in the league for about 5 seasons now and have finally reached the No. 1 spot to start this season. Jayson Tatum is becoming a legit MVP candidate, while Brown should be considered for the 2nd All-Star selection of his career. The Celtics are currently 22-10 on the year and sit just a half-game out of first in the East.

So far in 2022-23, both Tatum and Brown have taken their offensive games to a different level. Both are averaging career-high in points and have combined to average 56.8 PPG, which is the highest of any duo in the NBA right now. Both are averaging career-highs in rebounds as well and have anchored a historic NBA offense in the early going of the season. One year after falling short in the NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have the Celtics look poised to give it another go in the 2022-23 season. 

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