National Basketball Association

NBA: Ranking The Five Best Guard Duos In The League Entering 2016-17

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:36 p.m. ET

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With the 2016-17 NBA season about to begin, we rank the league’s five-best guard duos

In the NBA, the backcourt is composed of the point guard and shooting guard. Below, we take a look at which backcourt duos in the NBA are most dominant. If you think about it, when was the last time a team won the NBA championship and did not have an all-star in the backcourt?

When talking about the best backcourts in the NBA, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson immediately come to mind as the frontrunners. That raises the question, who fills out the rest of the top 5?

While ranking the NBA’s best backcourt duos, I am looking at overall success, talent as a whole, and for the new duos, how well they will play together. Also, I have combined the duos individual stats from the 2015-16 NBA season. This gives us a visual aid to use when comparing two different backcourts.

Honorable Mentions

Jeff Teague and Monta Ellis – Indiana Pacers

Combined averages: 29.5 points, 10.6 assists, 6.0 rebounds

With the addition of Teague to the Pacer backcourt, Monta Ellis now has a top 15 point guard as a running mate. Monta Ellis is an undersized shooting guard who happens to be one of the best “pure” scorers in the NBA at his position.

Jeff Teague is an all around point guard who can take over games with his speed alone. This will be the first year these to have played together, so there will be some kinks they need to work out. As they build chemistry with one another, the Eastern Conference should watch out for the Indiana Pacers.

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Chris Paul and J.J. Redick – Los Angeles Clippers

Combined averages: 35.8 points, 11.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds

Chris Paul may very well be the best “pure” point guards in the NBA. He is a fearless leader who will do just about anything to win. His running mate, Redick, is three-point specialist.

Redick is known who for constantly running off of screens to create an open shot. What holds this duo back is their lack of ability to make a run in the playoffs consistently.

However, this year if they remain healthy the Los Angeles Clippers could make a push for the Western Conference Championship series, that is if they can stay healthy.

Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade – Chicago Bulls

Combined averages: 30.9 points, 16.3 assists, 10.1 rebounds

Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade are easily the most polarizing backcourts in the NBA today. Both have had issues with one another on the court in the past (Celtics vs Heat playoff series). However, these two will look to put that aside and make the best of it.

Rondo is a ball dominant guard who relies on his speed and craftiness, on the other hand Wade is one of the best shooting guards of all time who has shown he can carry a team to the title. With this being both of their first times playing for the Bulls, they are going to be an intriguing team to watch.

The biggest question mark that surrounds this duo is the lack of shooting, neither are a threat from the perimeter, but both are great leaders.

Oct 31, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks with Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) against the New York Knicks in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Knicks won 117-110. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 John Wall and Brad Beal – Washington Wizards

Combined averages: 37.3 points, 13.1assists, 8.3 rebounds

For the past few years, Wall and Beal have looked like the backcourt of the future. However, they have had their ups and downs. For example, this past year they failed to make the NBA playoffs.

Wall is a three-time NBA All-Star who is one of the quickest guards in the league. Beal is a young and talented shooting guard who is deadly from three-point range (39.7% career 3pt%). For these two, the biggest question mark is Beal’s health, last season Beal missed 27 games.

With that being said, Beal and Wall still have a lot of growth and potential left in them. This could potentially catapult them up the backcourt rankings, but for now they come in at No. 5.

Sep 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Raptors guards DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry (7) pose for pictures on media day at BioSteel Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan – Toronto Raptors

Combined averages: 44.7 points, 10.4 assists, 9.2 rebounds

DeRozan and Lowry come in as the fourth best backcourt in the NBA. DeRozan is an extremely athletic slashing shooting guard, and Lowry is a do-it-all guard who is a lot faster than he looks. Both of these guards are 2x NBA-All Stars.

For the past 2-3 years this has been the most talented backcourt in the Eastern Conference. This past offseason, Lowry and DeRozan were both on Team USA for the Rio Olympics. Lowry, 30, and DeRozan, 27, are both still considered to be in the prime of their respective careers, however that time is running out. While this duo is still in their prime’s, they need to make the most of it and continue to not only make the playoffs but advance past the first round.

Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Damian Lillard and CJ McCullom – Portland Trailblazers

Combined averages: 45.9 points, 11.1 assists, 7.2 reboounds

Lillard and McCullom are what some would call the most shocking backcourt in the NBA, as far as talent is concerned. Both played college basketball at mid-major schools and went on to be drafted in the NBA Lottery.

While this may be a bit surprising considering their rise to fame and how overlooked they were at the college level, they have earned the #3 spot in the rankings. McCollum earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2015 and Lillard is a 2x NBA-All Star.

At 26 and 25 years old, respectively, expect this duo to continue to thrive in Portland as both are currently signed to 5 year deals. In due time, I fully believe this will become the best backcourt in the NBA.

Sep 23, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5), Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) pose for portraits during Oklahoma City Thunder media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo – Oklahoma City Thunder

Combined averages: 39.5 points, 14.3 assists, 12.6 reboounds

At No. 2, Westbrook and Oladipo will be one of the most fun duos to watch. Both are extremely athletic, quick, and strong. Westbrook plays with a passion like no other, he is always giving 120 percent.

As Oladipo plays more and more with Westbrook I think he will learn and will begin to do the same. Both Westbrook and Oladipo are “do-it-all” guards who are triple double machines. With Durant’s departure from Oklahoma City, Russell immediately becomes a candidate for the NBA MVP trophy.

With the loss of Ibaka and Waiters, this team replaced their scoring with Oladipo, who will be Westbrook’s second-hand man. These two should combine for countless transition highlights the coming year, but will those highlights be enough to make a push in the Western Conference playoffs?

Apr 9, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Golden State Warriors guards Klay Thompson (11) and Stephen Curry (30) celebrate after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 100-99 at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors

Combined averages: 52.2 points, 8.8 assists, 9.2 reboounds

The greatest backcourt shooting duo of all-time earns the top spot on the list. As the obvious choice for the best NBA backcourt duo, the splash brothers have some unfinished business to take care of this season.

Curry is the back-to-back NBA MVP and Thompson is his running mate in the backcourt. Last season, these two finished at No. 1 and No. 2 on the made three-pointers list, Curry finished with 402 and Thompson finished with 276.

With the addition of a former MVP in Kevin Durant, Curry and Thompson’s numbers may take a bit of a hit this year. However, the talent level will remain supreme. The Warriors are going to be a fun team to watch this coming year.

As the best backcourt duo the NBA has to offer, they should remain at the top of the list for the next few years.

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