NBA Players: Top 5 active duos in the Western Conference

The 2019-20 NBA season has begun and there are a whole lot of new faces to watch out for in the current season and further forward, after what was one of the craziest offseasons in NBA history. Several top players in the league are now on different teams, making it a rather competitive league now.

The concept of big three dominated the NBA for most of the last decade. When you think of a big three, the first trio that comes to mind is that of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh during their time as teammates with the Miami Heat. However, the league has moved away from the big 3 notion and many teams currently boast of star duos.

With that being said, here are my top 5 NBA duos in the West. This list is based subject to my opinion and others may or may not agree with the list.

Do note that because of Klay Thompson's long-term injury, him and Steph Curry have not been included in this list.

#1 Kawhi Leonard and Paul George

Los Angeles Clippers v Golden State Warriors

Could we all agree that this scenario was not expected? While 2-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was rumored to go to Los Angeles, most rumors suggested he would join the other Los Angeles team, the Los Angeles Lakers, with LeBron James. His previous team, the Toronto Raptors, were supposedly considered as well but it likely came down to Leonard wanting to have a better chance of getting another star player alongside him.

That is where forward Paul George came in, as he requested a trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was the most unexpected move, as George had just signed a contract extension with the Thunder the year before. Either way, once George is back healthy and playing alongside Kawhi and several other key players, they will be a big threat in the West.

#2 LeBron James and Anthony Davis

Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Lakers

We weren't able to see 15-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer LeBron James play quite a bit last season, as he struggled with injuries starting in December. It was the first time that James missed the playoffs since 2005 and was obviously an issue for the team, considering they did not have other big-stars on their team. Well, they addressed that this offseason, as the Los Angeles Lakers traded for then New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis, who had requested to be traded.

AD also had injury issues in 2018, playing in only 56 games before the Pelicans shut him down for injury reasons and due to his request for a trade. But now, it is time for him to show if he is worth a big contract by the Lakers and if they made the right move. Davis will be a free agent next season and he has not made it clear whether or not he would stay on the team.

Either way, combining AD with James is a lethal combination if he can stay healthy. If they cannot create chemistry for the team, we could see AD on another team next season (or before the trade deadline).

#3 Russell Westbrook and James Harden

We all know about Russell Westbrook's explosiveness on the court, both on offense and defense. Recently, he passed Hall of Famer Magic Johnson on the all-time triple-double list for second place. So it certainly seems like Westbrook feels at home, scoring a triple-double in just the Houston Rockets' 3rd game of the season.

Former MVP James Harden as we know shows his ability on the offensive side of the ball. After that, it is a question mark. But we do know that both Harden and Westbrook played together on the Oklahoma City Thunder before Harden was traded in 2012.

If they still have that same chemistry, or can create new synergy within the team, they will be serious contenders in the Western Conference. Trading for Westbrook was certainly an upgrade from point guard Chris Paul, who reportedly had issues with Harden.

#4 Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum

Portland Trail Blazers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Four

Is it just me or do we forget about these two sometimes? Probably the most underrated duo on this list, Portland Trail Blazers' point guard Damian Lillard and shooting guard C.J. McCollum come in at number 4 on this list. Both Lillard and McCollum signed contract extensions this offseason, locking in the Blazers' two best players for years to come.

Chemistry is certainly not an issue between Lillard and McCollum, as they both have had each other's backs for years and continue to produce for the team. While they are a dynamic duo by themselves, they need playmakers to help them as well in order to advance further in the season.

However, they did advance to the Conference Finals last season, where they lost 4-0 against the Golden State Warriors. If they keep the same energy up, they could do the same this season. But with the Western Conference so heavily packed, it could be a tough journey.

#5 Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis

The young and new duo look to show the Western Conference that they too can compete for a playoff spot this season. Guard Luka Doncic was drafted in the 2018 NBA Draft and performed well enough for him to earn the NBA Rookie of the Year award last season.

At just 20 years old, Doncic has plenty of potential for growth and to be a truly dominant player in the league. As for power forward Kristaps Porzingis, who signed a huge contract this offseason, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks from the New York Knicks.

As long as Porzingis stays healthy, he will be a great complement to Doncic and together they should help the Mavericks reach the playoffs. For now, they both look like they are prospering. Anyhow, they are an underrated duo and it should be fun to watch them this season and onward.

Edited by Raunak J