Top 5 new player duos that fans should look forward to in the 2021-22 NBA season

The 2021 NBA offseason has been rather action-packed. From Russell Westbrook forming a super team with the LA Lakers' LeBron James and Anthony Davis to LaMarcus Aldridge re-joining the Brooklyn Nets, there have been significant player updates across the NBA.

The Chicago Bulls have a fully revamped roster with the additions of Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan. The same can be said about the Miami Heat, with Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris joining their ranks.

All this player movement has created new on-court combinations that fans are excitedly looking forward to seeing in action. These player duos have the potential to upstage some of the more well-established player combinations in the league.

With that in mind, we take a look at the five new duos that could leave fans at the edge of their seats in the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season.

#5 Jonas Valanciunas-Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)

Jonas Valanciunas will partner Zion Williamson in the New Orleans Pelicans frontcourt

Jonas Valanciunas was a big reason why the Memphis Grizzlies made it to the 2021 NBA postseason. The center averaged career-highs in scoring (17.1 ppg), rebounding (12.5 rpg) and field goal shooting efficiency (59.2%).

Zion Williamson also had a terrific second NBA season as he posted 27.0 ppg on a highly efficient 61.1% field goal shooting, earning his first NBA All-Star appearance.

With Steven Adams out of New Orleans, Valanciunas will partner Williamson in the Pelicans frontcourt. With Adams, the Pelicans were a top-five rebounding team and the NBA's best offensive rebounding team last season.

However, Valanciunas is a better scorer than Adams. Playing alongside Williamson, who draws so much attention from defenders, could further benefit his game.

#4 Kemba Walker-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

Kemba Walker will join Julius Randle on the New York Knicks

In his last NBA season with the Boston Celtics, Kemba Walker was restricted to just 43 games. He could hardly make much of an impact in the playoffs as his contribution dipped from 19.3 ppg in the regular season to 12.7 ppg in the postseason.

Julius Randle, on the other hand, had a career year with the New York Knicks. The power forward hit career-best marks in scoring (24.1 ppg), rebounding (10.2 rpg), assists (6.0 apg) and three-point shooting efficiency (41.1%).

Walker needs a new lease of life after spending two seasons with the Celtics. Meanwhile, Randle needs more help after his Knicks were brushed aside by the Atlanta Hawks in five games during the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

By joining the New York Knicks, Walker also returns to the city he was born in. This could be the best duo the Knicks have had in two decades since Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell played for them in the early 2000s.

#3 Kyle Lowry-Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)

Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry were members of Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Kyle Lowry won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors two seasons ago. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler went to the NBA Finals last year with the Miami Heat. Both stars are great examples of players who weren’t rated very highly when coming into the league but who made the most of their ability.

Lowry has now joined Butler in Miami, and the duo will hope to lead the Heat to their fourth NBA championship in franchise history.

Lowry knows a thing or two about playing with superstars, having previously partnered with Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan. Meanwhile, Butler demands the most from his teammates.

Beyond their individual numbers, Lowry and Butler appear to be a good fit since both players are good friends and veterans in the league. Winning is the only thing that should matter to them at this stage of their career.

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#2 Zach LaVine-DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine will look to forge a potent scoring duo in Chicago

This will make for very interesting viewing. From a scoring perspective, Zach LaVine is approximately at a similar point in his NBA career where DeMar DeRozan was five seasons ago.

LaVine cracked the NBA’s top 10 scoring averages for the first time in his career in 2020-21, which is what DeRozan achieved in the 2016-17 season (27.3 ppg).

LaVine, who averaged 27.4 ppg in 2020-21, is expected to be the primary scorer in Chicago even with DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic (who got there last season) playing with him.

The good thing for DeRozan is that his playmaking has improved in his last three NBA seasons while playing for the San Antonio Spurs. His assists average doubled from 3.1 apg in his first nine seasons at Toronto compared to his 6.2 apg with San Antonio.

With DeRozan being a very good mid-range shooter and LaVine posting a career-best 41.9% from downtown in 2020-21, perhaps the pair will find their preferred areas to work on the floor.

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#1 Russell Westbrook-Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)

The Russell Westbrook-Anthony Davis pairing at the LA Lakers should be the most exciting

Russell Westbrook is the 2017 NBA MVP, while Anthony Davis would like to become an MVP. Both players have a lot to prove this season.

Westbrook is yet to win an NBA championship, having played 13 years in the league. Meanwhile, Davis won a championship with the Lakers in 2020 but played well below expectations last season.

Westbrook taking on the role of ball-handler, with Davis setting screens and then rolling to the rim, could be a devastating one-two punch for any opposition. The duo could also combine for several alley-oop plays, with Westbrook attacking the basket only to kick it out to a wide-open Davis.

Either way, the two players make for a very interesting pairing, with nothing but a championship being expected from the LA Lakers.