{"id":24215,"date":"2019-07-27T14:37:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-27T18:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=24215"},"modified":"2019-07-27T14:37:01","modified_gmt":"2019-07-27T18:37:01","slug":"top-five-young-nba-duos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2019\/07\/27\/top-five-young-nba-duos\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Five Young NBA Duos"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a time where the NBA has found parity around the league, it was because of duos teaming up in many different places. From\u00a0<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0and <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/brooklyn-nets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brooklyn Nets<\/a>, <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/davisan02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Davis<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/los-angeles-lakers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>, and even to\u00a0<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/georgpa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul George<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leonaka01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/los-angeles-clippers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Clippers<\/a>. If this trend were to continue, duos would take over the NBA.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Top Five Young Duos in the NBA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Number Five &#8211; Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is fresh off of his rookie of the year season. A year where he shocked the league with his abilities on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/dallas-mavericks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dallas Mavericks<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/porzikr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0is coming off of a bad ACL injury, but hopefully, he will make a full recovery. Don\u010di\u0107 averaged 21.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 6 assists a game last year en route to winning the rookie of the year award. Porzingis was out all of last year but has lifetime averages of\u00a0 17.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game. If he can come back and thrive after his injury, this European duo can be a threat for years to come, and might even make the playoffs this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Number Four &#8211; Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brownja02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Brown<\/a> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">both had a rough year playing alongside Irving. He is now gone and has been replaced with a leader in <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/walkeke02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kemba Walker<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Last year, Brown averaged 13 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game. Depending on the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/haywago01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gordon Hayward<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comeback, Brown will also be the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/boston-celtics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boston Celtics<\/a> second best defender on the team. Tatum, on the other hand, averaged 15.7 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game last year. With star potential running through both of their veins, expect a possible breakout season from at least one, if not both of these players.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Number Three &#8211; Trae Young and John Collins<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/y\/youngtr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trae Young<\/a> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">came second in voting for the rookie of the year award last year, and he is looking for vengeance on those that doubted him. He averaged 19.1 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and 8.1 assists per game last year. Young has been putting in work in the summer at the Drew League with other NBA stars. He is ready to make a strong impression in his second year. Speaking of strong second year impressions, <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/collijo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Collins<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had one for the ages. Averaging 19.5 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, and 2 assists per game. With the likes of Young dropping dimes to him all season long next year, both of these player&#8217;s numbers should increase in the coming season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Number Two &#8211; Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/murraja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jamal Murray<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was an amazing force for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/denver-nuggets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Denver Nuggets<\/a> in the playoffs. Winning games for the team in high-pressure moments from the free-throw line. Last year, Murray averaged 18.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 4.8 assists per game. Murray is the leader of this team, despite the star <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Joki\u0107<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> playing alongside him. Joki\u0107 averaged 20.1 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game, and 7.3 assists per game. He also got selected to an All-NBA team. The coming years should be fun for Denver.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Number One &#8211; Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/simmobe01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ben Simmons<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joel Embiid<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the faces of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/philadelphia-76ers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philadelphia 76ers.<\/a> Getting eliminated by the <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/nba-teams\/toronto-raptors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Toronto Raptors<\/a> in the playoffs should have motivated the two to get even better in the upcoming year. Last year, Simmons averaged 16.9 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, and 7.7 assists per game, while Embiid averaged 27.5 points per game, 13.6 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. The two should come back next year stronger than ever.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<br \/>\n<a id=\"BX8qJRs4R8hONYTHMfSMig\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/903969996\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'BX8qJRs4R8hONYTHMfSMig',sig:'Ke5AMMV3ZlbWzOtDA9qbCBYXss7MWgmqp8-1inO6ljU=',w:'594px',h:'403px',items:'903969996',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a time where the NBA has found parity around the league, it was because of duos teaming up in many different places. From\u00a0Kyrie Irving\u00a0and Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets, Anthony Davis and LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers, and even to\u00a0Paul George\u00a0and Kawhi Leonard on the Los Angeles Clippers. If this trend [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3164,"featured_media":24229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,4,1608,5,30,20,13],"tags":[251,302,175,108,225],"class_list":["post-24215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-hawks","category-basketball","category-celtics","category-mavericks","category-nuggets","category-76ers","tag-atlanta-hawks","tag-boston-celtics","tag-dallas-mavericks","tag-denver-nuggets","tag-philadelphia-76ers"],"modified_by":"Tyler Marling","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3164"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}