They’re typically not mentioned as the best over mj Scottie, magic kareem, malone Stockton and bird mchale. I think the primary reason is the regular season accolades weren’t great due to voter fatigue, team success, and injuries.
Curry was regarded as the best or second player in the nba after the back to back mvps, and KD was 3rd behind lebron after being the more recent mvp. They were both in their primes as top 15-20 players all time, fit seamlessly and had all the team success with the chips.
The two duos that are typically at the top are mj/ Scottie, and Kareem magic
Arguments against MJ Scottie, MJ is the greatest ever but Scottie was closer to the top 5-10 player during his era at his peak.
Magic Kareem: Kareem’s last dominant mvp year was magics rookie year. Definitely a longer stretch as a duo but for 2 year stretches, they didn’t win back to back titles until kareem was 41
Honorable mention is Cousy and bill but none of us remember that.
They’re in the conversation. MVP the previous 3 years was Durant, Curry, Curry, and if they had not teamed up, they would have still been competing for it (along with the scoring title).
LeBron and Wade must also be mentioned.
Their competition is tough but yes, they are. Shaq+Kobe, LeBron+Kyrie, Jordan+Pippen
I think mentioning Stockton and Malone as competitors in a 2 year stretch is insane. The only argument they have is longevity.
I don’t agree with it but they have been mentioned because their games for so seamlessly
Lebron Wade, Shaq Kobe, MJ Scottie, Magic Kareem, probably more im not thinking of
West & Baylor/Chamberlain, Erving & Malone
No as a duo give me shaq and Kobe. KD and Curry benefited from having the 3rd, 4th, and 5th players as Draymond, Klay, and Iggy. On top of that the bench was great the first year. Shaq and Kobe with that supporting cast would be disgusting.
It’s likely Shaq and Kobe from 2000-01 to 2001-02. By that time, Kobe was beginning his prime, and already a top 5 player in the league, arguable top 3. The only players you’d take over him for sure were Shaq and Duncan. And even Duncan was more a product of the times than anything against Kobe, who performed well during each of those series.
After that, it’s a matter of whether you are specifying back to back titles specifically. If you aren’t, I’m also likely taking 1981-82 to 1982-83 Kareem and Magic over Curry and KD. Also 2010-11 to 2011-12 Wade and Lebron should likely be mentioned as well in that case, though I’d probably still lean Curry and KD over Wade/LeBron.
They certainly have an argument, but I’d still go with Shaq and Kobe
Shaq and Kobe is prolly the greatest duo ever considering the fact that most other elite duos still had a better supporting cast around them. Kareem and Magic had Worthy as well as Byron Scott and Cooper. MJ and Scottie had Dennis, Harper and Kukoc. KD and Curry ofc had the rest of the death lineup. Shaq and Kobe on the other hand had Rick Fox and Fisher, which just isn’t the same.
Yeah it was illegal. Easy 3 peat if healthy.
Could have probably farmed 2 or 3 more chips (after the injuries) if Dray was not such a B. Speaking as a Dubs fan