Photo Credit (Pixeles)
Two heads are better than one, as the saying goes.
Although many have attempted, it is practically difficult for a player to lead their team by themselves in sports. Having a partner can be crucial for this reason.
On and off the field, these partners were sometimes just that—great friends. While igniting on the court, other couplings have the potential to turn ugly off it. Despite the sporadic fireworks, these duos helped their teams win championships, have memorable seasons, and make deep playoff runs.
And that’s not to say they didn’t compete against one another on occasion—for example, at the Olympics or national tournaments. However, when they collaborated in specific events, they set aside their competitiveness. For an athlete, doing that isn’t always simple.
Here are some of the most successful dynamic teams in sports history:
Curry and Thompson are the epitome of dynamic; their brilliant 3-point shooting and incredibly inventive guard play have revolutionized the modern NBA. While playing for the U.S. national team, the “Splash Brothers” helped the Warriors win a championship in 2014–15, set a single-season record of 73 wins in 2015–16, and shared a gold medal in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. The two have the potential to become one of the greatest teams in sports history because Thompson has improved his scoring in each of his first four seasons in the NBA and Curry has won back-to-back MVP honors.
Curry first had Klay on his team, and now he now has KD. In the 2016–17 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant assisted the Warriors in defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the two have demonstrated that they still have enough of energy to strive to win another one. Even though Durant might not be with the Warriors forever, he and Curry comprise a formidable team right now, depending on who is on the court.
Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, MLB
Giancarlo Stanton joined the New York Yankees thanks to general manager Brian Cashman’s astute decisions, and the team now has the opportunity to have another home run-hitting combo like Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Stanton is joining the Yankees after hitting 59 home runs in 2017, while Judge is entering the 2018 season after hitting 52 home runs and winning the American League Rookie of the Year award. What a dynamic pair they are.
NBA players Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant
With just two moves in 1996—signing Shaquille O’Neal to a record salary and trading for Kobe Bryant at the NBA Draft—the Los Angeles Lakers were able to overcome some difficult years in the early to mid-1990s. Even though the guard and the big guy ended up fighting a lot—the drama between Shaq and Kobe might have occupied many seasons of a soap opera—the outcome was nothing short of amazing.
In addition to winning three consecutive NBA titles from 2000 to 2002, the frequently fighting couple helped the Lakers win their first championship in fourteen years. With Kobe and Shaq in charge, the Lakers were the league’s most dominant team; they won at least 50 games for eight consecutive seasons. But it had to end, as all good things do.
Both “Superman” and “Black Mamba” had enormous egos, which ultimately forced O’Neal to sign with the Miami Heat. Following the breakup, each model took home a championship while substituting a younger model for their rival—Kobe with Pau Gasol in Hollywood and Shaq with Dwyane Wade in South Beach. Nothing could compare to the superstardom the Lakers achieved with Shaq and Kobe, both on and off the court, despite the fact that both players enjoyed considerable success after their collaboration ended.
Olympic athletes Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps
This aquatic duo has won 23 gold medals at three separate Summer Olympics, dominating the water both individually and as a team. Lochte has contributed to the setting of world records in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter individual medleys during his career, whereas Phelps is the all-time gold medal leader. Together, the swimmers have participated in the Olympic freestyle relay event several times, winning gold in Beijing (2008) and silver in London (2012).
With 22 medals overall, Phelps has acquired the moniker “The Baltimore Bullet” for his swimming prowess and makes a compelling case for being the greatest Olympian in history. Their greatest moments have frequently coincided during the relay, but Lochte is also no slouch—he has won 11 gold overall in his career.
NBA players LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
LeBron James believed he was going to create a “super” team with longtime best friend Dwyane Wade when he made his well-known “decision” to “take his talents to South Beach.” The King’s signing with Miami and his best friend was similar to his college experience because James skipped college and entered the professional ranks. Known by many as “Batman and Robin,” while there is some disagreement over which was which, the two were the talk of the NBA during James’s stay in Miami.
On the court, James and Wade were identical. Blindly throwing passes that resulted in incredible alley-oops, behind-the-back dishes, and ferocious dunks, they appeared to have an extrasensory connection with one another. They won two NBA titles, the first of James’s remarkable career, and guided the squad to 27 consecutive victories in 2012–13.
Soccer players Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta
Since enrolling at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, this duo has played together for more than ten years. They have won over 25 trophies, including La Liga and Champions League titles, and have served as an example of consistency for both club and country. When it comes to playing the beautiful game correctly, Xavi and Iniesta restored the technical style of soccer, which consists of precise, accurate passes and flawless foundational form.
In terms of dribbling and vision on the field, Iniesta is the best in the world, while Xavi is one of the most accurate passers in football—he once had a run in the Champions League with a 100% pass completion percentage. Born in Fuentealbilla, Iniesta defeated Xavi in a fight of the three Barcelona players to come second to Lionel Messi for the coveted FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010.
In Spain’s national team, the midfield players have excelled. They assisted the country in winning both Euro 2008 and its first World Cup in 2010. Iniesta got man of the match for the game after scoring the lone goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final.
NFL players Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison
During their tenure with the Indianapolis Colts, Manning and Harrison’s quarterback-wideout relationship completely changed the course of history. Over the course of their ten years together, the two connected for 112 touchdowns, and Harrison caught at least ten of Manning’s passes in eight consecutive seasons. During their ten seasons together in Indianapolis, the two helped the Colts qualify for the playoffs nine times. By the end of the season, Harrison had caught over 950 passes from Manning for 12,756 yards, which is more than any other quarterback-wide receiver combination in league history.
After winning his second Super Bowl, Manning hung up his cleats. He still leads the NFL’s all-time throwing yardage and touchdown pass records. Harrison retired with the most receptions (143) and receiving yards (a season total of 1,722), both of which have since been surpassed by Calvin Johnson. Although Manning joined up with other talented players throughout his career, including as Reggie Wayne and Demaryius Thomas, no connection was as fruitful as his time with Harrison, and the two won one Super Bowl together.
NBA players Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan
The NBA’s first “Batman and Robin” were these two.
With a winning streak that is unrivaled in the contemporary age, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are probably the best team in American sports history. Together, the two helped the Chicago Bulls win six titles, including two “Three-Peats” in 1991–1993 and 1996–1998. While Pippen worked diligently and gained the respect of players everywhere, Jordan was the league’s face thanks to his dunks from the foul line.
Pippen was no slouch either, as he was selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and led the Bulls throughout Jordan’s time playing minor league baseball, finishing in the top 10 in the NBA in terms of assists and scoring in the 1993–94 season. Jordan dominated the league for more than ten years. Both have been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. During the 1994–95 regular season, the Bulls won 72 games, setting a record for wins that has since been surpassed by the Golden State Warriors in 2015–16.
NFL players Steve Young and Jerry Rice
After Steve Young, Joe Montana’s backup quarterback, took over as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Jerry Rice had an even better season. Young is the primary reason why Rice holds the NFL’s all-time records for receiving yards and touchdowns. They were one of the most successful quarterback-wide receiver combinations in football history, connecting for nearly 700 catches, 10,000 receiving yards, and 85 touchdowns. After Young connected Rice with three touchdown passes, the two won Super Bowl XXIX in a landslide victory over the Chargers.
Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, NHL
For nine seasons, “The Great One” and “The Moose” shared the field with the Edmonton Oilers. The squad won the Stanley Cup in four of those years. Messier and Gretzky became two of the NHL’s most entertaining offensive players during the five-year era that saw them win all of the titles. Gretzky was later traded out of town due to his dynamic skills, while Messier went on to win two more Stanley Cups, one in Edmonton and one with the New York Rangers.
Even though they didn’t win another cup together, the two players’ reunion with the Rangers in New York years later only deepened their friendship for the rest of their careers. Upon his retirement, Gretzky set 40 NHL regular-season records, including the most goals and points. Messier was second all-time in regular-season points, playoff points, and regular-season games played when he hung up his skates.
NBA players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson
The “Magic-cal” Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar led the Lakers during the “Showtime” period, introducing a fast-paced, thrilling, high-scoring, and ostentatious style of basketball to the city of Angels. With his size and athletic ability, Magic was able to start at all five spots on the court, breaking the point guard mold. During the second half of the big man’s career, he was a perfect match for the incredibly gifted Abdul-Jabbar. Together, the two made eight appearances in the NBA Finals, won five titles, and shared four NBA Finals MVP honors.
Nesta Carter and Usain Bolt, Olympic
These two Jamaican celebrities have the potential to challenge The Flash.
Carter has shown himself to be a hard competitor and a good teammate, while the “Lightning Bolt” has been like a real-life superhero on the track, donning a flag-cape while setting world records and earning gold medals. Together, they helped Jamaica create a new world mark and earn gold in the Men’s 4×100-meter relay at the 2012 London Olympics.
Bolt, Carter, Yohan Blake, and Asafa Powell are all among the top six fastest 100-meter runners in history, demonstrating the talent of the national squad. With Carter and Bolt, however, the island nation is essentially unbeaten, even though each of those runners has competed for Jamaica’s renowned 4×100. They have guided Jamaica to three gold medals at World Championships (Daegu in 2011, Moscow in 2013, and Beijing in 2015) and two Olympic gold medals (Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012).
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady, NFL
Throughout his career, Brady has had a number of dynamic partners, including as Wes Welker and Randy Moss; Gronk is difficult to defeat. With his extraordinary level of agility and stature at 6’6″ and 265 pounds, the tight end is simply a beast and has made Brady look great over the years. Gronk is a party animal, but when he takes the field, he is almost impossible to cover, which has made him Brady’s favorite target. Between 2010 and 2014, Gronk and Brady combined for over 50 touchdowns, and the two helped the New England Patriots win the NFL title in spectacular fashion with the game-winning touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, MLB
The “Murderers’ Row” 1927 New York Yankees, probably one of the greatest baseball teams ever, included Ruth and Gehrig at the top of their order. Although both players are inducted into the Hall of Fame for their separate accomplishments, they were outstanding throughout their ten seasons together, helping the Yankees win the World Series in 1927, 1928, and 1932. During their time with the Yankees, the classic baseball players hit home runs in the same inning 19 times and amassed nearly 600 home runs in total.
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, NBA
The Oklahoma City Thunder became a must-see basketball team because to two of the NBA’s most gifted players. Westbrook, a unique player with incredible speed, athleticism, and a little attitude, and Durant, a former MVP winner and scoring champion, work incredibly well together in every aspect of the game. Teams cannot target a single player because doing so will cost them dearly. Westbrook has become a triple-double machine, scoring 18 points in the 2015–16 season, the highest since Magic Johnson in 1988–89. Durant has scored at least 25 points per game in seven of his first eight years in the league.
Mike and Bob Bryan, Tennis
With almost 110 doubles titles between them and 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, the identical twins have achieved more success in tennis than any other pair of competitors in any sport. In addition to winning the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, the brothers have more victories than any other doubles pair in history. In addition to setting a record by dominating the world doubles rankings for 438 weeks in a row, the Bryans achieved a significant milestone in 2005 and 2006 by making it to seven consecutive Grand Slam finals.
NFL players Jerry Rice and Joe Montana
During their eight seasons together in the Bay Area, this quarterback-wide receiver combination helped the San Francisco 49ers become a reliable NFL contender. With Montana tossing the pigskin to Rice, the team won three Super Bowl titles. A portion of the wideout’s productivity while playing for Montana is among the best in football history. He is a product of the obscure Mississippi Valley State University. During their tenure together, the quarterback and wide receiver connected on more than 50 touchdowns, and Rice recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in six different seasons.
NBA players Karl Malone and John Stockton
It will be difficult for anyone to match the 1,142-game record that “The Mailman” and Stockton played together from 1985 to 2003. They never won an NBA championship together, but they did play together on the 1992 Olympics’ gold-winning “Dream Team.” Throughout their careers, Michael Jordan caused the couple a great deal of heartache, most notably in 1998 when he defeated the Jazz in the NBA Finals by making the game-winning shot.
The Jazz have never been able to replicate the success that Malone and Stockton’s collaboration brought them, even in the absence of a championship: two seasons with 60 wins, 13 consecutive postseason trips, 13 seasons with at least 50 victories, and back-to-back finals appearances from 1996 to 1998. Malone finished second in NBA history in scoring with 36,928 points, while Stockton ended his career as the league’s all-time leader in assists.
MLB players Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux
The Atlanta Braves may have had the best run in modern baseball in the 1990s because to the pitching combination of Maddux and Glavine. They delivered enough heat during their 1993–2002 time together to help the Braves win nine division titles in ten seasons, eight of which were consecutive. During that time, the Braves won two World Series, and when they did, it was in 1995, when Maddux was named the regular season Cy Young winner and Glavine was named MVP. Together, they received nearly 90 percent of the vote, led to 18 All-Star game appearances, six Cy Young trophies, and ballots for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
They also performed admirably off the field. Their Nike ad is one of the rarest things ever—a humorous sports ad. (You know, chicks love the long ball.)
NBA players Tony Parker and Tim Duncan
One of the best runs in NBA history was put together by Duncan and Parker. The two have a bit of a global flair—Duncan is American. In addition to winning four NBA titles together in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, Virgin Islands and Frenchman Parker made the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons and shared four NBA Finals MVP Awards during that time.
Early in his career, Duncan and David Robinson worked together for the Spurs. However, after “The Admiral” resigned, Duncan was elevated to the position of general, and Parker took over as his second-in-command. They also had longevity on their side; in 2015, they moved up to second position on the NBA’s all-time team victories list, behind only Karl Malone and John Stockton, after surpassing Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, MLB
When “The M&M Boys” emerged as the Yankees’ “Murderers’ Row,” they helped the team win the World Series in 1961. However, they did more together than that. It was one of the most remarkable years in baseball history as Maris and Mantle both attempted to surpass Babe Ruth’s single-season home record of 60. Before declining due to an injury at the end of the season, Mantle finished with 54 home runs, right behind Maris’s eventual 61-home run record.
With a combined total of 115 home runs, Mantle and Maris broke the previous mark of 107 set by the former “Murderers’ Row” of Lou Gehrig and Ruth Gehrig, becoming the only teammates in baseball history to both have at least 50 home runs in the same season. Another record for teammates in the same season was set by Mantle and Maris, who combined for 322 hits and 269 RBIs.
During his career, Mantle was one of baseball’s most adored players. He was voted to the Hall of Fame in 1974 and was named to the All-Century team in 1999. After players like Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, Maris is still regarded by many as the “clean” home run champion, even though he was never admitted to the Hall of Fame.
