Has there ever been a better 1st and 2nd best player in the NBA than LeBron and KD?

[ralph_i_el]

Not sure. I was born in 03.

[nzahir]

As a lebron fan, No.

Bird and Magic
Shaq and MJ
Mj and Hakeem maybe even in like 1992-1993
Duncan Shaq in 2002
Maybe even lebron and kobe in 08-09
Not really counting Wilt and Russel
After these, then you could argue kd and lebron depending on how they both are next year

[OldSchoolBBall]

'86-'89 (Bird, Magic, Jordan - take your top 2)

'93 (Jordan/Dream/Barkley)

'96 (Jordan/Shaq)

2003 (Shaq/Duncan)

[Kobe_6/8]

LeBron >> Durant.

In 342 more games, LeBron has the same PPG, a little more Rebounds Per Game, and way more Assists Per Game.

[r0drig0lac]

this

[Joyner82reload]

LeBron >> Durant.

In 342 more games, LeBron has the same PPG, a little more Rebounds Per Game, and way more Assists Per Game.

LeBron also played more minutes.

Through age 26(PER 36)

Durant 25.9/6.5/3.3 48.1/37.9/88.1 60.1 TS%
LeBron 24.8/6.4/6.2 47.9/32.9/74.4 56.6 TS%

Durant is clearly a superior scorer by a fair margin while LeBron is the better playmaker. Durant is also much better off the ball & must be guarded closely at all times which frees up his teammates for open shots/lanes.

Also going by raw stats, Durant had one of the GOAT seasons in 2014. 32.0/7.4/5.5 63.5 TS%

[J Shuttlesworth]

I actually suspect LeBron will probably retire top 5, and Durant will retire top 10, maybe even higher. When we look back, we might see them as the best #1 and #2 of all time, but it'd be hard to beat Magic/Bird, or even Shaq/Duncan.

[Joyner82reload]

I actually suspect LeBron will probably retire top 5, and Durant will retire top 10, maybe even higher. When we look back, we might see them as the best #1 and #2 of all time, but it'd be hard to beat Magic/Bird, or even Shaq/Duncan.

It's rather unfortunate that LeBron is beginning to decline now and the Thunder's injury problems. We very well could have seen LeBron-Durant in 4+ straight Finals otherwise.(2013 Westbrook, 2014 Ibaka, 2015 Durant/Ibaka)

[J Shuttlesworth]

It's rather unfortunate that LeBron is beginning to decline now and the Thunder's injury problems. We very well could have seen LeBron-Durant in 4+ straight Finals otherwise.(2013 Westbrook, 2014 Ibaka, 2015 Durant/Ibaka)

Durant to Cleveland imho

[KiiiiNG]

the gap between the second and third best player is MASSIVE.

there are arguments for westbrook, paul, griffin, harden, and davis.

but none of them are close to durant or lebron.

lebron for me is already ahead of magic/bird, i think he has a better peak and will retire with a better resume than both.

durant is only 27, and already is a 4 time scoring champ and an MVP. hes been regarded as the 2nd best or best player for the past 3 years.

all he needs is a few rings and another mvp and we're talking top 6-8 all time player.

so yeah, this is the best 1/2 duo we've ever seen.

[edrick]

Nah, every basketball fan is enjoying the current duel between Curry and Lebron. The two best players in the league. The two that are in the finals.

Curry... on Lebron and KD's level?

[J Shuttlesworth]

Curry... on Lebron and KD's level?

It's laughable. Put KD or LeBron on the Warriors and Curry on the depleted Cavs team and this series would have been over in 4

[Joyner82reload]

It's laughable. Put KD or LeBron on the Warriors and Curry on the depleted Cavs team and this series would have been over in 4

No, the Cavs would have lost in the 2nd round in 4

[J Shuttlesworth]

No, the Cavs would have lost in the 2nd round in 4

Ok sure, but the KD/Bron Warriors would sweep the Bulls

[Frozen1]

Kobe, Lebron and Wade from 2006 to 2011. A top 3 that humiliates today's top 2.