25 Most Dynamic Duos in NBA History

#19 Patrick Ewing and John Starks (New York Knicks)

John Starks and Patrick Ewing with head coach Pat Riley (center)

The 90's New York Knicks were the toughest and most physical team in the NBA. They had some epic wars against numerous teams. Their two leaders were Patrick Ewing and John Starks and their personalities meshed together perfectly.

In 1992, the Knicks took the eventual champions Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Conference Semifinals. The following year they met again and this time it looked like New York would advance when they took a 2-0 lead. The Bulls came back and won the series 4-2.

In 1994, Michael Jordan had announced his retirement and this seemed like the perfect moment for Ewing and Starks to take their team to the promised land. They beat their rivals the Indiana Pacers and reached the NBA finals where they met the Houston Rockets. It was a showdown between two of the greatest centers of their generation. Ewing and Olajuwon went toe-to-toe for seven games. In game seven Starks shot a miserable 2-18 from the field and the Knicks lost.

This was, unfortunately, the last time that the pair would reach the NBA finals and although they were regulars in the playoffs, were never really title contenders once Jordan returned at the end of the 1995 season.

Starks was eventually traded to Golden State and Ewing to Seattle.