Top 5 active NBA duos who are yet to win a championship together

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#3 Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray playing the pick-and-roll against the Phoenix Suns.

The Denver Nuggets could have been kicking themselves for letting go of future NBA stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell after drafting them, except that they got a pair that has already brought them more playoff success.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have a dynamic unlike the other duos on this list. Jokic, the reigning MVP and starting center of the team, operates as Denver’s de facto point guard. He has such exceptional reading of the game and savvy that belies his age. The Denver Nuggets’ entire offense revolves around the big man’s versatility and skills.

As the No. 2 in Denver’s 1-2 punch, Murray dazzles the NBA with his scoring and rim attacks. He shot 40.8% from three-point range and a true shooting percentage of 59.2%. He is deadly from all over the floor and makes Jokic’s passing even more pronounced.

More importantly, the Jokic-Murray combo has faced playoff adversity before and battles to the very end. They’ve been down and counted out several times, but have always managed to play at their best on most occasions. This top alliance has more room to grow and grow together, which would make the Nuggets an NBA title hopeful for years to come.

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#2 Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown celebrating a victory in an NBA game.

The youngest tag team on this list is battle-tested after only a few years in the NBA. An argument could be made that if LeBron James had not been in the East, this combo could have been in the Finals more than once. Although they were not the stars they were then, they made significant contributions in each of those playoff runs.

The Js' ceiling is high because aside from being young, the Celtics have secured their services for a long time. Brad Stevens has also built the roster around the two NBA superstars to maximize their talents. The skills and talents of the two are so apparent and tantalizing that Steve Kerr is reminded of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson when they play Boston.

To say that the sky is the limit for these two is no exaggeration. If they can get to the biggest stage in basketball and win one for the Celtics in the NBA, they could be near the top or on top of this list for years to come.

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#1 Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (LA Clippers)

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard warming up before a game

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have spent the majority of their careers guarding each other in the NBA. They are consistently ranked as among the top 5 two-way players in the league. Both have been to the playoffs and showed that no matter where they are, they are capable of leading their teams to victories.

Leonard is no stranger to success in the NBA Finals. He is a two-time Finals MVP and is at his best when the stakes are highest. Losing Leonard in the playoffs hurt the Clippers last year. Questions about Paul George’s ability to lead a team were definitely answered as Playoff P rose to the occasion and almost single-handedly carried the team to the Finals.

Age is not on their side and Leonard could be shut down if he suffers a setback in his recovery. But when healthy, this duo is as good as any the league has seen in the last 10 years.