1. Ben Simmons/Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
If you’re an NBA fan you know all about the “Trust The Process” phrase. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons headline that phrase and lead the Philadelphia 76ers.
Clearly the most successful duo on the list, the two have had much success early in their careers. Simmons and Embiid have a shared history in regards to the fact that they both were sidelined their entire rookie seasons due to injury.
Now that’s all in the past and the 76ers have been one of the best teams in the league the last few years and are now being viewed as championship contenders. All a direct result of the play of Simmons and Embiid in recent years.
Last season the 6-foot-10 guard averaged 16.4 points, 7.9 assists, and 8.5 rebounds while earning his first All-Star selection. In his first two seasons, he is one of three players to score 1,000 points, gather 1,000 rebounds, and dish out 1,000 assists, putting him in the same company as LeBron James and Oscar Robertson.
The Australian guard has accomplished all this without having a jump shot, a skill that he is heavily criticized. This, ultimately, leaves Ben Simmons with a ton of room for improvement.
Then you have Joel Embiid, arguably known as the best big in the league. A player loved for his antics and feared for his play. Embiid averaged 27.5 points and 13.6 rebounds – although durability still remains an issue.
Not much needs to be said about the two considering the fact that ever since they’ve been paired up they’ve reached the playoffs and have been featured in the second round in consecutive years. With their third year approaching, Philadelphia has championship aspirations that will lay heavily on the production from the formidable duo.
At 23 (Simmons) and 25 (Embiid) years of age, the two have greater goals than the other duos on the list. That being, winning a championship. And, who knows, one of these aforementioned duos couldn’t have championship goals in their sight fairly soon.