Talent is always an important factor for a team contending for a championship. They execute the winning plays and make the difference whenever it matters the most. However, as the league has evolved, any basketball fan has come to realize that talent doesn't equate to championships.
For several seasons, the NBA has seen stars come together to play for a possible ring, one of the elusive milestones a player can achieve. While some have succeeded, many star-studded casts have failed badly. For this piece, let's take a look at 15 NBA star-studded duos that totally failed.
LeBron James and Russell Westbrook (Los Angeles Lakers)
After winning the 2020 NBA championship inside the bubble, LeBron James and Anthony Davis failed to defend the title. As a result, this paved the way for the duo to recruit several veterans to Los Angeles, headlined by former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook. It's safe to say that trading for Westbrook on draft night turned out to be one of the worst moves for the Purple and Gold under James' watch.
Fit, age, and spacing concerns materialized in front of the eyes of die-hard Lakers fans. The team failed to make the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. And to make matters worse, the Lakers had a nightmare 2-10 start the following year. A trade that sent Westbrook to the Utah Jazz pretty much saved Los Angeles' campaign, opening the door to a Western Conference Finals appearance.
Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
With the Milwaukee Bucks winning the 2021 NBA championship, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the front office knew that the Greek Freak would need some reliable support to capture more rings. In surprising fashion, the Bucks swapped out defensive ace Jrue Holiday in exchange for All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who couldn't crack a championship run with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Although it seemed like a formidable duo on paper, Holiday's departure simply left a huge defensive void that Lillard couldn't fill. To make matters worse, the latter needed the ball in his hands to be more effective on the floor. Lillard's need to have the ball in his hands snatched away touches that Giannis needed to lead Milwaukee. To add insult to injury, Holiday's departure paved the way for his stint with the Boston Celtics, which allowed him to win his second NBA championship. On the other hand, Lillard suffered a torn Achilles that led the Bucks to waive him, unceremoniously ending the star-studded partnership.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
It wasn't long ago that the Brooklyn Nets celebrated after the franchise managed to lure Kevin Durant away from the Golden State Warriors, who had won two NBA championships. But aside from KD, the Nets also managed to get former NBA champion Kyrie Irving during the 2019 offseason. Fans had to wait patiently for the former to return to action, as he was still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he sustained in the 2019 NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the wait wasn't worth it.
Over three seasons, both Durant and Irving appeared together in only 58 games. Moreover, the Nets only managed to win one playoff series with both at the helm. Their partnership was marred by chemistry and availability issues. In fact, the acquisition of James Harden couldn't even save the duo. The duo ended their Nets tenure when Brooklyn shipped away Irving to the Dallas Mavericks and Durant to the Phoenix Suns at the trade deadline of the 2022-23 season.
Joel Embiid and Paul George (Philadelphia 76ers)
Although Joel Embiid has been the lone success story of the infamous “The Process” era, the Philadelphia 76ers knew the team needed another star to supplant their former NBA MVP. Despite Embiid's brilliance, his health and availability issues have always prevented the team from tasting championship success. Enter Paul George, whom the Sixers signed to a massive deal in the 2024 offseason.
While Embiid and George had the tools to lead Philadelphia, their partnership was a complete disaster. The Sixers posted a dismal 24-58 record that year. Embiid dealt with a myriad of availability issues, from injuries to suspensions stemming from off-court altercations. On the other hand, George seemed more focused on his podcast before undergoing season-ending surgery, which left the team to fend for themselves with a depleted roster.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
After capturing the 2019 NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in dramatic fashion, Kawhi Leonard broke headlines shortly thereafter by choosing to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers would go on to make the regrettable trade for nine-time All-Star Paul George to form a stacked duo in the wings. George and Leonard not only carried championship expectations but also had the franchise's history and curse against them.
Although they did manage to squeeze in a single Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021, the Kawhi-PG era was overshadowed by injuries and disappointing playoff exits. And if that wasn't enough, the moves to acquire these two stars continue to bite the franchise until today.
The infamous trade for PG saw the Clippers give up eventual NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who also led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 2025 NBA championship. On the other hand, an investigation into Leonard's tenure and acquisition with the Clippers paved the way for the NBA to penalize the franchise's executives for trying to circumvent the league's salary cap rules.
Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers)
With the Los Angeles Lakers trying to maximize Kobe Bryant's closing window, after leading them to back-to-back championships, the team decided to lure Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Both Howard and Nash couldn't win championships with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns, respectively. As a result, basketball fans were excited to see Bryant's championship chances seemingly go up.
However, the acquisition of Howard only made things worse for the Purple and Gold. The team had issues regarding availability, chemistry, and egos. In fact, the former Defensive Player of the Year confessed that his lack of patience and trust in the process killed his first tenure with the Lakers. In their lone season as teammates, the Lakers limped to a 45-37 record, which was good enough for seventh in the West. The team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round due to injuries, highlighted by a torn Achilles suffered by Bryant.
Since then, Bryant has never been the same, as his career declined until he opted to hang up his sneakers with the Los Angeles Lakers. On the other hand, Howard returned to the Lakers for two more stints, winning his lone NBA title with the franchise.
Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley (Houston Rockets)
With Michael Jordan's first retirement, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets capitalized by carving out a back-to-back championship run. On the other hand, Charles Barkley was growing disgruntled with the Phoenix Suns after coming up short in the playoffs for consecutive seasons. The 1992-93 NBA MVP forced the Suns to trade him, which made him form a super team in Houston with Olajuwon.
But even if the championship potential was there, the timing wasn't ideal. Olajuwon was already past his prime, showing a huge decline in his athleticism. The same can be said about Barkley. In fact, even the addition of six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen couldn't propel Houston to a Finals appearance in their time together.
Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis (Dallas Mavericks)
Not too long ago, the Dallas Mavericks were keen on building around Luka Doncic, after trading for him at the 2018 NBA Draft. The Slovenian sensation was groomed to be the face of the franchise. In order to set him up for success with the team, the Mavs acquired the services of Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis and Doncic were supposed to form a solid one-two punch for the Mavs, especially with their European connection. However, their potential to be a top-tier duo simply didn't materialize.
Although the duo showed flashes of brilliance, including two straight 40-win seasons, the Mavericks could never get past the first round in the playoffs. Furthermore, Porzingis struggled to stay on the court due to injuries. In fact, the former All-Star center was limited to just 43 games in their second season together.
Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics)
After winning the monumental 2016 NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a disgruntled Kyrie Irving wanted out of Cleveland after another disappointing Finals finish against the Golden State Warriors. In the 2017 offseason, Irving demanded a trade that sent him to Boston in exchange for a hobbled Isaiah Thomas. The Boston Celtics later on signed Gordon Hayward, who was coming off an All-Star season with the Utah Jazz.
An Irving-Hayward duo had the tools to dominate offensively. However, as early as the season opener, disaster struck the team. Against no other than the Cavaliers, a bad landing for Hayward in an alley-oop play during the first quarter pretty much dashed away the hopes of the duo. Furthermore, it also didn't help that Irving himself struggled to stay healthy.
Fortunately for the Celtics, the injuries to Irving and Hayward actually paved the way for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to step up. The duo developed enough to lead the franchise to an NBA championship in 2024, which overshadowed the uneventful stints of Irving and Hayward.
DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings)
It's safe to say that the Chicago Bulls were quite invested in Zach LaVine when they signed him to a max deal in 2022. His duo with DeMar DeRozan pretty much powered the Bulls back into the playoffs. However, that was the farthest this duo has achieved together. Since then, Chicago has continued to hover in the bottom ranks of the East. DeRozan and LaVine were individually talented offensively. However, they struggle to play alongside each other, given that they both need the ball in their hands to be effective.
After their uneventful stint together, DeRozan was sent to the Sacramento Kings. Surprisingly, the Kings didn't learn from the Bulls and became a part of the blockbuster trade that sent away De'Aaron Fox for the two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion. Naturally, by replicating the tandem, the Kings have yet to rise back to relevance.
LeBron James and Derrick Rose (Cleveland Cavaliers)
With the unexpected departure of Kyrie Irving, the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to keep LeBron James supported for another potential championship run. Aside from a hobbled Isaiah Thomas, the Cavs also acquired former Heat teammate Dwyane Wade and the youngest NBA MVP in history, Derrick Rose. After several playoff clashes, many basketball fans believed that a James-Rose duo would become something special.
However, it's worth remembering that the former MVP was still finding his footing after a torn ACL injury that derailed his career. Furthermore, his health issues continued to haunt him for the rest of his career. Rose averaged just 9.8 points per game in a Cavs jersey, making him one of the players traded at the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline, when Cleveland made a last-minute shuffle to their roster that helped James and the Cavs make one more Finals appearance.
LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Article Continues BelowThere's no question that LeBron James was growing impatient with the Cleveland Cavaliers, after having a lack of support during his MVP seasons. The Cavs front office answered the call by signing up Shaquille O'Neal, who was trying to chase after one more ring before calling it a career. It was initially a formidable partnership, as the duo led Cleveland to 61 wins to top the East. Unfortunately, this team wasn't built for the postseason fury.
A stacked Boston Celtics capitalized on an injured James, who was dealing with a nagging elbow. Furthermore, O'Neal was no longer in peak form at 37 years old. As a result, the James-O'Neal-led Cavaliers were dispatched as early as the second round. To make matters more interesting, it also marked the end of James' first stint in Cleveland, paving the way for The Decision.
Chris Paul and James Harden (Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers)
It's safe to say that the Houston Rockets were one of the hottest teams in the 2017-18 season. Led by the All-Star duo of James Harden and Chris Paul, the team raced to 65 wins, showcasing one of the league's best offenses. CP3 proved to be a better fit to Harden than Dwight Howard, at least during the regular season.
However, the 2018 Western Conference Finals proved to be too much, even for a well-oiled offensive engine like the Rockets. Harden and Paul failed to bail out the team in Game 7 of the series, as Houston entered into a record-breaking 0-of-27 slump from beyond the arc. Without any offensive spark, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors capitalized to return to the Finals that year and recapture the NBA title.
Tensions also flared off the court between Paul and Harden, due to their differences. As a result, Houston sent Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook. Coincidentally, the duo reunited a few seasons later when they both played briefly for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2025-26 season.
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
After a failed stint with the Brooklyn Nets, the Phoenix Suns' change in ownership also happened simultaneously. Then-new Suns owner Matt Ishbia couldn't resist passing up the availability of a scoring forward like Durant, partnering him up with blossoming star Devin Booker.
It's worth noting that the Suns basically had to start from scratch, despite making the NBA Finals two seasons prior. With Phoenix gutting their core for KD, the Suns had little assets to make major upgrades to their roster. Although Phoenix did manage to get the services of Bradley Beal, the team still struggled to make it work due to overlapping skill sets and lack of chemistry.
The Suns have only won 45 games with their super-talented core, which is underwhelming at best. Phoenix decided to shut down the experiment by sending Durant to the Houston Rockets. On the other hand, Beal bought out his contract to join the Los Angeles Clippers. Since then, Phoenix has continued to build around Booker.
Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire (New York Knicks)
While the New York Knicks are currently the defending champions, it was a completely different story over a decade ago. Back then, the Knicks were hardly relevant. While they did manage to pick up Amar'e Stoudemire from free agency, the team also decided to empty their roster to accommodate a trade that would land disgruntled superstar Carmelo Anthony.
Although New York successfully made headlines, they were hardly making an impact on the court. There was no doubt that Anthony and Stoudemire shared a lot of memorable highlights, but their performances didn't exactly translate into the win column. Throw in injuries to go along with Anthony's ball-dominant style, and the Knicks were failing to fulfill expectations. One might even argue that the best moments of the Anthony-Stoudemire Knicks era weren't pieced together by the team's best players, especially when Linsanity was racking up wins and making bigger headlines.