Where Do John Wall & Bradley Beal Rank Among Best Backcourts in the NBA?

Last night’s big performance by John Wall and Bradley Beal reminded Wizards fans just how good the young duo can be when healthy.  At the same time, the close win over a poor team and the abysmal record thus far this season show that their brilliance can easily be weighed down by a lack of talent elsewhere on the roster.  So, how good is this backcourt really?  Over the past couple of years, their strong playoff performances and youthful upside have garnered them mentions in the conversation of best guard duo.  But how do they compare against the other top guard combinations in the Association this season?

Here are the rankings and stats of the best backcourts in the NBA based on reputation and performance thus far this season:

1. Steph Curry &Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 46.4 PPG, 8.2 APG, 6.8 RPG, 2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

The Splash Bros. are the obvious title holders for Best Backcourt in the NBA.  Even though their stats aren’t the gaudiest thus far this season, they easily retain the title based on their reputation and record.

2. DeMar DeRozan & Kyle Lowry – Toronto Raptors

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 50.8 PPG, 10.9 APG, 10.7 RPG, 3.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG

The boys from the North are balling better than any other backcourt pair from the East.  But will that be enough to allow the Raptors to challenge the Cavs this year?

Note*: Let’s not forget the WizKids duo swept these two out of the playoffs just a couple years back.

3. Russell Westbrook & Victor Oladipo – Oklahoma City Thunder

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 48.5 PPG, 12.9 APG, 13.8 RPG, 2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

This backcourt has more of a Batman-Robin dynamic than others on this list.  Anybody plus Russell Westbrook is going to make a good a duo when he’s average near a triple-double.

4. Damian Lillard & C.J. McCollum – Portland Trail Blazers

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 50.9 PPG, 7.9 APG, 8.9 RPG, 2 SPG, 0.7 BPG

The highest scoring backcourt in the league and one that wasn’t even in the discussion not that long ago.

5. James Harden & Eric Gordon – Houston Rockets

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 44 PPG, 14.9 APG, 11.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG

If the dynamic of the Oklahoma City backcourt resembles Batman-Robin, the Houston backcourt evokes memories of perhaps Iron Man & his Jon Favreau-portrayed chauffeur.  Still, even if James Harden is doing the majority of the heavy lifting here, the combined stat line puts this combo definitively in the Top-5.

6. John Wall & Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 46.4 PPG, 11.5 APG, 6.6 RPG, 2.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Wizards fans probably didn’t expect to see their young stars this far down on the list.  However, they do have the fewest total minutes played this season of all the duos on this list. Hopefully, as the two get healthy and accustomed to their new coach’s game plans, they’ll rise up the rankings.

7. Isaiah Thomas & Avery Bradley – Boston Celtics

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 44 PPG, 9.3 APG, 10.9 RPG, 1.8 SPG, .5 BPG

Al Horford chose to go team up with this pair instead of John Wall and Bradley Beal.

8. Kemba Walker & Nicolas Batum – Charlotte Hornets

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 38.8 PPG, 10.2 APG, 10.6 RPG, 3.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG

I really thought that Batum was more of a small forward.  But he’s technically a shooting guard, so these two have can’t be overlooked in the conversation.

9. Chris Paul & J.J. Redick – Los Angeles Clippers

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 33.8 PPG, 9.9 APG, 7.1 RPG, 4 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Their stats are not the best, but they get the nod here because of the team’s success so far this season and because Chris Paul is still one of the best and somehow most underrated guards in the league.

10. Eric Bledsoe & Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns

Combined 2016-2017 Stats: 38.06 PPG, 7.57 APG, 8.5 RPG, 1.92 SPG, 0.4 BPG

These two went toe to toe with House of Guards last night and almost came away with the W, showing that they belong in the conversation for best backcourts.