Many people are turning to video games to be a useful outlet for not having any live sports during the ongoing pandemic, and the famed NBA Jam game is a perfect source of entertainment for NBA fans everywhere.
If you are looking for a PC version of this game, ArcadeSpot offers a great option that utilizes old-school graphics and updated rosters to bring the game right to your computer. Here, you are able to choose any team across the entire league, and players like Zion Willamson and Ja Morant are all integrated into the game on their respective teams as well, letting players use updated rosters to relive some of their childhood video game memories.
But when going through all of the current rosters, looking at what the greatest combinations involving current and former players opens up even more of a world of possibilities, which is exactly where this article comes in.
By looking at a superstar that is currently on the team and one that used to play for that franchise, a ton of super intriguing duos pop up, some unexpected and some that really would make the new version of this game a blast to play.
With that being the case, here are five of the best NBA Jam duos that include both a current and former NBA player on each team.
Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Jam duo – Lebron James & Kobe Bryant
Much respect to the likes of Shaq and Magic Johnson among other Los Angeles Lakers legends, but seeing a combination of Lebron James and the late, great Kobe Bryant sharing the floor as teammates is just something that would justify paying money for this game.
With Lebron in his #23 and Kobe in his #24, these two generational talents would be an absolute blast to play with on the court. The tenacity of each player would compliment each other to a T, as James’ off-ball abilities and physicality would pair well with Kobe’s score-first mentality and craftiness.
Also, it would be poetic justice to be able to have Kobe suit up again in the purple and gold that he dedicated his entire NBA career to, so it would bring a sense of closure seeing him play on the same court as the only player that could even think of being able to create a legacy with the Lakers as impactful as what Kobe provided.
Nostalgia aside, this duo would kick some serious ass when paired up against any other team.
Milwaukee Bucks
NBA Jam duo – Giannis Antetokounmpo & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
We all know how hard it currently is to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo on the court, as it practically takes all five defenders to try and suffocate any rim runs or dunk attempts from the Greek Freak.
But image having two players the size, physicality, and grit of Giannis on the floor at the same time – impossible to stop.
By combining Giannis and Bucks’ legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee would always win the rebounding battles, would always be able to waltz down the lanes for easy flushes, and always be able to impose their wills on the defensive ends due to their physicality and size.
Try shooting over two seven-footers or trying to drive into a forest of trees that let absolutely nothing fall – that is what it would be like if trying to go up against this shutdown Bucks roster.
While yes, adding a shooter like Ray Allen alongside Giannis would be a superb complement to his style of play, the thought of just being able to do absolutely whatever you wanted whenever you wanted to do it just brings a sense of total domination with it.
Dallas Mavericks
NBA Jam duo – Luka Doncic & Dirk Nowitzki
Outside of the Lakers and Bucks superteams, there is a solid grouping of mid-tier to above-average squads that could be a lot of fun to play with in NBA Jam – the Dallas Mavericks fit perfectly into that category.
With former franchise cornerstone Dirk Nowitzki having passed the throne off to current franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic, these international ballers would be one of the few squads that could hold their own when put up against practically any other duo.
By having both Doncic and Dirk in their primes, Dirk could become the deadly sniper from deep and on the post that he was known for while still being able to put the ball on the deck and take it to the hole, while Doncic’s abilities to run the offense and create on his own would be a nice 1-2 combo for this team.
Put both of these players together, combined with their throwback green jerseys, and you have a solid team to utilize.
Houston Rockets
NBA Jam (double) duo – James Harden/Russell Westbrook & Hakeem Olajuwon/Yao Ming
This grouping was tough to take, so there are four players included to choose from. Here is why.
Harden’s three-point shooting brings the ‘On Fire’ element into reality with this squad, but on the other hand, Westbrook’s all-around game is a better-suited breakdown for NBA Jam, as he can become a solid defensive player on the wing and swoop in for monster blocks at the rim.
On the historical side, playing with Hakeem Olajuwon would be a really nice throwback element to bring into the game, and you would be able to use the Dream Shake whenever you felt like it; however, with Yao Ming, just that vertical threat and playing with a player that is finally fully healthy just is a great way to finally see his true talent without having to concern yourself with potential injuries.
Of the grouping, I do think that a Westbrook-Olajuwon combo takes the cake for me, seeing as how the all-around game of both players overshadows the less-dimensional games of both Harden and Yao.
Whichever roster you go with, roster, you gotta bring back the throwback Rockets unis.
Boston Celtics
NBA Jam duo – Jayson Tatum & Larry Bird
The final member of the top five falls with the Boston Celtics, bringing in a long-time past legend in Larry Bird to pair up with a player that is looking to be one of the next up for the current NBA in Jayson Tatum.
That takeover mentality that Tatum has shown on multiple occasions for Boston is a huge facet to what has made him so successful in the league, and it would be a valuable element to play with if going with Boston.
On the other hand, by rolling out Bird, the shooting prowess and rebounding abilities that Bird could help with would turn a defensive stop into immediate points in a snap.
While not necessarily a very flashy team, this team would be a very solid 1-2 combo for anyone looking for a no-nonsense squad to pick up and run with.
NBA Jam Duo Honorable Mentions
Philadelphia 76ers – Julius Irving & Joel Embiid (very tough leaving out Allen Iverson here)
Utah Jazz – Donovan Mitchell & Karl Malone (high-flying style of play meets old-school rough and tough)
Chicago Bulls – Zach Lavine & Michael Jordan (felt bad leaving MJ out of the conversation)
Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker & Steve Nash (super crafty guard combination)
Toronto Raptors – Pascal Siakam & Vince Carter (up-and-coming meets high-flying and established)
Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox & Jason Williams (2020 version of the seven seconds or less offense, but with crafty passes and high-flying dunks)
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