Top 3 superstar duos after Week 1 of NBA season
After the end of the opening week of the 2022-23 NBA season, some teams and players are off to hot starts and are making differences early on.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics lead the way in the Eastern Conference, while the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz are on top of the Western Conference.
At the same time, players like Trae Young, Ja Morant and Jayson Tatum have been impressive in the first games of the season, playing excellent basketball on both ends.
In this article, we take a look at the Top 3 superstar duos after the opening week of the 2022-23 season:
#1 - Trae Young and Dejounte Murray - Atlanta Hawks
The arrival of Dejounte Murray this offseason seems like the perfect move for the Atlanta Hawks in their effort to become a Top-4 team in the Eastern Conference.
Murray is an All-Star combo guard who can play very well both on and off the ball, while he is also a great on- and off-ball defender.
His skillset offers Atlanta an extra weapon and enables Trae Young to play off the ball as well, adding another dimension to the Hawks' playing style.
After the first four games, the superstar duo have been unstoppable, leading Atlanta to a 3-1 record and third place in the East.
Dejounte Murray is averaging 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists, on 41.2% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. For his part, Trae Young has averaged 27.8 points and 10.3 assists so far.
In the blowout victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday (136-112), the superstar duo combined for 62 points, with Murray going for 26 (12/21 shooting) and Young scoring (12/20 shooting), as the Hawks climbed to 4-1 in the standings.
If they continue that way, they will transform the Atlanta Hawks into a legit title contender.
#2 - Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown - Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the Boston Celtics’ undisputed leaders. There is no doubt about that.
The superstar duo have their sights set on a second-straight NBA championship run with the Boston Celtics following their unsuccessful trip to the NBA Finals in June.
As we have already said in our piece about Boston, "they are the focal point on offense and if they continue that way, their presence in an All-NBA team and in the NBA MVP conversation is guaranteed."
Jaylen Brown is averaging 24 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists, on 46.9% from the field and 28.9% from beyond the arc.
At the same time, Jayson Tatum is posting averages of 32.5 points, 8.3 boards and 3.5 assists, on 55.6% from the field and 37.5% from three.
On Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, they combined for 64 points, scoring 32 each. However, they couldn't avoid a 132-123 home overtime loss to the Cavs, who have now won four straight (4-1), with Boston dropping to 3-2.
Caris Levert and Donovan Mitchell combined for an impressive 82 points for the winners, posting 41 each.
#3 - Ja Morant and Desmond Bane - Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are considered a powerhouse in the Western Conference after a 2021-22 NBA season. They finished with the second-best record of the regular season (56-26).
This year, the Grizzlies aim to take it to the next level and challenge for a place in the Conference Finals.
To do so, they will need all players to perform at the highest level all season long. Until this happens, they will rely on the superstar duo of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, with both superstars being off to a hot start.
Morant has been one of the top scorers in the NBA so far, averaging 32.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, shooting at 52.9% from the field and an impressive 56.5% from three.
For his part, Bane is averaging 22.6 points, 4.4 boards and 5.6 assists, on 43.2% from the field and 46.8% from beyond the arc.
The superstar duo has covered the absence of big man Jaren Jackson Jr., who will miss another two months following foot surgery.
Memphis is on top of the NBA Western Conference standings with a 4-1 record. They are tied with the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz. On Saturday, they will travel to take on the Jazz in Salt Lake City.
