The Miami Heat signed Kyle Lowry this offseason, thus forming their own big three. Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA.
Defensively, there aren’t many trios better than that. Butler and Adebayo both made an All-Defensive team last season, and Lowry is one of the better defensive guards in the league.
This trio isn’t bad on the offensive end, either. However, their biggest weakness is clearly their shooting, as neither Butler nor Adebayo shoots well from range.
Regardless, how does Miami’s big three stack up against the other big threes in the NBA? Where do they rank amongst the best big threes in the league?
10. Dallas Mavericks – Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr.
This was a tough decision to make, but the Mavericks ended up just making the cuts. Teams that were on the fringe but didn’t make it were the Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, and Utah Jazz.
With Kawhi Leonard being hurt, the Clippers were out of contention as well, and Luka Doncic’s dominance catapulted Dallas into the top ten. His superstardom really carries this big three.
9. Atlanta Hawks – Trae Young, Clint Capela, John Collins
It’s hard to discount an Atlanta Hawks team that just made the Eastern Conference Finals. Trae Young is an absolute superstar, and Clint Capela and John Collins are solid players, too.
Capela is the defensive anchor of the bunch, while Young controls the offense. Collins is solid on both ends, making this a very well-rounded big three.
Ranking the Miami Heat among the top ten NBA big threes
8. Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker, Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton
This may seem low for a team that just made the Finals, but they relied on their depth a lot, too. Despite that, their big three is still one of the best.
Devin Booker is only getting better, and the same can be said for DeAndre Ayton, who is becoming a force on the defensive end. Chris Paul’s veteran leadership rounds out this talented big three.
7. Denver Nuggets – Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.
Nikola Jokic is the reigning MVP, so his team’s big three had to make this list. Jamal Murray should be back this year, and he could honestly fight for an All-Star selection.
Michael Porter Jr. showed some great flashes last year, so he’s the third piece to Denver’s young big three. This trio is great right now, and still has a ton of room to grow.
6. Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris
As much flack as Ben Simmons gets, he is still an All-Star caliber player. The trio of him, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris is one of the best in the business.
Embiid is an MVP player and Harris showed that he can perform in the playoffs. Until Simmons gets traded, they will still be one of the best trios in the league.
5. Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
When a big three has won three championships, they deserve some respect. Klay Thompson is coming off of two major injuries, but regardless, this is still an elite big three.
Draymond Green will be able to go back to being the best version of himself, while Stephen Curry can continue being amazing. Curry was an MVP candidate as an eight-seed last year… that alone should speak volumes.
Ranking the Miami Heat among the top ten NBA big threes
4. Miami Heat – Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo
Finally, the Miami Heat make their appearance on the list. With the addition of Kyle Lowry, they now have three All-Star caliber players on their roster.
This trio might be the best defensive big three in the NBA, rivaled only by Milwaukee’s. The Miami Heat have built an amazing foundation and will look to build on it this season.
3. Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday
The reigning champs have a big three of their own, and it clearly works. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player, but Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday play their roles to a tee.
Milwaukee will look to repeat as champions this year, but they have some stiff competition. Despite this, they still have one of the best big threes in the league.
2. Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook
This is the newest big three in the NBA, and it’s already one of the best. This version of the Lakers hasn’t even played a game together yet and it’s already the second-best big three in the NBA.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis won a championship together already, and now they’re adding an elite point guard to the mix. LA is a dangerous team.
1. Brooklyn Nets – Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving
It’s tough to beat a big three made up of three top-15 players in the NBA. Though injuries derailed their season last year, the Nets showed how dominant they can be when healthy.
All three are elite scorers and they could realistically average 80 points per game as a trio. They are arguably the best big three ever assembled in terms of pure talent.