LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love.
Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson.
These trios, also known as Cleveland and Golden State's "Big 3," are the reasons why the Cavaliers and Warriors are the best teams in their respective conferences.
Each member of each Big 3 has averaged more than 20 points throughout most of the season, while the majority of other teams in the league have just one player averaging this much production.
The 41-7 Warriors are led by Durant's 26.3 points per game average, Curry's 25 points, and Thompson's 21.1. The 32-14 Cavaliers are led by James' 25.7 point average, Irving's 24.6, and Love's 19.9 points.
The only other Big 3 in the NBA to match this production: Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine. The Wolves' young stars each averaged 20-plus points entering January. Towns is averaging 23 points per game, Wiggins 22, and though LaVine has dropped to 19.3, he averaged 20.4 a game before missing two games with a hip injury earlier this month.
The Big 3 each scored 20 or more points for the sixth time this season in the Wolves' 129-109 victory over Brooklyn Saturday night. Towns scored 37, Wiggins 23 and LaVine 20. The Wolves are 4-2 when the group achieves this feat.
No member of the Los Angeles Clippers' Big 3 — Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan – is among the Top 40 point averages in the league.
Jimmy Butler (24.5 points per game) is the only member of Chicago's Big 3 that includes Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo, averaging more than 20 points.
New York's Big 3 of Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis all are ranked among the Top 40 averages, but only Anthony (23.1) is averaging more than 20 points a game.
Five other teams — Portland, Milwaukee, Washington, Toronto, Phoenix — have two players ranked among the Top 40 scoring averages.
Based on point production, which shouldn't be confused with achievement, the Wolves young trio is keeping pace with the biggest stars in the game. They'll be tested Wednesday night in Cleveland against the Cavaliers' Big 3.
Hubie Brown, the Hall of Fame coach and ESPN analyst, said during Sunday's Cleveland-Oklahoma City broadcast that he likes the direction the Wolves are trending.
"When we came on the air we showed the Big 3, LeBron and Irving and Love, averaging over 20 points, and we said they're one of two," Brown said. "Well, we know that Golden State is the other one with their dynamic team. Then there was a third team, up until this past week, and that was ... Minnesota. How about that?
"Minnesota is starting to play better basketball. And we know that they've had some key injuries in the course of the season, and whole new coaching staff, and they have a lot of young talent."
