The NBA has always been a league built around superstar talent, but there is something special about seeing three elite players join forces. When the right combination comes together, a Big Three can turn a good team into a genuine championship threat overnight.
The term “Big Three” has been around for decades, but it became part of the modern NBA vocabulary with the Celtics’ 2007-08 trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The three All-Stars came together in Boston and won the 2008 NBA championship in their first season together.
The concept reached another level a few years later when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in Miami, winning two titles in four seasons. Since then, we’ve seen plenty of star-packed teams try to recreate that formula, with varying degrees of success.
As we head into the 2026-27 season, the NBA has another crop of star trios to debate. But having three big names doesn’t automatically make a great Big Three. The players have to fit together, stay healthy and give their team enough balance to actually win.
So, which NBA trio is the best heading into the new season? Let’s rank them.
Honourable Mentions
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and DeMar DeRozan
The Nuggets added DeMar DeRozan this summer on a one-year, $3.9 million deal, giving Jokic and Murray another proven scorer at a bargain price. The six-time All-Star averaged 18.4 points per game for Sacramento last season and has remained one of the NBA’s most reliable offensive players.
At 37, DeRozan has lost some of the explosiveness that made him a star, but his mid-range scoring and playmaking remain valuable. Put those skills alongside Jokic and Murray and Denver gets a dangerous third option who can create his own shot without needing to carry the offence.
Miami Heat: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Klay Thompson
The Heat made one of the biggest moves of the summer by trading for Giannis. The two-time MVP gives the team a dominant force on both ends of the floor, while pairing him with Adebayo creates one of the NBA’s most intimidating frontcourts.
Once they had Giannis in place, the Heat found an ideal addition in Klay Thompson. The five-time All-Star remains a dangerous three-point shooter, giving Miami valuable spacing around Antetokounmpo and Adebayo. With those two big men so strong around the basket, adding Thompson creates a dangerous inside-out combination.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and Rudy Gobert
The Timberwolves made a splash in the offseason by trading for LaMelo Ball, pairing Anthony Edwards with a dynamic new backcourt partner. Ball brings another gifted passer and shot creator to a team that already has one of the league’s most explosive young scorers.
Combining those two offensive playmakers with Rudy Gobert could be the key to making it work. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year gives Minnesota a dominant presence around the rim, while Ball and Edwards can create offence from the perimeter. The big question is whether the three can find the right balance.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley
The Cavaliers already had Mitchell and Mobley at the heart of their team, then added Harden at the trade deadline last season. Cleveland doubled down on that trio this summer, re-signing Harden to a three-year, $97 million deal after he averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists in 26 regular-season games with the Cavs.
Mitchell and Harden give Cleveland two proven shot creators, while Mobley provides a younger two-way presence who can impact the game at both ends. There are questions about how well two ball-dominant guards fit together, but the talent is undeniable.
3. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle
The Spurs could have the highest long-term ceiling of any trio on this list. Wembanyama is already one of the NBA’s best players, while Fox gives San Antonio an established All-Star point guard and Castle continues to develop into a major two-way talent.
This trio already led the Spurs to the NBA Finals last season, and they’re just getting started. Fox brings elite speed and playmaking, while Castle adds another versatile defender and creator alongside Wembanyama’s rare combination of size and skill. If all three continue trending upward, San Antonio could have a trio capable of dominating the NBA for years to come.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren
The Thunder may not have the flashiest trio on this list, but they have the one with the strongest track record. SGA is coming off back-to-back MVP awards, while Williams and Holmgren have both established themselves as All-Stars. Together, they already have a championship under their belts and remain the core of one of the NBA’s best teams.
What makes this trio so dangerous is how well their games complement each other. SGA provides efficient scoring, Williams adds strong two-way play and Holmgren gives them size, rim protection and shooting. After falling to San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals last season, this group has plenty of motivation to prove it can get back to the top.
1. Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey
Calling this a Big Three may be selling the 76ers short, with the team adding James and Brown to a roster already built around Embiid and Maxey. That’s four players who can make a legitimate case for being the team’s biggest star, making Philadelphia’s superstar talent hard to match.
On paper, this could be the most talented group in the league. Embiid gives Philly a formidable interior presence, Brown adds two-way athleticism, Maxey gives them another explosive scorer and LeBron brings a championship pedigree and decades of experience. If they can stay healthy and find the right balance, this group has the talent to lead the 76ers to a title.