The toughest, most spectacular, and no-holds-barred duels involving NBA stars from every era.
A journey through the nine most heated NBA player rivalries of all time. From the battles between giants at the League's inception to the squabbles that continue to this day.
The duels that defined an era, changed one of the protagonists' careers and provided glimpses of celestial basketball. Some rivalries have been limited to parquet, while others have had their most intriguing aspects outside of the parquet. Here is the list.
9. Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas
Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas' rivalry extends far beyond the on-court battles between the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons. The bad blood between the two has come to the fore in ESPN's documentary "The Last Dance." The first squabbles erupted during the 1985 All-Star Game. On that occasion, Thomas attempted to boycott the rookie Jordan in a more or less covert manner.
The rivalry finally erupted around the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. From 1988 to 1990, the Bulls were defeated in three successive series by the "Bad Boys." The Bulls finally won in the 1991 Conference Finals. The Pistons, led by Thomas, exited the bench before the final siren, refusing to shake hands with the future NBA champions. The exclusion of Thomas from the Dream Team of '92, then, appears to be largely due to Jordan's unwillingness to work with him.
8. Kevin Garnett vs. Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan's rivalry compares two diametrically opposed characters. Kevin's ferocity, on the one hand, Tim's calm on the other. The rivalry started in 1999. Garnett wished Duncan a "Happy Mother's Day, motherfu ** er" during the first round of the playoffs. The Spurs player's mother died when he was 14 years old.
The fact that the two played in the same position intensified the rivalry. In this case, the odds are stacked in favor of Duncan, who has a 33-19 record. He also sent the Minnesota Timberwolves home twice in the playoffs.
7. Shaquille O'Neal vs. Dwight Howard
The duel between the two Supermen. Their rivalry began towards the end of Shaq's career. Howard was at the pinnacle of his career at the time. Dwight Howard, like Shaq, began his career with the Orlando Magic, where he and Shaq both reached the NBA Finals. Disagreements between the two persisted even after Big Diesel's retirement.
Howard's decision to sign with the Lakers was harshly criticized by O'Neal. Furthermore, the game was singled out for criticism. Shaq, as a pundit, slammed the game in Howard's post, claiming he couldn't do enough for a player of such stature.
6. LeBron James vs. Eastern Conference
There have been nine NBA Finals, eight of which have been successive. This is the budget for the period from LeBron James, the Eastern Conference's ruler. Only the legendary Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s have appeared in more successive Finals.
This feat has been accomplished by LeBron James with two different teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. He has managed to keep his throne through various eras by adapting to changes in the game. The Celtics of the Big 3, the Chicago Bulls of D-Rose, the Indiana Pacers of Paul George, the LeBronto Raptors, the Atlanta Hawks of the four All-Stars, and the Celtics of Brad Stevens are among the major rivalries.
5. LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant
Quite possibly the two best players of the last decade. Kevin Durant combines height and monstrous speed with a supernatural ability to score in every way. LeBron James is a runaway train with the highest basketball IQ in modern history.
In the Finals, the two faced off three times. The first time LeBron triumphed, bringing home his first championship. Durant, who had recently joined the Golden State Warriors, won the next two challenges. The Finals MVP on all three occasions was either James or Durant. Durant never accepted the idea of being ranked second.
4. Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson
The rivalry marked the end of an era. During the 1980s, the NBA was Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's domain. The first meeting between the two occurred at the 1979 NCAA Finals. In the years since, the two have won eight NBA championships and six MVP awards. They also faced each other three times in the Finals. Their expressions symbolized the bitter rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The media portrayed Magic and Bird as great rivals, seeing in them two opposing stereotypes of American society. However, the two basketball legends respected each other on and off the court, becoming members of the Dream Team. They became great pals after their respective retreats.
3. Kobe Bryant vs. Shaquille O'Neal
From brothers to bitter rivals, they've gone from being brothers to bitter rivals. Kobe and Shaq's relationship is without a doubt one of the most contentious in NBA history. They brought home the "three-peat" with the Lakers, but their relationship was not always roses and flowers. The two became good pals, but their differences soon became apparent, sometimes explosively so.
The ultimate breaking point occurred following the 2004 Finals defeat. Shaq relocated from Los Angeles to Miami. The first encounter between the two occurred during the 2004 Christmas match. The Heat was a better team than the Lakers in that game, and they won.
O'Neal won another title in Miami, proving that he could win without Kobe. In 2018, the two finally reconciled their differences in an exclusive, face-to-face interview on TNT.
2. Russell Westbrook vs. Patrick Beverley
Two of the most popular anime in the NBA right now. Russell Westbrook and Pat Beverley's rivalry began in 2013. Despite calling a timeout, Beverley threw himself on Westbrook to steal the ball. Russell injured his knee after collapsing to the ground, effectively ending his playoff run. The same situation reoccurred in 2014, with no repercussions. Of course, Westbrook was never pleased with Beverley's demeanor.
The rivalry between the two remains ferocious. Last November, during a game between the Rockets and the Clippers, Westbrook taunted Beverley by saluting him as he walked away from the court after committing his sixth foul. Westbrook hired a technician in December as a result of his reaction to Beverley's dismissal.
1. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain
On the field, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain collided 143 times. They've played each other more than any other NBA player in history. Russell wins the numbers game: the Celtics legend has an 86-57 record against his archrival. He also won 11 NBA championships, compared to Chamberlain's two. Wilt has set some incredible personal bests, particularly in terms of points. Remember the 100-point game and the 50.4-point-per-game season?
Russell, on the other hand, is the only player who has been able to limit him despite the opponent's incredible physicality. He also set incredible records with his teammates. Their rivalry was the first in NBA history to have a significant media impact and is regarded as the best rivalry between two centers in history.
