The NBA has produced some of the fiercest rivalries in all of professional sports, with teams determined to outdo each other both on and off the court. From intense post-season clashes to long-running crosses of talent and style, this article looks at some of the biggest NBA rivalries of all time.
In exploring over 150 years of rivalry, it will analyze historic games, moments, teams and players that have come to define the league’s storied past. So without further ado, let’s dive into the most epic battles in NBA history.
Historical Rivalries
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a powerhouse of sports rivalries, with teams and players competing for championships and recognition over decades. These epic battles have become iconic in the history of the NBA, from the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.
The Celtics vs Lakers rivalry has been one of the most well-known in league history, reaching its peak during the 1960s when they dominated eight straight championships. This period was marked by marquee matchups between legendary players such as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain – two titans battling it out for basketball supremacy.
The Pistons vs Bulls rivalry also made waves throughout NBA history, earning them their nickname “Bad Boys” due to their aggressive style of play. The two teams competed seven times in Eastern Conference finals during the 1980s before the Bulls eventually won 1989 series leading to their first three-peat championship – an intense rivalry that spanned several years!
The New York Knicks vs Miami Heat have had a long standing feud since Heat joined the league back in 1980s; meeting seven times in the postseason with Knicks winning all but one matchup. During the 1990s, this heated competition reached its peak as both teams were some of the toughest playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference – including memorable moments like 4-0 sweep by the Knicks 1993 First Round or 103-100 victory by Heat Game 7 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals!
As 2020 Rivalries. Week takes off across the NBA, fans can relive these greatest team rivalries that have defined basketball’s legacy: from Celtics & Lakers to Pistons & Bulls or even Knicks & Heat – these are some unforgettable clashes that will live on forever!
Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is legendary. For decades, these two teams have been going head-to-head in the playoffs – twelve times to be exact, with the Lakers coming out on top seven of those matches. But it was their 2008 NBA Finals showdown that will go down in history as one of the most iconic battles ever seen.
The intensity between them dates back to the 1960s when they were both ruling forces in the NBA. The Celtics had a dynasty of 11 championships in 13 years while the Lakers won five titles during this time period. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson clashed several times that things really heated up between them.
The 2008 NBA Finals marked an epic conclusion to their rivalry as Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett led the Celtics to victory over reigning champs, Los Angeles Lakers, after six games. Fast forward today and we still see sparks flying between these two teams – Boston winning the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals and LA taking home 2020’s Championship title!
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls
The Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls have had a legendary, long-lasting rivalry in the NBA. Chuck Daly’s Pistons were renowned for their rough defense and physical play, earning them the “bad boys” moniker. The Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, sought to break the Pistons’ stronghold on the Eastern Conference.
This feud reached its apex during the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals – an epic battle that was one of the most intense playoff series ever seen in NBA history. In six games, it was ultimately the Bulls who emerged victorious – setting off a three-peat championship run for them. After this peak moment of intensity between these two teams, they met in the playoffs three more times before their rivalry cooled down during the 1990s.
New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat
The rivalry between the New York Knicks and Miami Heat is one of the most intense in the NBA. It began back in the 1980s when Miami first joined, and since then they’ve faced off seven times in playoffs – with NYK winning all but one.
The 1990s saw this rivalry reach its peak, as both teams were fierce contenders for Eastern Conference titles. Their 1993 First Round matchup was a total whitewash for NYK, while their 1997 Semifinals clash went down to the wire – with MIA eventually emerging victorious by just three points.
In recent years though, things have cooled off between these two sides. They haven’t met in the playoffs since 2012 and MIA have had more success than NYK during regular season matches too. But if NYK’s resurgence continues and MIA stays strong, we could be set for another fiery chapter of this long-running feud!
Modern Rivalries
The NBA has seen some of the greatest rivalries in sports history. From the Celtics-Lakers clashes of yesteryear to today’s Warriors-Cavaliers showdowns, these battles have enthralled fans for decades. But modern NBA rivalries are no less intense – teams are constantly striving to outdo each other in regular season and playoffs alike. Think Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors: a clash of titans; Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets: an East Coast showdown; Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs: a rivalry that spans generations. These are just some of the biggest and most heated rivalries in the NBA right now!
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
The rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors has been one of the most electrifying rivalries in recent NBA history. It all began in 2011, when they clashed at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a double-overtime game that saw the Cavs prevail.
The intensity only grew as they met four times in five years, including three meetings in the NBA Finals. But it was their 2016 showdown that truly made history – an epic seven-game series where the Cavs became the first team to ever come back from a 3-1 deficit and win it all!
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets
The rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets is like a raging wildfire, burning with intensity since it began in the 2011 NBA playoffs. It was further fuelled when Sixers fans booed Kobe Bryant every time he touched the ball during the 2012-13 season.
The rivalry reignited when the Nets moved to their new home in Brooklyn for the 2013-14 season and met the Sixers in the first round of playoffs. Classic contests between two teams such as 2003 Western Conference Finals and 2006 Mavericks-Spurs playoff series have only added fuel to fire. How intense can this rivalry get?
LA Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs
The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs has been one of the most legendary rivalries in NBA history. It all began in 1999 when the Spurs pushed the Lakers to their limits during a first-round playoff battle. The intensity only grew from there, with five more playoff matchups over the next six years – including four consecutive NBA Finals showdowns!
The rivalry reached its peak in 2008’s Western Conference Finals, where Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal faced off against Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker for an epic seven-game series that saw LA come out on top. But who else has been involved in this storied feud?
Player Rivalries
The NBA is like a battlefield, with teams clashing in historic rivalries. But the league is also known for its player rivalries – some of the biggest names in the game have gone head-to-head in fierce competitive hatred and marquee matchups. From Detroit’s Bad Boys to Michael Jordan, the greatest of all time, to LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s modern era clashes, these legendary NBA rivalries have become some of sports’ most iconic team battles.
Whether it was Jordan and Isiah Thomas’ heated exchanges, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s back-and-forth jabs or James and Durant’s four consecutive Finals showdowns – these famous NBA rivalries have shaped basketball into what it is today: an epic clash between titans.
Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas
The rivalry between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas was like a never-ending game of chess. It all started back in 1979 when the two faced off in the NCAA championship game, with Jordan scoring an average of 28,6 points per game to lead his team to victory. The rivalry between them reached its peak during the late 1980s when their respective teams were at the top of NBA rivalries. In 1991 and 1992, they had a heated exchange that needed to be broken up by referees!
The feud between Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas began after some controversial comments made by Thomas during an interview. During their playoff matchups, it was almost as if they were playing on opposite sides of a battlefield – until one day while filming a sneaker commercial together, something changed and they became close friends instead! They even went on to win gold medals together as co-captains for Team USA’s Dream Team in 1992.
Michael Jordan also had other rivals he competed against throughout his career, such as Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, and John Starks (Knicks). To make sure he didn’t get too far ahead of them, these opponents implemented what is now known as “Jordan Rules” – which basically meant heavy defensive pressure so that no matter how hard MJ tried he couldn’t escape!
Shaquille O’Neal vs. Kobe Bryant
The rivalry between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant was legendary, with their contrasting playing styles creating a unique dynamic. In the 2004–05 season, things reached fever pitch when O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat – that same season saw Bryant drop an NBA record-setting 81 points in one game, while O’Neal responded by scoring 2,345 points – the highest total since Wilt Chamberlain. Ultimately it was Robinson who took the scoring title from O’Neal after he scored 71 points in the last game of the season.
Throughout their time in the NBA, these two titans would often clash through media criticism; they were like two boxers trading jabs back and forth. Even after his departure from the LA Lakers, O’Neal still found ways to take shots at Dwight Howard for taking over his “Superman” nickname. It’s safe to say that this rivalry will go down as one of basketball’s greatest ever!
LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant
The rivalry between LeBron James and Kevin Durant is a one-of-a-kind battle in the modern NBA. Eight times they have clashed in the playoffs, with KD holding a 2-1 edge in the Finals. In regular season matchups, these two titans of basketball have gone head to head – their games are always must-see events.
Though there has been tension between them on court, James and Durant also share respect for each other’s game – as seen when they embraced before the 2016 NBA finals began. This rivalry echoes that of Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning: intense physical confrontations during playoff meetings coupled with mutual admiration for each other’s skillset. As two of the biggest stars in the league, their rivalry has shaped many team rivalries across it too!
Summary
The NBA is home to some of the most renowned rivalries in sports history, from Boston’s Celtics and Los Angeles’s Lakers showdown, to Detroit’s Pistons and Chicago’s Bulls grudge match. Similarly, the modern rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors spanned for a decade and culminated in an epic seven-game series.
Those same rivalries spill over into player rivalries that have captured hearts and stirred up heated debates in many households. Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas’ feud goes back to 1979 and was further intensified when their teams faced off in the late 80s; while Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant went head on in 2004-05. Even today, LeBron James and Kevin Durant fuel their competitive nature and mutual respect with their relentless rivalry.
For these reasons, it’s obvious that the NBA has plenty of storied rivalries that continue to shape the league today. One thing’s for sure, as long as there are fierce competitors pressing against one another, intense rivalries will remain at the forefront of sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are NBA rivalries?
NBA rivalries are intense competitions between teams of different conferences and divisions. Interconference rivalries involve matchups between teams from different conferences, with each team playing one game at home and one away.
Traditional rivalries consist of opponents from the same division. These games create high intensity atmospheres for both the players and fans alike.
Who are the Lakers’ biggest rivalries?
The Los Angeles Lakers have a long-standing rivalry with the Boston Celtics, dating back to 1948. This rivalry is held in high regard and is considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.
The two teams have met in the NBA Finals 12 times and share a passionate fan base across the world.
Who are the Warriors’ biggest rivals?
The Golden State Warriors’ biggest rival is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The rivalry between the two teams became prominent when they met in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. The intense competition between these two teams has led to some of the most iconic moments in the history of basketball.
The Warriors and Cavaliers have faced off in some of the most memorable games in recent memory. From the 2015 NBA Finals, where the Warriors won their championship.
