Top 5 Heated Rivalries in the NBA

By: Vivek Nair Image credit: NBA

[{"selector":"#anim-63b8f0a9-3042-4d44-882f-340c1802e3a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1daaa88d-8420-47ac-b9e1-6d3d07a028b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab281376-89b4-4f6e-82c2-fe8300b3ed30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-869cca89-81ea-4e85-8d6a-39aa5f92dffc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.37762%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e399e99f-5a8c-4545-84a3-8619ffd52075 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(59.045898580263845%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Throughout the history of the NBA, there have been several intense rivalries between teams and players that have c aptured the attention of fans all around the world.

[{"selector":"#anim-f4c9e1ee-08f9-4a12-a5b0-0403a3a97f52","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b84a8b7-0d3d-48f2-a37a-0312c8c166f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-338.65543%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82c857ba-a98b-49b7-ad8f-48644d58d866","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-162164dd-920b-4fec-8e12-3a69361fe14f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6adccac1-886a-4429-9dd9-49d545bf1402 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(20.562499766949408%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] From intense on-court battles to personal feuds, the NBA has seen some of the greatest rivalries in sports history. Here are the top 5 heated rivalries in NBA history.

[{"selector":"#anim-88eac214-846b-4f9c-bedb-45d745be5450","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e2957e3-0205-4162-b77a-069daf3405a2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(95.18599%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa9bf1a5-d0db-4896-84a6-d7b5182ee77d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ed8585e-0570-484f-bae3-f5cf5e306804","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.24243%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ee3f7c0-b25d-459a-9b9b-2511bb35e151 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(60.51339248622133%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas The rivalry began at the 1985 All-Star Game, where Thomas tried to boycott the rookie Jordan, it peaked during the 1980s when the Bulls and Pistons faced each other.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0849ae1-8ba9-4352-bf1d-c017a6e8fdf2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6feacf6d-0bae-4d0a-825e-2715b08066eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.82123%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84a4f3cb-2dc8-42fd-806e-e0a73bcca5ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0371393a-a41c-47aa-9e6b-9cd388d31be9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.79935%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-494d4102-49d6-4f67-bc38-a37c327ceef9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(13.326690320125014%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Kobe Bryant – Shaquille O’Neal The Kobe-Shaq duo is one of the most controversial in NBA history. The duo ended after a loss to the Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, and Shaq left LA t o join the Heats.

[{"selector":"#anim-3293e9da-3172-4fcf-8994-fd79bc9faef4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-356923aa-5bc1-41a9-b29c-4e3c5debb287","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.49366%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a02214e2-bcd4-4c35-8906-69651561c46f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb68b4a2-51a6-4910-aff6-8c7f25655c76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.99347%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71f8a4e2-ddb0-4883-8635-2d9e81d82003 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-65.6386720821464%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Kevin Garnett – Tim Duncan The rivalry between Garnett and Duncan dates back to the 1999 playoffs, when Garnett wished Duncan a "Happy Mother’s Day, Motherf***er," and it has continued over the years.

[{"selector":"#anim-b14667e2-c512-482f-ab13-91ca23a6c2ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2afd7fb4-175d-4729-afb9-40bc164ed38d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.23391%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1782aee2-cca7-4d70-98ec-021c5dbdae49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ee964ba-b420-4aa3-8e97-47d802b547a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.95425%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3eb46e12-1d09-4430-ad00-ddc0d9ef525d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.642577882965796%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] LeBron James – Kevin Durant LeBron and Durant have battled in 3 NBA Finals, with LeBron winning the first and Durant taking the next two. The rivalry still exists, as they still domi nate the league.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7327444-dc51-4f48-9204-06fc87769916","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.09383%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78054db0-9297-4347-bfd9-3a51dc5dde0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9bc84fb-25ad-48b0-8687-d98e0f4f8059","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2469c1a1-233d-43da-9aed-c870cba2639b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-274e43d6-b737-4eec-9f02-74e7f2df50b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-111.11111%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b88b970f-6a9e-4c64-90ea-2e84252c1089 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(70.5624998213744%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Bill Russell – Wilt Chamberlain Wilt and Russell had 143 matchups, the most in NBA history. Russell had 11 titles whereas W ilt only had 2 titles. Although Wilt set records, Russell was superior.

[{"selector":"#anim-d430cd7e-d7fb-45c5-827f-4ed4a9728f58 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.677455136070412%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e548496-d486-4025-9c0e-daa3f2aea3f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24189933-1f7b-42c1-88d6-ca1b40c6db75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 71.87594%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea95fb2b-2973-40a5-8cdc-8be30c5391e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NBA rivalries, whether personal feuds or intense on-court battles, bring excitement to the game. These top 5 heated and controversial rivalries in NBA history are still talked about years later.

Top 5 Heated Rivalries in the NBA

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