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    by admin in NBA | Comments Off on Top 7 Fiercest Rivalries in NBA History

    Individual rivalries add more excitement and flavor in a team sport like basketball. There are so many individual rivalries in the history of NBA, each has different reason, intensity and nature. The following is the list of those rivalries which are believed to be the best of all time.

    1. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain

    The rivalry between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain is widely regarded as the most fiercest rivalry in the history of NBA. Both faced each other in 7 playoffs and it was the Bill Russell’s Celtics that went to win most of the games. Still, it is difficult to tell that who was the best amongst them. In terms of individual performances, Chamberlian always outplayed Bill but when it comes to team wins, Russell’s Celtics always had an upper hand over Chamberlain’s Warriors, Sixers and Lakers. Bill Russell won 11 championships while Chamberlain had only 2 championships in his whole career.

    2. Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson

    This rivalry is recognized as one of greatest rivalries of all-time, not only in NBA but in the sporting history. The hostility started from the college level when Bird and Magic Johnson played each other in 1979 NCAA finals. After that, they stepped into NBA but their rivalry never came to an end. It continued to florish as they played each other in 3 NBA final series with even more high intensity.(the  results gone mostly in favor of Magic Johnson’s Lakers). Despite all the on- court tussel, they were good friends in their personal life and had great respect for each other.

    3. Robert Parish vs. Bill Laimbeer

    Robert Parish and Bill Laimbeer had been two different natured players, Parish was a stoic and hard-core competitive while Laimbeer was known for his flopping and going physical. The rivarly began in the fifth game of 1987 Eastern Conference finals, when Lainbeer with his annoying antics forced Parish to respond in a furious manner. Parish threw punches at Laimbeer out of frustration which resulted in his elimination from the 6th game.

    4. Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas

    Michael Jordan had many rivalries in the league but none was as famous as Jordan / Isiah rivalry. The bitterness was believed to be started in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game when senior players including Isiah planned a freeze out against young and promising Michael Jordan. Though Isiah denied this allegation but the enmity always remained their. In 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons won first three games against Bulls but Jordan’s Bulls made a hugh comeback and won conference finals by defeating Pistons in last four games. The series was played in such a negative atmosphere that at the end of the game Isiah Thomas and his team left the court without shaking hands with Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The rivalry went beyond the courts and In 1992, Michael Jordan was made responsible for keeping Isiah out of the Olympic dream team. The accusation was later admitted by Michael Jordan as well.

    5. Dennis Rodman vs. Karl Malone

    The rivalry between Rodman amd Karl Malone was appeared to be  more childish than intense. While facing each other, they spent most of their time in hitting, kicking, chasing and dragging down one another. Both the 1997 and 1998 final series were marked by such kind of distraction tactics. Nevertheless, they were two great players of their time and Whenever they played against each other, they played with enthusiasm and made the game more exciting.

    6. Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Patrick Ewing

    Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing first met in the 1984 NCAA Championship. In the final, Ewing’s Georgetown Hoyas convincingly beat Olajuwon’s team Houston Cougers. Ewing scored 10 points in the game while Olajuwons scored 15, more points than Ewing but he did not make enough to help his team win. Later, in 1994 NBA finals, Olajuwon evened the score by defeating Ewing’s New York Knicks in seven games and helped his team Houston Rockets to win a championship.

    7. Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James

    This is perhaps the best modern-day rivalry. Though, some might argue that there is no point to compare these two players as James started his career way after Kobe Bryant and there are no meaningful matchups between them yet. James is comparitively younger and he is heading towards that peak which has been already achieved by Kobe. But some other believe that they are the most magnificent players right now and they try to deliver their best every time they compete against each other. When it comes head to head comparison, Kobe won more championships than LeBron but in individual play LeBron mostly turned out to be the dominant between them.




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