Discussing NBA rivalries during one of their segments earlier this week, ESPN’s NBA Today panel broke down some of the league’s best. ESPN analyst Tim Legler referenced Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic as the top rivalry.
Legler played in an era when rivalries were fierce and bitter, so he knows a thing or two about them. While his rivalry choice is honorable and has the chance to balloon in the future, let’s not forget about a few critical and exciting other player-to-player rivalries currently in the NBA.
NBA rivalries come and go, but they’re also an integral cog in the proverbial machine, the NBA, that continues to propel that machine forward. It drives fan interest, ratings, and overall excitement in games. In today’s game, a handful of those rivalries get fans standing up and staying up late.
Lebron James & Steph Curry
The crème of the crop has to begin with LeBron James and Steph Curry. These two legends have been at it since their first finals meeting in 2015. Having returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers for his second stint, James went up against the Golden State Warriors led by Curry. The two teams faced each other for four consecutive years in the finals. Since then, James’ and Curry’s teams have displayed some epic and outstanding regular season games against each other. There is no question that the two rivals still drive the ratings for the NBA. Games between the Lakers and Warriors are still the most-watched games when televised nationally, an added argument for NBA rivalries. For a decade now, James and Curry have been the undisputed rivals of the NBA, and until they walk away, they will continue to be.
Luka Doncic & Devin Booker
Doncic is on this list whether he’s paired with Edwards or say, Devin Booker. Understandably, there haven’t been many prolific playoff series between the two. This rivalry seems more personal, one-on-one, as the two superstars have a shared history of bad attitudes and beef. Everyone remembers that still shot of Doncic staring slyly up at Booker during a 123-90 blowout loss that the Suns suffered at the hands of the Mavericks in Game 7 of the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals. While both players admit mutual respect for the other, there is competitiveness between each other that elevates any game that their two respective franchises meet. Doncic versus Edwards is brewing, but Doncic versus Booker has already taken off and brews still.
Joel Embiid & Nikola Jokic
Thunder and earthquake clash when Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic battle head-to-head under the basket. In the painted area, Embiid, and Jokic have experienced some epic back-and-forth battles. Both have reigned as league MVP and have been knighted as the best centers in the game by media pundit onlookers and talk show spectators. Considering the limited times Embiid and Jokic have faced off, one might argue ‘rivalry,’ and that’s fair if you look at it through that lens. Another lens tells differently, however. The rivalry argument rests much in the debate over the better player at their position. Yes, Embiid and Jokic have had some outstanding performances against each other, but who is better still? Thankfully, more basketball will be played for both players, so let the debate escalate.
Tim Legler is on the right track, no doubt. Minnesota and Dallas matchups are adrenaline-filled, competitive, and simply pure fun. Doncic and Edwards play a massive role in that, and are a long-term future rivalry indeed. Here’s hoping they meet again in next season’s playoffs for another seven-game series.