What's the Greatest NBA rivalry ever?

[L.Kizzle]

Easily Wilt vs Russell. I think they played something like 130+ times (without Google help.) On the other hand Bird and Magic probably faced of less than 30 times.

[tpols]

Bird is stone cold but in this video you can see what made magic great. His emotional IQ is off the charts. Incredible soul he has.

[HoopsNY]

90s Heat vs. Knicks was epic.

[Xiao Yao You]

90s Heat vs. Knicks was epic.

the reason defense isn't allowed today. Was getting closer to football at that point.

[kawhileonard2]

Jordan vs Magic

[Bawkish]

Special Mention: Reggie Miller & Spike Lee

[Jasper]

Bird fought Doctor J, Barkley, Moses, and Ivaroni and Cedric Maxwell fought Darryl Dawkins and the 76ers crowd. I think the coach got involved once. Philly and Boston had a fight in the preseason once. That’s the hatred the golden age rivalries were build on.

[Kblaze8855]

He wasn’t good enough for me to be googling the proper spelling of his name.

[Xiao Yao You]

He wasn’t good enough for me to be googling the proper spelling of his name.

good? The guy was awful! Lakers don't win back to back if not for Frank Layden and Mark Ivaroni.

https://youtu.be/7iWweaxB61k?t=500

[Wally450]

Wilt Russell
Bird Magic
Celtics Lakers
Jordan vs the Pistons

There's not too many good rivalries today.

[Axe]

Cavs vs. dubs would have been good (if not great) if it weren't for kd.

[John8204]

The thing with Wilt and Bill is that they were such great friends. I would say Bill/West and Wilt/Kareem were the better rivalries.

For the fans while Lebron/Jordan is a dull toxic affair I think for the high IQ posters those that support John Stockton vs those that support Isiah Thomas as the better all-time PG is the most interesting and passionate debate.

[hateraid]

Lakers and Celtics in general but the most hatred was 76ers and Celtics then the Knicks and whoever in the 90s. Bulls. Heat. Pacers. Everyone hated the Knicks. I think the suns hated them too.

Yeah we hated the Celtics. Still do, but back then it was visceral.
The whole east was a big rivalry. Sixers, Celtics Pistons, Knicks Pacers.....a little bit of the Bucks and Hawks.

[rmt]

That I've seen - Magic vs Bird - from college to the NBA.

[TheMan]

Lebron vs Hair Loss

Celtics vs Lakers, especially the 80s version.

For me personally, 90s Bulls vs Knicks, it was a war.