Ranking the NBA’s 5 Most Electrifying Rivalries Right Now
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
1. 76ers-Nuggets
NBA Finals Odds: Philadelphia (+1100) | Denver (+430)
Is there a more heated NBA debate right now other than which center is better, Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic? These two guys have finished first and second in the MVP voting for three straight seasons and are on track to make it four consecutive seasons. With both likely to have two MVP trophies by the end of the year, the debate will continue for years. These two fanbases can’t stand each other, as each guy tries to outdo the other, and both have lofty title expectations. Does it get better than that in terms of rivalry?
5. Bucks-Heat
NBA Finals Odds: Milwaukee (+480) | Miami (+3400)
A lot is being made about a current Heat-Knicks rivalry. Still, neither team has been legitimately good at the same time since the 90s, except for a flash of dominance when Carmelo Anthony was dominating with the Knicks. The Heat have been a thorn in the side of many of the East’s top teams in recent years, but none has been full of as much tension as what we’ve seen from the Bucks and this squad. When Jimmy Butler single-handedly crushed the Bucks’ playoff hopes in the first round, they cleared house. The Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer and acquired Damian Lillard, who was believed to be destined for South Beach. With another coaching change in Milwaukee, fans can hope for another first-round meeting between Miami and Milwaukee to reforge another epic playoff battle.
4. LeBron-Warriors
NBA Finals Odds: Los Angeles (+3000) | Golden State (+6000)
Is there a bigger rivalry over the past decade than LeBron James and the Warriors’ dynasty? Four consecutive NBA Finals meetings from 2015-2018, followed by years of battles between LeBron and Stephen Curry. Even in the years of the Celtics and Lakers trading championships decades ago, we never saw the same Finals matchup four straight times. It’s hard to imagine we’ll ever see it again. That rivalry will never dissipate as long as LeBron and Steph are still in this league.
3. 76ers-Celtics
NBA Finals Odds: Philadelphia (+1100) | Boston (+300)
Sixers-Celitcs, one of the NBA’s longest-lasting rivalries, has been resurrected in the past six years, as Joel Embiid has brought the Sixers to the forefront of the conversation, while the Celtics have been dominant year in and year out. It’s hard to call this a rivalry because the Celtics have owned the matchup, especially in the postseason, but the hate is still there. The Celtics continue to be a pain for the Sixers as they look to improve every season just to beat the Celtics. This season might be the best version of the Sixers and Celtics we’ve seen in the past five years, so one can hope this classic rivalry plays out in the Eastern Conference Finals with everything on the line.
2. Lakers-Celtics
NBA Finals Odds: Los Angeles (+3000) | Boston (+300)
How could we make an NBA rivalry list and not include the Lakers and the Celtics? While the intensity of this rivalry has tapered off a bit, there is so much history there. Whether it be the clashes of the 80s or championship meetings in 2008 and 2010, there will always be a battle between these two franchises. The current Celtics will dominate for the foreseeable future, but it’s interesting to see where this rivalry will go once LeBron James takes off the purple and gold.
1. 76ers-Nuggets
NBA Finals Odds: Philadelphia (+1100) | Denver (+430)
Is there a more heated NBA debate right now other than which center is better, Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic? These two guys have finished first and second in the MVP voting for three straight seasons and are on track to make it four consecutive seasons. With both likely to have two MVP trophies by the end of the year, the debate will continue for years. These two fanbases can’t stand each other, as each guy tries to outdo the other, and both have lofty title expectations. Does it get better than that in terms of rivalry?
5. Bucks-Heat
NBA Finals Odds: Milwaukee (+480) | Miami (+3400)
A lot is being made about a current Heat-Knicks rivalry. Still, neither team has been legitimately good at the same time since the 90s, except for a flash of dominance when Carmelo Anthony was dominating with the Knicks. The Heat have been a thorn in the side of many of the East’s top teams in recent years, but none has been full of as much tension as what we’ve seen from the Bucks and this squad. When Jimmy Butler single-handedly crushed the Bucks’ playoff hopes in the first round, they cleared house. The Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer and acquired Damian Lillard, who was believed to be destined for South Beach. With another coaching change in Milwaukee, fans can hope for another first-round meeting between Miami and Milwaukee to reforge another epic playoff battle.
