List of NBA rivalries

Throughout more than 76 seasons, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has had many intense rivalries. This article lists some of the famous rivalries in the NBA. Rivalries are classified into three primary groups; intradivisional, interdivisional, and interconference.

Inter-conference rivalries comprise games between opponents in different conferences. A team plays each opponent from the other conference in one home game and one away game.

Intra-divisional rivalries comprise games between opponents in the same division. Since the 2004–05 NBA season, there are 30 teams in six divisions of 5 teams each. Each team plays each division opponent 4 times during the regular season (twice at home, twice away) for a total of 16 games out of 82 total regular season games.

Inter-divisional rivalries comprise games between opponents in different divisions but within the same conference. A team plays against each team from the other two divisions in its conference either three or four times. The total interdivisional games an NBA team plays is 36. Conference games are often important, as a team's record in common games, as well as its overall record against its conference, are sometimes used as tiebreakers for playoff seeding at the end of the regular season. Also, many regular season opponents have met again in the playoffs, and the result of a regular season game can affect where the playoff game will be played.

Player rivalries consist of frequent match-ups of star players of similar skill, particularly in the postseason. In the NBA, player rivalries go as far back as the Chamberlain-Russell rivalry, which started in the late 1950s.

Interconference rivalries

• Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry
• Celtics–Lakers rivalry
• Lakers–Pistons rivalry

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

• 76ers–Celtics rivalry
• Celtics–Knicks rivalry
• Knicks–Nets rivalry
• Nets–Raptors rivalry

Central Division

• Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry
• Bulls–Pistons rivalry

Southeast Division

• Heat–Magic rivalry

Interdivisional

• Bulls–Knicks rivalry
• Celtics–Heat rivalry
• Celtics–Pistons rivalry
• Heat–Knicks rivalry
• Knicks–Pacers rivalry

Western Conference

Pacific Division

• Lakers–Clippers rivalry

Southwest Division

• Mavericks–Spurs rivalry
• Rockets–Spurs rivalry

Interdivisional

• Jazz–Rockets rivalry
• Lakers–Spurs rivalry
• Spurs–Suns rivalry

Players

• Chamberlain-Russell rivalry
• Bird-Magic rivalry
• Bird-Dr. J rivalry
• Bird-Thomas rivalry
• Magic-Thomas rivalry
• Olajuwon-Robinson rivalry
• Malone-Rodman
• O'Neal-Robinson
• Bryant-Duncan rivalry
• Duncan-Nowitzki rivalry
• Duncan-Garnett rivalry
• Durant-James rivalry
• Curry-James rivalry
• Embiid-Jokić rivalry

See also

• Major League Baseball rivalries
• MLS rivalry cups
• National Football League rivalries
• National Hockey League rivalries