In this year's playoffs we witnessed another chapter of one of the great individual playoff rivalries in NBA playoff history. Steph Curry and Lebron James are two of the greatest players of this generation of the NBA and have several memorable playoff matchups. With the history the two players have together as far as competing for NBA titles I wanted to compare where their individual rivalry ranks alongside others in NBA playoff history.
Curry and James, have played each other five times in the playoffs with 4 occurrences being in the NBA Finals. In the five matchups, Curry has the edge with a 3-2 advantage by defeating Lebron and the Cavaliers in the 2015, 2017, and 2018 Finals. However, James victory arguably stands out the most as he led the Cavaliers to an incredible 3-1 comeback over Steph's 73-9 Warriors team in one of the greatest Finals series in NBA history. In that series, Lebron put up incredible numbers in back to back games scoring 41 points in Games 5-6 to force a Game 7. James also has the edge statistically against Curry in their playoff matchups as averages 31.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game. In comparison, Steph's averages 25.6 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game in their 28 playoff matchups
Their individual greatness and playoff matchups have defined this era of basketball as often times they matched up on the games greatest stage. Though Steph and Lebron have an incredible rivalry spanning nearly a decade their are three other individual rivalries I feel are even greater.
3. Tim Duncan versus Kobe Bryant
When you think about the 2000's era of basketball two legends instantly come to my mind. From 1999-2014, the two Hall of Famers in Kobe and Bryant combined to win 10 NBA championships over that span and faced each other six times in the playoffs over the course of their careers. In their six head matchups in the postseason, Bryant had the advantage winning 4 out of 6 series and advancing to the Finals every time his Lakers got past the Spurs. For a time, it was either the Spurs or Lakers winning championships in the 2000's as whoever won the Kobe-Duncan playoff matchup went on to win the Finals five out of 6 times they faced each other.
In Kobe's 30 career games against the Lakers he was sensational averaging 28.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. In 2001, a 22 year old Kobe dropped a game high 45 points in a Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals on the road in San Antonio. Duncan was also a dominant force in his 34 career games against the Lakers as in 34 careers against them he averaged 24.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
The Lakers-Spurs rivalry was not one of the greatest rivalries just because it was between two of of the greatest players of All-Time as it often times decided which team and player would later be crowned a champion. Due to that, the rivalry between Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan became a huge part of what made the 2000's such a special era for the NBA
2. Michael Jordan versus Isiah Thomas
Before Michael Jordan became the G.O.A.T. it was one team led by one man that constantly stood in his way from the NBA's ultimate prize. That man was Isiah Thomas and his Detroit Pistons were one of the great teams 1980's and for several years were the team that kept Jordan and the Bulls out of the NBA Finals. Jordan and Thomas faced off in the playoffs for four straight years from 88-91. In those four series Thomas' Pistons came away with 3 out of 4 wins and went on 3 straight finals appearances including back to back NBA titles in '89 and '90. During this time, Jordan had ascended to become the best player in the NBA managing to win basically every individual award but struggled to get past the Pistons until sweeping them in the '91 Eastern Conference Finals.
In Jordan's 22 games against the Pistons he was an unstoppable force as he had always been throughout his career averaging 30 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. Even with the famed "Jordan Rules" the Pistons could still do little to slow down Jordan from scoring at will. In 1989 Jordan dropped 46 points in the Eastern Conference Finals leading the Bulls to a 99-97 win over the Pistons. Thomas is one of the greatest points ever and showed out against the team that represented his hometown of Chicago with an average of 18.9 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.3 in 22 games against the Bulls.
The rivalry between Jordan and Isiah Thomas represented the last time he appeared beatable as the Bulls went on to win 6 titles in the 1990's What makes this rivalry so special is what both players and teams meant to the history of the game as the challenge of overcoming the Pistons is part of what led to Jordan being known as the G.O.A.T.
1. Magic Johnson versus Larry Bird
There is perhaps no more recognizable historical rivalry in American professionals sports than the Lakers-Celtics rivalry. No two players represent that rivalry better than two legends of the game in Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. This rivalry defined the 1980's NBA and propelled the leagues popularity to never before seen and perhaps never would have happened if not for these two Hall of Famers. Johnson and Bird combined to win eight championships in the 80's and faced each other 3 times in the NBA Finals in 1984, 1985 and 1987. Bird won their first ever NBA Finals faceoff in 7 games and won Finals MVP in 1984. However, Johnson would have the last laugh as he went on to win the next two times they faced off in the Finals against his fierce rival.
In Magic and Bird's 19 Finals games each other they both put up amazing numbers on the games biggest stage. Starting with Magic he averaged 20.7 points, 13.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game. As for Bird, he averaged 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Both Players had amazing moments against each other but arguably the most signature moment belongs to Magic Johnson. In Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals Magic Johnson hit the famed "Baby Hook" to get the win for the Lakers while dropping a game-high 29 points.
What makes this specific rivalry the greatest in NBA history is more than just how great the two individuals players were though they both are undoubtedly top 10 All-Time. As previously mentioned, this rivalry catapulted the popularity of the NBA as Magic and Bird are often credited with saving the NBA. Without this remarkable rivalry the game of basketball and the NBA as a whole would not be anything like it is today and for that a lot of credit is owed to the greatness of Magic and Bird.
Source: NBA YouTube Channel, Kobefan124 YouTube Channel
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