For all of the good things to come from this current era of NBA basketball, it seems that one of the best aspects of yesteryear has become a relic. Rivalries between individual players are few and far between now, especially over the last few years.
Players essentially grow up together now, playing alongside one another on AAU teams and for prep academies. Some even team up in college and carry that brotherhood into the NBA, making the tight fraternity of the hardwood even more exclusive.
At the end of the day, these are still some of the most competitive people on the planet, and that competitive nature often breeds contempt. The rivalries of today also play out away from the hardwood, something we wouldn’t have seen a decade or more ago. That just makes it all the more fun for fans to tune into these feuds. Here are some of the hottest rivalries between players in the NBA today.
Russell Westbrook vs. Joel Embiid
This entire list could be dedicated to feuds Westbrook currently finds himself in with players around the league, but he seems to have drawn the ire of Embiid most recently. The bad blood between the two goes back to a game in December of 2017, in which Westbrook mocked Embiid by waving to him after the Thunder came away with the win – in Philadelphia.
Russell Westbrook makes sure to wave goodbye to Joel Embiid after the game. pic.twitter.com/yAb97UQLW6
— Boomtown Hoops (@BoomtownHoops) December 16, 2017
The next time the two played, Embiid would unleash a ferocious dunk on Westbrook. As he often does, Embiid took the feud to social media, posting about the dunk on his Instagram page.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BehKB2yln-2/?utm_source=ig_embed
Ever the comedian, Embiid would label the location of the post “Crime Scene Investigation.” At this point, the feud seemed to be little more than good-natured trash talk between opponents. No one came away from either encounter with an injury, nor did they seem to harbor any resentment against the other player.
Things remained this way between Westbrook and Embiid until a few short nights ago.
Late in the Thunder’s win over the Sixers on Saturday, Westbrook had an open lane to the basket before Embiid took him down with a hard foul. There seemed to be no malicious intent from Embiid, but Westbrook would take exception to the foul.
Embiid seemed puzzled as to why Westbrook was so angry about the foul, and the latter had some choice words for the former after the game.
Time will tell if this feud will continue, but for now we can enjoy this back and forth between two of the league’s biggest personalities.
Chris Paul vs. Rajon Rondo
Like Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul is no stranger to contentious relationships with other players. His issues with Warriors center Demarcus Cousins over the years are well documented, as well as the incident involving a groin punch that saw him face disciplinary action while in college. For now though, his attention seems to be on Lakers guard, and general NBA veteran, Rajon Rondo.
Paul and Rondo played against one another in the Lakers’ home opener this season, and the game descended into chaos around the end of the fourth quarter.
In a situation that began with two completely different players, Paul and Rondo not only managed to get in each others’ faces, but also found a way to come to blows in the process. The dust-up led to suspensions for both players.
It’s been said that the two have been on each other’s bad side for the better part of a decade now, after Chris Paul’s role on the 2008 USA basketball team, which won a gold medal. Rondo, who at the time was coming off of a championship season with the Celtics, didn’t make the Olympic team that year. Some have suggested that Rondo holds some sort of grudge against Paul for taking the spotlight from him.
Whatever the case, Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo don’t like each other. And quite frankly, for two players who specialize in getting under the skin of their opponents, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Mario Hezonja vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo
It’s strange to think that Giannis would be in some sort of feud with anyone. He’s one of the most well liked and respected players in all of basketball. He’s been exceedingly gracious and humble in his time in the NBA, both to teammates and opponents. His disposition and general nature have led to a lack of conflict with other players.
That is, until earlier this year.
During a early season game against the Knicks, Hezonja dunked on Giannis.
https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1068999594187677696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1068999594187677696&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Fnba%2F2018%2F12%2F3%2F18123583%2Fmario-hezonja-giannis-anteteokounmpo-nuts-punch-beef-explained
No problem there, players get dunked on all the time. The issue came after the dunk, when Hezonja stepped over the Bucks forward, a move that doesn’t seem to sit well with most players (just ask Draymond Green how he felt about LeBron James stepping over him during the 2016 Finals).
For the rest of the game, things proceeded as they normally would. No finger pointing, no verbal jabs, and certainly no punches thrown. Only after the game was over did this situation escalate into full blown beef territory.
Giannis was asked about the stepover, and proceeded to say that if Hezonja pulled another stunt like that in their next game against one another, he’d “punch (Hezonja) in his nuts next time.” When asked if his comments were serious, Giannis gave a simple answer: “Yeah.”
Giannis Antetokonmpo on Mario Hezonja stepping over him:
“Oh yeah, I’m gonna punch him in the stand next time.” pic.twitter.com/nEAHjYeJ4y
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) December 2, 2018
Giannis Antetokounmpo, dead serious, on Mario Hezonja stepping over him: “Im going to punch him in the nuts next time.” He wasn’t joking.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) December 2, 2018
Hezonja fanned the flame, saying that if Giannis “felt fear,” then “New York was not a place for [him].”
The two teams would play again on Christmas Day, and while no nether regions were punched in the end, there was a palpable tension between the two teams. The Bucks would win the game going away, but there was some general chippiness. It’s hard to say if that was due to this earlier incident, but it certainly seems like Giannis and Hezonja won’t be working out together this offseason.
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