The famous American sociologist Charles Cooley once said that “the most effective way of utilizing human energy is through an organized rivalry”. And if you ask NBA commissioner David Stern, I’m sure he would agree that great rivalries have made for a very “effective” and successful league.
Arguably, the Lakers have created bigger and more talked about rivalries than any other team in the NBA. After all, you don’t win 16 NBA championships and 31 conference titles without ruffling a few feathers and making a couple of enemies along the way.
Who can forget the hard close line delivered by Kevin McHale to Kurt Rambis during the 1984 Finals? Or Phil Jackson’s “cow-town” comment during an emotional playoff series against the Sacramento Kings? And promises to fans like the one Paul Pierce made during game 2 of this year’s finals, by shouting out to L.A. fans, “we ain’t comin’ back to L.A.”!
Hey Pierce…what a waste of “human energy”!
So who are the top 5 Lakers rivals of all time? Not an easy question to answer, but here now is my take…
Next: Sacramento Kings
#5. Sacramento Kings
“Sacramento will never be the capitol of California. Los Angeles is the new capitol of California.” – Shaquille O’Neal
You know you have a rivalry when The Rock composes a song about his dislike for Sacramento during WWE Raw and incorporated lyrics that read, “I’ll be sure to come back when the Lakers beat the Kings in May”. Okay okay, maybe The Rock isn’t exactly the litmus test for judging rivalries, but who could argue with the intense match-ups the Lakers and Sacramento Kings put on during the last decade.
Although these two have met nine times in playoff history, it wasn’t until 2000 that this recent rivalry took form. A series that should have been swept by an overpowering Lakers squad in 2000, turned into an emotional seven games at the hands of an eight seed underdog. Inside of Arco Arena, the melodic sounds of cowbells that resonated throughout the series; outside of the arena – Laker jerseys up in flames by the Sacramento faithful.
That was off the court, on the court, the two teams put together some lasting memories. The Lakers rolled through the Kings in four games in 2001 during the playoffs, but the 2002 Western Conference Finals is seen by many as one of the greatest series in NBA history. A few moments to consider:
- Robert Horry’s buzzer beating three-point shot to beat the Kings in game four. One of the most famous shots in Lakers history!
- A clutch shot by Mike Bibby with eight seconds left in Game 5 to propel the Kings to a one point victory.
- A Game 6 that took the Lakers to the free throw line a controversial 27 times. Infamous former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, later stated that referees during that game called fouls in favor of Los Angeles to throw the series into a Game 7 in the best interest of the league.
- Game 7: A neck and neck thriller that resulted in an overtime L.A. win in Sacramento.
Other notable moments occurred in a preseason match where only a few minutes into the first quarter, Kings guard Doug Christie and Rick Fox broke out into a fight on court, only to be separated and continue their brawl once again in the alley on the way to the locker rooms.
Finally, in December of 2005, a confident Kobe Bryant laughed off an obvious display of confrontation by Mike Bibby, as he walked right into Bryant on the way to the locker rooms.
Next: Philadelphia 76ers
#4. Philadelphia 76ers
So even though the rivalry between Philadelphia and Los Angeles has manifested itself more in recent years as that between the Dodgers and Phillies, you can’t ignore the place in history that the 76ers place with the Lakers.
Although a rivalry short of cowbells and nasty taunts, it was one with a little “magic” and one of the world’s most famous doctors in display! In 1980, these two teams went six games in an NBA Finals series that had a young Magic Johnson scoring 42 points, while playing center in Game 5 for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers would go on to win the series 4-2.
The two teams would go on to meet again in the finals in 1982 and once again the Lakers would dominate with a 4-2 series victory. But by the 1983 NBA finals, the Sixers were a much more dominate team than the squad that lost to the Lakers two out of the last three years.
With the off-season acquisition of Moses Malone and an All-Star cast of “Dr.J” Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones, they plowed through a 65 win season right into the Finals. During their third meeting in just three years, the results were much different. This time the 76ers would prevail with an embarrassing sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
It would take 18 years for the Lakers and the 76ers to meet again in the NBA Finals. This time the cast was much different with players like Shaq and Kobe leading the Lakers, and Allen Iverson and Dikemeb Mutumbo at the helm for Philadelphia. The series would wrap up in five games and hand the Lakers a second consecutive title.
The league’s MVP in Allen Iverson, defensive player of the year Dikembe Mutumbo, coach of the year – Larry Brown, and sixth man of the year, Aaron McKie were no match for a powerful Lakers squad.
Next: Detroit Pistons
#3. Detroit Pistons
The “Bad Boys” versus “Showtime”. It might have only been two years in a row facing off against each other in the NBA Finals (’88 & ’89), but that’s all it took when you paired up two of the game’s best guards, and a nasty defensive squad against a very fanciful offense.
It took seven games for the Lakers to fend off a vigorous Detroit Pistons team led by Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman, and yes…John Salley.
The hard fought series left Thomas limping in Game 6 after suffering a sprained ankle. He almost led his team to a finals victory with one second left until Abdul-Jabbar was sent to the line by Laimbeer to sink the game winning free throws for a 103-102 victory.
The Lakers would go on to capture their fifth NBA title of the decade, with another close game seven victory.
The Lakers attempted the “three-peat” the following season as they reached the NBA Finals in 1989 and once gain faced the Pistons. This time, Detroit managed to accomplish a very successful year under coach Chuck Daly with an impressive 63-19 league leading record.
They swept through the Celtics, swept through the Bucks, and defeated Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games in the Easter Conference Finals. The Lakers however were still favored to three-peat as champions, but hamstring injuries to their MVP Magic Johnson and star shooting guard Byron Scott, handicapped the team and paved the way for a sweep by the Pistons and a first ever Detroit NBA championship.
15 years later, the Lakers and Pistons once again squared off in the NBA Finals. The All-Star cast of Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant proved to be too imperfect to win a 15th world title. A three-point, game tying shot by Kobe Bryant to send Game 2 into overtime (and an eventual victory) was the only Lakers series highlight. Larry Brown’s squad of Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace went on to lead the Pistons to their third NBA title.
Next: San Antonio Spurs
#2. San Antonio Spurs
So you may be thinking, the San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers don’t have that NBA Finals mystique between the two that the Pistons, 76ers, or Celtics carry. Or perhaps you’re saying to yourself that it’s been a few years since the Lakers and Spurs have engaged in meaningful battles.
Let’s not forget that the Spurs are more than worthy of being the Lakers second biggest rival of all time next to you know who (I don’t think you have to scroll down the page to figure out who #1 will be just yet!). However, allow the facts to speak for themselves as your imagination takes you down memory lane:
- In the 1980’s, the two teams faced each other four times
- They met in consecutive Conference Finals in ’82 and ‘83
- 1995: A best-record holding Spurs team faced the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals with some memorable games courtesy of Nick Van Exel’s last second game winning shots! San Antonio, however, would move on to win the series 4-2.
- Between 1999 and 2010, the two clubs have collectively won the NBA Championship nine times!
- Since 1999, they combined to win 7 consecutive titles!
- Spurs and Lakers have battled each other six times in the playoffs since 1999 (L.A. winning four out of the 6 encounters).
There is no question that these two powerhouses of the Western Conference over the last decade have made for very exciting basketball. Arguably the most memorable moment of the rivalry came with 5.4 seconds on the clock during game 5 of the Western Conference semi-finals.
Tim Duncan put his team up ahead by one point after nailing a 20 foot off balance jumper and leaving only 0.4 seconds on the clock. With the last play of the game in the Lakers hands, Gary Payton inbounded a perfect pass to Derek Fisher who hit an 18 foot jumper to push the Lakers to a dramatic victory that stunned the San Antonio fans in attendance. The Lakers would go on to win the series.
Next: Boston Celtics
#1. Boston Celtics
It’s safe to say L.A. sports fans, that the city of Boston holds the two biggest rivalries in American team sports: that of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and that of course of the Lakers and Celtics.
Of course it goes without saying how the Celtics are the number one rivals of the Lakers. No other team in the league is more hated by Lakers fans and infuses so much emotion among the Lakers Nation! No other two teams historically can showcase matchups such as Bill Russell vs. Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson, and most recently, Paul Pierce vs. Kobe Bryant.
And you know you have a rivalry when Celtics fans of the 1982 squad chanted “Beat L.A., Beat L.A.” to the 76ers, in the closing moments of a defeat that would send the 76ers to a finals showdown against the Lakers! That phrase has become the official battle cry of all opposing teams against our beloved city.
Here now are some highlighted facts of this historic rivalry:
- Between December 28, 1979, to February 16, 1992, the Lakers and the Celtics played 45 games: 26 in the regular season and 19 in the playoffs.
- The Lakers and Celtics have faced each other 12 times in the NBA Finals (Boston has won nine and the Lakers have won three).
- Between ’59 and ’69 they had met seven times in the Finals.
- Celtics and Lakers met once again in the finals in 1984, 1985, and 1987.
- Most recently, Lakers and Celtics have squared off in the Finals in 2008 and 2010.
- Boston owns 17 NBA titles and Los Angeles trails with 16 NBA titles.
- And finally…the best player rivalry in all of NBA history – Bird vs. Magic.
Most memorable moments:
- Before Game 7 of the ’69 Finals, Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke placed notices in all seats that read, “When, not if, the Lakers win the title, balloons will be released from the rafters, the USC marching band will play ‘happy days are here again’, and broadcaster Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain in that order.” The Lakers would go on to lose the series.
- In the 1984 Finals, Celtic’s forward Kevin McHale close-lined Kurt Rambis as Rambis was about to finish a breakaway layup which almost caused a huge brawl.
- The famous Magic Johnson “Junior Skyhook”. In Game 4 of the NBA 1987 NBA Finals, the Lakers stormed back from a 16 point defecit in the fourth quarter. After a three-point shot from Larry Bird to put the Celtics ahead by one, Johnson nailed a junior skyhook with two seconds on the clock, sealing a very dramatic Lakers victory.
- 2008 NBA Finals…we won’t even go there!
- 2010 NBA Finals were perhaps one of the best NBA Finals in league history. This series saw a very hungry Lakers team that was seeking revenge from the ’08 series, a record setting Ray Allen going 8-11 from three point land, and ultimately a Lakers squad that came back from a 3-2 deficit to win the NBA title for the 16th time at home!
Next: Who could be next?
In 1992, Magic Johnson told Sports Illustrated, “the only time in my life I’ve ever been scared about a game was the NCAA Final and those Celtic games. After God and my father, I respect Larry Bird more than anyone.”
A rivalry as much passionate such as that of the Lakers and Celtics will forever be tough to replicate. The question now is whether a new team will make the list in the next few years. The obvious new kid on the block would be the Miami Heat. As is, the Miami faithful are already sporting war chants of “beat L.A.”
But do LeBron and company have what it takes to issue a new rivalry and ignite Laker hatred?
Kobe vs. Lebron?
With a new Christmas Day match-up that replaces the Celtics with the Miami Heat, the NBA is sure poised and ready to sell it to the world.
The question is – are Lakers fans ready to buy it?
Talk about an “organized rivalry”.