Fansided

30 best personal rivalries in the NBA today

By John Buhler

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant No. 35 of the Golden State Warriors and Russell Westbrook No. 0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder point in different directions after the ball went out of bounds at ORACLE Arena on January 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 18: Kevin Durant No. 35 of the Golden State Warriors and Russell Westbrook No. 0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder point in different directions after the ball went out of bounds at ORACLE Arena on January 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 04: Enes Kanter No. 00 of the New York Knicks looks on before a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 115-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 04: Enes Kanter No. 00 of the New York Knicks looks on before a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 115-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

20. LeBron James vs. Enes Kanter

Until the ‘Stache Brothers had to breakup because ‘Melo had to leave the NYC for OKC, NOBODY had ever gotten LeBron James fired up enough to get ejected from a ball game. That was until Enes Kanter made it to the New York Knicks and then things to interesting.

Kanter is one of those characters in the NBA that you’ll love to have as a teammate and hate to play against. When James started talking smack about his Knicks or whatever, Kanter didn’t back down because Kristaps Porzingis is the greatest thing to happen to New York basketball since Patrick Ewing.

Is this rivalry petty? Of course, but what makes it compelling is two-fold: One, Kanter is at least big enough to not get pushed around by the imposing James. Two, we might see the Cavaliers and the Knicks play each other in the first round of the 2018 Eastern Conference Playoffs. We know that King James and the Cavs will be there. Maybe the Zinger and Enes bring playoff basketball back to the Big Apple?

Getting under James’ skin is never easy, but Kanter was somehow able to do that one time. He could totally do it again. Perhaps that is coming in the first-round this spring? That might be enough to throw James off kilter for just one game. Here’s to the Knicks stealing a game in round one in May!

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