30 best personal rivalries in the NBA today

By John Buhler | Jan 5, 2018

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) /

19 of 30

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 24: Isaiah Thomas No. 4 of the Boston Celtics and Dennis Schroder No. 17 of the Atlanta Hawks look on during the third quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

12. Dennis Schroder vs. Isaiah Thomas

We’ve talked about Dennis Schroder and Isaiah Thomas having personal rivalries with John Wall. So it’s only natural that these two Eastern Conference point guards don’t like each other either. Add in the fact that the Hawks and the Celtics have a long, but one-sided rivalry, you can definitely feel the animosity from here.

Schroder’s Hawks might struggle to win 19 games this season, and no, they will not be in a row. Thomas’ Cavaliers own the Hawks like they do most teams in the East. While Atlanta needs to not be horrible fast, Schroder has emerged as a pretty good point guard for Atlanta, good enough to pester Thomas when he comes back from his bad hip.

Though Schroder backed up Jeff Teague in Atlanta for a few years, Teague was not about personal rivalries like Schroder and Thomas are about. The East lacks parity, but it is not devoid of point guards that don’t like each other. Golden tufts and headbands set the tone for this Schroder versus Thomas rivalry.

There will be a point in the next year or so where the Cavaliers will be 30 games better than the Hawks in the standings, but that won’t stop Schroder from trying to get under Thomas’ skin because he will and it will be incredible, as it always. Here’s to this one coming back once Thomas comes back.

Home/NBA