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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This one is really awkward. It was so awkward in fact it only lasted for one awkward season. While Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive thought that Michigan Wolverines shooting guard Nik Stauskas rocked, former disgruntled Kings superstar DeMarcus Cousins did not. Cousins wasn’t exactly the best teammate to Stauskas during the guy’s rookie year. Yeah, it was awkward.

Well, it turns out that things got even more awkward after that season ended. Since Kings general manager Vlade Divac had no idea about the middle level exception, he traded Stauskas to the Philadelphia 76ers to create room he didn’t need. This move allowed the 76ers to earn the rights to a pick swap in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Both teams stunk, as the 76ers tanked and the Kings traded Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans. When Kings head coach Dave Joerger had to sit in the NBA Draft Lottery room with Stauskas’ new teammate Joel Embiid, he had to know that Philadelphia was going to steal their pick. Sacramento drew No. 3 and Philadelphia gave the Kings No. 5. Stauskas definitely trolled the Kings in a tweet.

Well, it turns out that Stauskas was not for long in Philadelphia either. He was no longer part of The Process, as he was shipped to the equally dysfunctional Brooklyn Nets in a trade. Together, Cousins and Stauskas have never played in an NBA playoff game, but are forever linked by that one awkward year in Sacramento where Cousins did Boogie things and Nik rocked!

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