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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MIAMI, FL – MAY 30: LeBron James No. 6 of the Miami Heat and Lance Stephenson No. 1 of the Indiana Pacers match up during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 30, 2014 in Miami, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – MAY 30: LeBron James No. 6 of the Miami Heat and Lance Stephenson No. 1 of the Indiana Pacers match up during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 30, 2014 in Miami, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

9. Lance Stephenson vs. LeBron James

It’s been a while on this one, but of course we remember what happened. Lance Stephenson decided to whisper something in King LeBron James’ ear during the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. It was cute, but it didn’t work and James HATED it. The Miami Heat would beat the Indiana Pacers to reach the NBA Finals, only to lose to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.

James got done taking his talents to South Beach and decided that he was coming home to Northeast Ohio to try to win the Cleveland Cavaliers an NBA Championship. He did just that in 2016 and remains the most crucial pillar of Cleveland basketball today. Stephenson would leave Indianapolis only to return as the prodigal son. Though he had enough bricks in Charlotte to build a mini-mansion, he was not for long with Michael Jordan’s organization.

Though it’s nearly four years since Stephenson was blowing wind into James’ ear hole, they could meet in the 2018 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Stephenson is back with the Pacers and they aren’t horrible. James is still with Cleveland and the Cavaliers are going to play three or four rounds of playoff basketball anyway. So why not hope for a pair of Central Division rivals to square off in rounds one or two?

With all the pettiness we have seen in the NBA of late, we have to believe that Stephenson’s alternative way of getting James’ attention was most crucial in the way NBA players interact with each other today. The Pacers may not beat the Cavaliers, but look for Stephenson to try to blow in James’ other year in the summer sometime.

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