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) /

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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 12: Klay Thompson No. 11 of the Golden State Warriors defends Kevin Love No. 0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

28. Kevin Love vs. Klay Thompson

We’re going to call this the Oh Sheesh Gee Whiz rivalry. There is no animosity between these two millennials who’s dads played in the NBA. I mean, they played on the same Lake Oswego little league travel team when they were teens. But they were almost traded for each other so here we go…

There is 100 percent a rivalry between the NBA’s two greatest third wheels in Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson and Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love. One likes to comment on scaffolding in New York City, the other prefers chicken nuggets in the Hooper household.

But seriously though, these two former suburban Portlanders were almost traded for each other before the start of the Warriors dynasty. Thompson could have been a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jerry West said no, so Love went to Cleveland as the Chris Bosh third wheel to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Irving may have forced a trade out of town, but Love still third wheels it most magnificently.

Thompson is SO the third wheel in the Bay Area. Kevin Durant needed to win a championship as a frontrunner, so Klay took a backseat to KD and Stephen Curry. He’s in a good spot in Golden State, but are we sure Love’s got anything to do with the Cavaliers’ future plans. Oh jeez, to think they could have been traded for each other. I wonder what the other native Portlanders think about that.

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