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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Without hesitation, the best personal rivalry that exists today is between two former Oklahoma City Thunder buddies in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They were drafted in the top-five of consecutive NBA Drafts and headlined the Thunder for eight wonderful seasons. Then Kevin Durant decided to chase rings and here we are.

Durant was the most sought-after free agent in 2016. He may have made the right business move to go to the juggernaut Golden State Warriors, but he looked like a total front-runner in the process. You know who HATED that? Westbrook and he’s going to carry that animosity towards Durant until maybe the day he dies.

Sure, Durant won an NBA championship with the 2016-17 Warriors, but Westbrook won NBA MVP and a playoff game averaging a triple-double for an also-ran Thunder team. Westbrook did inherit two superstars for this season in swingmen Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. Maybe he has enough firepower behind him to meet Durant’s Warriors in the Western Conference Finals?

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This rivalry between Durant and Westbrook is fierce, Uber-petty and mostly about “that’s cute” and cupcakes. It’s like a real life dude soap opera and we just eat this up constantly. Here’s to Durant and Westbrook hating each other for as long they both shall play. The NBA is too nice and we need some inherent anger so that we as fans can relate to these giant dudes that can pull a ball through a hoop better than all of us combined. Embrace the hate, especially if it involves cupcakes.

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