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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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 21: Robin Lopez No. 8 of the Chicago Bulls fights with Serge Ibaka No. 9 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on March 21, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 21: Robin Lopez No. 8 of the Chicago Bulls fights with Serge Ibaka No. 9 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on March 21, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

23. Serge Ibaka vs. Robin Lopez

Who doesn’t love seeing two big dudes fight? In this battle, we have a Spanish shot blocker and a twin that lives to fight mascots. What could possibly go wrong? Well, it did go wrong one time last year, but it was amazing. Therefore, we need the Serge Ibaka vs. Robin Lopez rivalry to come back.

Ibaka and Lopez got tangled up crashing the boards last year and they started to punch each other. Not to say that Lopez’s Bulls are making the playoffs, but they have a puncher’s chance because they are ruling the Eastern Conference cellar with an Iron First.

Toronto will always be the best team in Canada, unless we expand again. Therefore, the Raptors always come into games a bit to cocky for a team that has a dinosaur as a mascot. First off, Lopez hates mascots, so that’s a huge component to this rivalry. I mean, The Raptor will always be less than Barney. Barney can talk, so there can be diplomacy with Lopez there.

As for Ibaka, no, there is no pen mightier than the sword that can settle this beef with Ibaka. The truth is that we may never see Ibaka and Lopez swing at each other like that again. The Bulls stink and the Raptors do not. However, Lopez gets traded like every other day. Here’s to him going to an Eastern Conference contender so we get to see Ibaka versus Lopez part deux this spring.

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