Kobe Bryant says he has no rivals

[Mavs4Life]

Spurs-Mavericks were probably the last good rivalries and nobody gave a shit about them.

Thank you.

I second that, and now as Duncan ages this rivalry is fading.... or I guess more transitioning.

[Andrew]

I'd say it's still there and will likely always be there. Needless to say though, rivalries are only particularly interesting when both teams are good and squaring off in games that are meaningful. In that regard, the storied Lakers/Celtics rivalry meant very little in the 1993/1994 season, aside from being a nod to past glory.

[SkyLine03LT]

"Rivalry" is more of a way to increase TV ratings these days and media seems to bring these up a lot. For example I don't think most kids would even know there was a rivalry between the Knicks and the Heat if it wasn't for those flash-back moments during their games and that creates an illusion that the rivalry is still there. Well sure the fans of their respective teams still hold some kind of a dislike to a rival from the past, but when you compare it now to when the rivalry was actually there in late 90's it's like comparing Lebron to Ariza. And that's only team rivalries, player rivalries are especially rare, and I agree that the only real player rivalries were between Russel - Wilt and Magic - Bird. Like someone pointed out before, real rivalries form when same teams meet multiple times in meaningful games and playoff series when they are both at a similar level. It would take a 1 in a 100 chance I think to form a new rivalry nowadays because of the number of teams in the league and the level they all play at, not to mention new player rivalries forming. Forming player rivalries mean all the specimens for team rivalries plus two players from different teams playing at a similar if not same level on top of playing in somewhat similar positions.

Bulls and Heat are probably the only teams that could potentially form a new rivalry now, though that took a big hit when Rose went down.

[Andrew]

Like someone pointed out before, real rivalries form when same teams meet multiple times in meaningful games and playoff series when they are both at a similar level.

That'd be me, in the post before yours.

I think it's worth mentioning previous clashes between the Heat and Knicks. It doesn't automatically make the current series a classic of course, but it's worth noting the history.

[shadowgrin]

If a brawl breaks out between the Heat and Knicks then the media will bring up that rivalry again.