The 10 greatest rivalries in NBA history

#1 Lakers-Celtics

Image Courtesy: uproxx.com

You had to know this one was number 1, there really isn't a competition for top spot. One of the most storied match-ups in sports, the Lakers and Celtics have been going at each other since the 50s.

The first match-up in the Finals between the teams came in 1959 when the Minneapolis Lakers were swept by the Celtics, a sign of things to come. After the move to Los Angeles, the Lakers lost 6 times to the Celtics in the 60s, often in heartbreaking fashion. Even the addition of Wilt Chamberlain was not enough for the Lakers to overcome the Celtics in the 1969 Finals, which was the last time the teams faced off in the Finals for another 15 years.

The next chapter of the rivalry began when Magic Johnson and Bird entered the mix and we got the long-awaited rematch in 1984. Another classic series ended with a Celtics win in 7 games but the Lakers finally got their revenge the following season. Another Lakers victory followed in 1987, after which the Celtics started declining.

While the Lakers continued to win titles, the Celtics were mired in mediocrity until they managed to assemble the Big 3 in 2007. They went on to beat the Lakers in the Finals but lost the next match-up in 2010, in 7 games.

In total, these two teams have met 12 times in the Finals and account for 33 of the 70 championships won in NBA history. With the young talent on both teams, there is some hope that the current versions might face off in the Finals at some point in the coming years.