Ranking the NBA’s best rivalries in 2024, including Nuggets-Timberwolves

On By Karl

January 30, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) share a laugh as they wait for the first quarter at TD Garden.

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Even if neither organization is a top-tier title contender, the Lakers and Celtics will always be one of the NBA’s best rivalries. After all, maybe it is the The NBA rivalry that started it all. From a historical perspective it should probably be #1. I can’t even begin to remember all the feuds between Bill Russell and Jerry West, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. The information here is deep, folks.

But in the context of 2024, here and now it has to come in at #4 for me. Of course, it can always reach the top (and probably will eventually).