@johncraig4820, you are not wrong, but here's what was told to me by Commissioner David Stern when I was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. Out of his own mouth he told us during shoot around for the Supersonics game at Key Arena he said without Bird vs. Magic the NBA would've debunked by 84 season. He told a group of us this in 2004
Duncan Shaq is such an underrated matchup. We talk Jordan-Isiah, Bron-Steph but these guys rarely got matched up against each other. That wasn’t the case for Shaq and Duncan, even though early in his career, David Robinson was trying to handle Shaq when he was there, but they did play against each other head to head a lot and between 1999 and 2005, it was Shaq or Duncan who ran the West. And if you don’t care about the individual matchups in the game, than say Kobe and Duncan. Between 1999 and 2010, a 12 year stretch, only once has the West not been represented by either Duncan or Kobe. They’ve battled each other multiple times as the 2000s were a battle between the Lakers and Spurs. There’s also a title race between these 2 and between 1999 and 2010, they’ve won a championship in 9 of those 12 years. This was a Bird-Magic level rivalry when you look at 2 guys trying to own an era over the other.
Duncan doesn't get enough love IMO. And really cuz he was straight basketball. Called The Big Fundamental because he just played the game. Was never flashy because he didn't need to be. 15x allstar, 15x all-nba, 15x all-defense
Reaper BS. So nobody besides Bron glazers respects the BUBBLE ring!!! So he's got 3 rings. Does anyone respect bron getting two rings because of Irving and Ray Allen shots?
I 100% agreed with Stephen A's lists. That's the best Top 5 lists Greatest NBA matchup of all time. And the No 1 will top anybody in the history and future of NBA rivalries ever. no cap
Stephen A is all over the place when it's Russell vs Wilt. For one, they both played in the same conference, so that 11-2 ring argument is out. Two, it was the very first big NBA rivalry
Russell played with with 12 or 13 HOFERS NOT 11 and he played with them almost all at the same time meanwhile Wilt played with 8 or 9 I believe and not at the same time
But the fact they met consistently for four years straight. Might not have been as intense, cuz let's face it, it's just a different world now, but there was something cool about seeing 'em run up against each other in back-to-back-to-back-to back series.
Love this top five. If they were to add a bonus, I go Ewing vs Olajuwon - met in the 84 NCAA Championship and ten years later, Hakeem evened the score. Two dominant big men of the 80s and 90s who came in one year apart. Know it’s not player vs player, but Reggie Miller vs Spike Lee made for great entertainment.
I like Shannon on the show, he’s knowledgeable and also a great athlete. However he has to be more mindful about his love for lebron because it outweighs his judgement when giving predictions
Forgotten matchup: Jordan vs Dominique.. They'd regularly get 30/40+ any given night against each other. I remember when Dominique got 57 on them and Jordan got 61...it got real, REAL fast with those two on the court.
Kobe v Boston Big 3 those games were always so competitive and fun to watch and no one on either team was sitting that game out regular season or finals
Wilt owned Russell statistically in their match matchups, but Russell had a stacked all around team......Legless was an absolute beast in high school in both sports.
What could have been. T-Mac with a healthy Grant Hill and Duncan…. Oh what could have been…. And give 2005-6 Kobe anybody to play with and the show….. But no we got Detroit and the spurs…. Snoozeball basketball
What about "Kobe vs Tim Duncan"?! I know a lot of people think in "Shaq vs Duncan", but Kobe played more times against Duncan in the playoffs. They played against each other 7 times in the playoffs and both of them were 5 time champions in their carriers.
Best NBA match ups - MJ23 vs NBA years 89 to 98, A.i 3 - VS NBA 96 to 2001, V.Carter vs NBA Slam dunk contest, Kobe Bryant vs MJ 23 98, Chicago Bulls 95 vs Golden State Warriors 2015
1.) Magic Johnson Vs. Larry Bird 2.) Wilt Chamberlain Vs. Bill Russell 3.) Lebron James Vs. Stephen Curry 4.) Michael Jordan Vs. Isiah Thomas 5.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Vs. Wilt Chamberlain
It's just lucky for the world they taught Jordan to care about defense otherwise he would been Spida. Gtfo comparing a 6-8 250 point guard who has dominated multiple aspects of the game for 21 CONSECUTIVE seasons unfavorably to Jordan
But LeBron and Steph, Bird and Magic, they didn't guard each other either. Bird and Doc and Wilt and Russell did that's it on the list that actually guarded each other.
@@HiNRGboy I agree the list is stupid. Mainstream media loves to push narratives. I would've done the list based on the teams instead of the individual players. Especially if the players don't guard each other. You do have a good point.
Isiah Thomas says he beat everyone on that list which is factual but he is also the only one up there without a regular season MVP when most of those guys have multiple. It just shows who is who
When you are sober you will realise Lebron played with less and played against tougher opponents. Who did Michael face who is comparable to Steph Curry OR Kevin Durant and Lebron had to play against both of them.
Bird vs Magic ...... brought The NBA to another level .....
I think bird and magic is too low
Is there an NBA without Wilt and Bill? The league was on the verge of bankruptcy.
@johncraig4820, you are not wrong, but here's what was told to me by Commissioner David Stern when I was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. Out of his own mouth he told us during shoot around for the Supersonics game at Key Arena he said without Bird vs. Magic the NBA would've debunked by 84 season. He told a group of us this in 2004
@@Holafromthevilledon’t worry we don’t care lmao
People talk about Impact. These two had it in abundance
Magic and Bird were rivals since college. That's a rivalry.
Magic and Bird were rivals in college for one game, their last.
Ok 😂@@UnconventionalReasoning
@@UnconventionalReasoningplayed in the same state tho
My bad not the same state 😂
@@youngunna1689they def was rivals since college lol
Man Legs is a SAVANT when it comes to talking hoops he blows my mind every time
Helps when u play AND study the game
Ben Simmons vs shooting the ball left the chat💀
Savage
😂😂made my day
😂😂😂
😂😂😂
You wild for that 😂
Duncan Shaq is such an underrated matchup. We talk Jordan-Isiah, Bron-Steph but these guys rarely got matched up against each other. That wasn’t the case for Shaq and Duncan, even though early in his career, David Robinson was trying to handle Shaq when he was there, but they did play against each other head to head a lot and between 1999 and 2005, it was Shaq or Duncan who ran the West.
And if you don’t care about the individual matchups in the game, than say Kobe and Duncan. Between 1999 and 2010, a 12 year stretch, only once has the West not been represented by either Duncan or Kobe. They’ve battled each other multiple times as the 2000s were a battle between the Lakers and Spurs. There’s also a title race between these 2 and between 1999 and 2010, they’ve won a championship in 9 of those 12 years. This was a Bird-Magic level rivalry when you look at 2 guys trying to own an era over the other.
Duncan doesn't get enough love IMO. And really cuz he was straight basketball. Called The Big Fundamental because he just played the game. Was never flashy because he didn't need to be. 15x allstar, 15x all-nba, 15x all-defense
@@NP148honestly one of the most disrespected basketball players in history
Bryant vs Duncan in 6 WCF matchups - 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008
thats shaq vs duncan
🙄 Did he say Kobe? 😂😂
Kobe played against Paul Pierce: he won 1, Pierce won 1
Uh I think you got the wrong laker
Kobe used to destroy the Spurs.
It’s shaq vs Duncan
Honorable mention to Kobe Bryant/Paul Pierce, they had some epic Finals matchups
Tim and Stephen A dapping each other up didn’t need to be that crisp 😂🔥
MJ vs Isiah, just never felt like a thing.. It was always the Pistons vs Mj
You better go watch the film.
Isiah Thomas was getting in his mix.
The bron 3-1 comeback was the greatest finals I ever seen im also only 25 but geesh I remember being so hype every other night to watch those games
I'll take 3-1 any day over 1-3. Adam silver crook
@@Noahwarriorsfan Except when no one outside of GS respects 3 of those titles lmao
@@Reaper13-hi3yoGS and LeBron haters
Reaper BS. So nobody besides Bron glazers respects the BUBBLE ring!!! So he's got 3 rings. Does anyone respect bron getting two rings because of Irving and Ray Allen shots?
Dude said no one respects our 3 finals wins hahaha. Cope bronsexuals 😂😂
Bird Magic was the only ones evenly matched for real
Not true there's another one on that list
Steph & Bron
@@nickjones5495evenly matched?
Russell Wilt were. Many say Wilt was stronger, Bill just had way better teams.
@@udithsethu552Yes, evenly matched. Don't even bother with excuses
Somehow Shannon found a way to glaze bron 💀
Like Always
😂
😂
Dude said LeBron vs KD 💀
@@tadeokrzos2550they were a pretty cool matchup, they even trained together in 2012 and got really better both of them after that
Stephen A on 1 !! He’s got the spirit of Mad Dog
I'd drug test him after that jumping.
'on 1' originates from the Bay Area, originally shorthand for 'on 1 dose of ecstasy'
Kobe Bryant vs Tim Duncan is underrated… they dominated the decade 2000-2010 with 8 championships
Shaq vs Duncan you mean
@@joykenn9772nah kobe, Shaq was done after 06😂🤣💛💜🐍😎
That's not a decade but otherwise yeah, and Shaq was on the way down by 06 (age 34 season) but not 'done' check the stats in Phoenix
Kobe was done as in done making deep playoff runs after 04 if it wasn't for 2! All star bigs tho
It was never LeBron vs Steph, it was Lebron vs the Warriors.
Exactly.
More like Lebron vs the West
it was always steph vs bron stop
So Kriye and love don’t exist ??😭😭and bron fans are suprised why no one takes yall seriously
You kids say the dumbest things 😂😂😂
Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee
🤣💯
😂
Reggie Miller vs. finishing an entree 😂
there will never ever be a rivalry like a Bird and Magic rivalry
This is so far the most obvious list of on the court rivals. Somewhere in that category their must be a matchup that is overlooked
They so happy this good to see
Isiah so underrated he beat everyone when it matters the most
He's underrated cause of the front office stuff in NY and other behaviors his fans kind of quieted down over the years actually
Me being from Detroit & seeing Pistons take down Jordan & the Bulls was the greatest match ever. Bad boys for life. ☠🏀
I didn’t even watch basketball and I know Bird vs Magic was the greatest nba rivalry of all time
Love the chemistry that Stephen A., Legler, and Shannon have in this! Legs is a great addition.
I 100% agreed with Stephen A's lists. That's the best Top 5 lists Greatest NBA matchup of all time. And the No 1 will top anybody in the history and future of NBA rivalries ever. no cap
KD and bron both won they're first rings on each other and play the same position and always ball out when it come between them
They're you go
Definitely Bird vs Magic, not only once but multiple times, seven games series. Also Michigan State vs Indiana State !!!!!!
KD and Bron didn’t see each other for years when they swapped conferences but I would’ve liked maybe Duncan and Kobe maybe ?🤔
Shannon just wanted to have bron's name twice on the board lmao. Surprised he didn't say Bron vs pierce lmao.
Stephen A is all over the place when it's Russell vs Wilt. For one, they both played in the same conference, so that 11-2 ring argument is out. Two, it was the very first big NBA rivalry
Lebron & Curry even now still get more views than any regular game, than any playoff series including the top teams lol
One of the first Stephen A lists I agree with. And the way they dismissed Uncle Shay... Even Legler said: you cant do that 😂
This was probably the best list I've ever seen from SAS, i think he got it on the spot 🔥✌🏾
5. Kobe vs Shaq
4. Jordan vs Isiah
3. Warriors vs Cavs
2. Russell vs Wilt
1. Bird vs Magic
I have NO PROBLEM with this list! Great Job! 👏👏👏👏👏
CP3 vs Scott Foster
I read that as 'Scott Pilgrim' even though I've never watched that movie 😅
Duncan vs Shaq deserves a shout.
Stephen A. The Infotainer, I like this man!
Idk why but I love when Stephen A. hops up and down lol
Russell played with with 12 or 13 HOFERS NOT 11 and he played with them almost all at the same time meanwhile Wilt played with 8 or 9 I believe and not at the same time
They were holl of famers because of Russel
Great list by SAS. Initially, I would have had 2 and 3 the other way around, but his rationale brought me around to his way of thinking.
Steven A list is AAA 💯 Keep Rolling My Brother from a Another Mother.
Bron and Steph is definitely a friendly rivalry 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️
Wasn’t until After the finals runs were over
But the fact they met consistently for four years straight. Might not have been as intense, cuz let's face it, it's just a different world now, but there was something cool about seeing 'em run up against each other in back-to-back-to-back-to back series.
So was Wilt and Bill. They were great friends when they played each other.
More like a big name rivalry
Now it is but that was a real rivalry before KD went to golden state.
glad to see Bird vs Dr. J on that list
Honestly a pretty solid list. Can’t even argue with it
honestly his list is perfect
Love this top five.
If they were to add a bonus, I go Ewing vs Olajuwon - met in the 84 NCAA Championship and ten years later, Hakeem evened the score. Two dominant big men of the 80s and 90s who came in one year apart.
Know it’s not player vs player, but Reggie Miller vs Spike Lee made for great entertainment.
I like Shannon on the show, he’s knowledgeable and also a great athlete. However he has to be more mindful about his love for lebron because it outweighs his judgement when giving predictions
It’s infatuation, not love
Being NBA fans consist of making a "Top Anything" List ,saying "in His Prime", " OVER [insert Name here] , "Rings" & Living in the past .
I live in the future too like with the Cooper Flagg v. Brandon Miller rivalry
Forgotten matchup: Jordan vs Dominique.. They'd regularly get 30/40+ any given night against each other. I remember when Dominique got 57 on them and Jordan got 61...it got real, REAL fast with those two on the court.
Jordan vs Dominique underrated
Patrick vs Hakeem is my #1
Stephen A gets a couple As and gets emotional hahaha i love it, this guy is so jokesss 🤣
Surprised Shannon’s list didn’t have 5 Lebron vs whoever
Lebron v curry should be atleast 2nd that 2016 playoffs was peak nba
Kobe v Boston Big 3 those games were always so competitive and fun to watch and no one on either team was sitting that game out regular season or finals
That walk was killer🔥🔥💀
Stephen a Smith gets A+. Nice list
Wilt owned Russell statistically in their match matchups, but Russell had a stacked all around team......Legless was an absolute beast in high school in both sports.
Zion vs food is underrated
Heatles and the Big Three Celtics was intense
Sure but not over any of those
Kobe vs T-Mac just when I started watching back in the mid 2000’s was insanity
What could have been.
T-Mac with a healthy Grant Hill and Duncan…. Oh what could have been….
And give 2005-6 Kobe anybody to play with and the show…..
But no we got Detroit and the spurs…. Snoozeball basketball
What about "Kobe vs Tim Duncan"?!
I know a lot of people think in "Shaq vs Duncan", but Kobe played more times against Duncan in the playoffs. They played against each other 7 times in the playoffs and both of them were 5 time champions in their carriers.
1. Bron vs Warriors
2. Bron vs Celtics
3. Bron vs Spurs
4. Bron vs KD
5. Bron vs Denver
The value of the Jordan vs Isiah rivalry is that it’s still going on. All the other ones eventually respected each other
Lmaooooo when SAS jumps >>
Glad to hear some real praise to IT. Lately it seems people have forgotten who he beat.
Dang Stephen A Smith has never missed a 3 point shot in his entire career sad his knee went out Stephan A was going to be the next MJ #23 😞
Potential of S Urquelle >>> 😏
Best NBA match ups - MJ23 vs NBA years 89 to 98, A.i 3 - VS NBA 96 to 2001, V.Carter vs NBA Slam dunk contest, Kobe Bryant vs MJ 23 98, Chicago Bulls 95 vs Golden State Warriors 2015
He explained that perfectly
Lebron & Pierce and Wade & Dirk
1.) Magic Johnson Vs. Larry Bird
2.) Wilt Chamberlain Vs. Bill Russell
3.) Lebron James Vs. Stephen Curry
4.) Michael Jordan Vs. Isiah Thomas
5.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Vs. Wilt Chamberlain
Bird vs Magic was the best matchup!!! Highest rated college game ever still!!!! Michigan State vs Indiana State
Shannon talks about LeBron like he is his son, dad, wife and god. ReeeedickUliss.
That's how Jordan fans are about Jordan too
@@quentinjones6877lol no Lebron fans are worst
@Dre953 the moment LeBron gets the slightest of compliment from an old player, people go crazy
@@Dre953 idk bout that man lol
It's just lucky for the world they taught Jordan to care about defense otherwise he would been Spida. Gtfo comparing a 6-8 250 point guard who has dominated multiple aspects of the game for 21 CONSECUTIVE seasons unfavorably to Jordan
Jordan vs Isaiah wasn't really a matchup because they didn't guard each other. MJ was SG and Isaiah was a PG.
But LeBron and Steph, Bird and Magic, they didn't guard each other either. Bird and Doc and Wilt and Russell did that's it on the list that actually guarded each other.
@@HiNRGboy I agree the list is stupid. Mainstream media loves to push narratives. I would've done the list based on the teams instead of the individual players. Especially if the players don't guard each other. You do have a good point.
@@bobbyjackson7325 yep, but like you said the media loves this stuff and knows it'll get views lol
Man Tim Duncan vs Shaq or Tim Duncan vs Kobe deserves to be on this list respectfully
draymond vs nba officials
Draymond v The Land of Happily Ever After residents ☠️
KD and Lebron being on the list is crazy they have barely played each other for years lol
Jordan vs Isiah 🏀 is like CHICAGO vs CHICAGO 🌆 😆😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Isiah Thomas says he beat everyone on that list which is factual but he is also the only one up there without a regular season MVP when most of those guys have multiple. It just shows who is who
2015 Warriors win was the best! And yes KD helped with our others, but in 2022 we showed we could do it without him.
David Lee STL's finest white
Only Tatum better out the Lou
Rather have early 2010s Lee than ANY era of Beal
Jordan vs Knicks, shaq vs duncan, lebron vs celtics
Shannon lost me with KD and LeBron, lol. I was with him until he said that.
great list this is my 5 I have no problems with this list even if you flip 2 and 3 I'm ok
Shannon says they undermine Leborn when they can’t go a day without talking about him and Shannon a second away from getting hard on tv
What do you mean a second away you can't see above the shin on anyone sitting behind a desk or table on TV 🤷
Tim Legler: "A lot of people vs Isiah"
Stephen A: "And he beat them all"
Thanks guys, Isiah deserves this..
I will never forgive KD for robbing us of the greatest rivalry in our generation.
This was our Larry vs Magic
Your generation has no magic 😅
When you are sober you will realise Lebron played with less and played against tougher opponents. Who did Michael face who is comparable to Steph Curry OR Kevin Durant and Lebron had to play against both of them.
Very much this
Shannon is the biggest Lebron guy!!! He and Nick Wright have the pompoms for Bron!!!! They always put him into everything
That list is legit except for duncan vs lebron 💯
Bruh Isiah Thomas ducking the bulls not showing sportsmanship will forever be 1 of the most funniest things in NBA history 😭😭 3:30
Steph vs LeBron, Bird vs Magic, Patrick Ewing vs Reggie Miller
Me personally would put LeBron versus Paul George in there Heat vs Pacers was a sight to behold
Honorable Mention:
Kobe vs AI
Reggie vs Jordan
though both obviously have more wins than the other, but they were box office nonetheless
I ain’t goin lie I missed that “ yeah yeah yeah “
Allen Iverson VS Vince Carter go crazy
SAS has a good list. I give it an A.
Good list ... But Shaq v. Duncan has to merit some consideration. For 6 years the West went through those 2 bigs.
Bird vs magic
Lebron vs warriors
Wilt vs Russel
CP3 vs Scott
Lebron vs Pierce
that A- was cold
Shannon Sharpe is always in his feelings when it comes to anything about Lebron
Can't argue with Bird vs Magic as #1