The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most successful basketball teams in the NBA for decades. As with any successful team, they have had their fair share of rivals over the years, but who is their biggest rival?
The answer is a bit complex. While the Lakers have had many rivals throughout their history, the two teams that they have had the longest rivalry with and the most competitive games against are the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.
The rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics dates back to the 1960s when the two teams met in the NBA finals eight times, with the Celtics winning seven of those series. While the rivalry has cooled in recent years, the two teams still have an intense rivalry that is present in every game they meet.
The Lakers have also had an intense rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs that began in the 1980s. The Spurs and Lakers have met in the Western Conference playoffs six times, with the Lakers winning four of those series. The rivalry between the two teams has been called one of the best in basketball and has been a major part of the NBA for the last three decades.
The Lakers may have other rivals such as the Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, and the Houston Rockets but their longest and most intense rivalries remain the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, making them the LA Lakers’ biggest rivals.
Exploring The Los Angeles Lakers’ Most Notable Rivals
The Los Angeles Lakers is one of the most successful and storied franchises in NBA history, with 16 NBA Championships and many rivalries dating back decades. One of the most notable Lakers rivals is the Boston Celtics. This rivalry dates back to the 1960s, when the two teams squared off in the NBA Finals eight times. The Celtics held a 5-3 edge in those series, but the rivalry remains strong to this day.
The Los Angeles Clippers are also a major rival for the Lakers. The Clippers have been in L.A. since 1984, but it had been a long time since they were competitive. That changed in 2011 when they acquired All-Star point guard Chris Paul, and the rivalry has been heating up ever since. The Clippers have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, further adding fuel to the fire.
The Phoenix Suns are another long-time rival of the Lakers. The two teams have gone head-to-head in the playoffs four times, most recently in the 2010 Western Conference Finals. The Lakers have the edge in the regular season meetings between the two teams, but the Suns have been a thorn in the Lakers’ side in the playoffs.
The San Antonio Spurs are another major rival of the Lakers. The Spurs and Lakers have met in the playoffs 10 times, and the Spurs lead the overall series 6-4. The Spurs have been the more successful team in recent years, but the rivalry remains strong due to the teams’ past history.
Finally, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as a major rival of the Lakers in recent years. The Warriors have been dominant since 2012, and the rivalry has definitely heated up since then. The Warriors have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, and they have eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs three times in the past five years.
The Los Angeles Lakers have many rivals, but the ones mentioned above are some of the most notable. All of these teams have had success against the Lakers in the past, and they all remain heated rivals of the Lakers to this day.
Breaking Down The Lakers’ Top-Searched Rivals In The NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the NBA’s top teams, and they have some formidable rivals. Throughout the years, different teams have challenged the Lakers, from their fierce rivals in the Western Conference to their longtime rivals in the Eastern Conference. In this article, we’ll take a look at the Lakers’ biggest rivals today.
The Los Angeles Clippers are undoubtedly the Lakers’ biggest rival. The rivalry began when the Clippers moved to Los Angeles in 1984, and after the Lakers and Clippers met in the playoffs in 2006, the rivalry intensified. The teams have been battling for supremacy in Los Angeles ever since. Fans often refer to the rivalry as “The Battle of Los Angeles”, and it has become one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA.
The Boston Celtics are another one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals. The two teams have met in the NBA Finals a total of eleven times, with the Celtics winning nine of those series. The rivalry was especially intense during the 1980s and early 2000s, when the two teams combined for eight NBA titles. The rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers is widely considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in sports history.
The San Antonio Spurs are another one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals. The Spurs have been a formidable opponent for the Lakers, and the two teams have met in the playoffs numerous times. The rivalry was especially intense in the early 2000s, when the Spurs and Lakers combined for five NBA titles. The rivalry has cooled off in recent years, but the Spurs remain one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals.
The Golden State Warriors are another one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals. The two teams have met in the playoffs numerous times, and the rivalry has been especially intense in recent years. The Warriors and Lakers have combined for five NBA titles over the past decade, and the rivalry has been fueled by the presence of superstars like Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. The rivalry between the Warriors and Lakers is one of the most heated rivalries in the NBA.
The Lakers also have a fierce rivalry with the Dallas Mavericks. The rivalry began in the early 2000s, and it was especially intense during the 2011 playoffs, when the Mavericks upset the Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. The rivalry has cooled off in recent years, but the Mavericks remain one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals.
The Lakers also have a long-standing rivalry with the Utah Jazz. The rivalry began in the 1980s, and it was especially intense during the playoffs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The rivalry has cooled off in recent years, but the Jazz remain one of the Lakers’ biggest rivals.
In conclusion, the Los Angeles Lakers have a number of formidable rivals. From their fierce rivals in the Western Conference to their longtime rivals in the Eastern Conference, the Lakers have plenty of opponents to keep them on their toes. Whether it’s the Clippers, Celtics, Spurs, Warriors, Mavericks, or Jazz, the Lakers always have a rival to contend with.
The LA Lakers’ biggest rival is the Boston Celtics.
The Lakers and Celtics rivalry started in the 1960s.
The Lakers vs Celtics rivalry is special because of the competitive spirit, strong fanbases, and long history between the two teams.
The Lakers and Celtics have faced off 12 times in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers and Celtics have both won 9 championships each in the NBA Finals.
Players like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, and Bill Russell have been some of the most prominent players in the Lakers vs Celtics rivalry.
The Lakers have won the most games against the Celtics, with 134 wins out of 242 games.
The most famous game in the Lakers vs Celtics rivalry is Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals, when Magic Johnson filled in for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and led the Lakers to a victory.
The most recent game between the Lakers and Celtics was on March 9th, 2020, where the Lakers defeated the Celtics, 129-115.
The Lakers scored the most points against the Celtics in a single game, when they won 151-147 in overtime on February 10th, 2006.