Will we ever have a Bird vs Magic esque rivalry again?

[Le Shaqtus]

A legitimate rivalry, not some media concocted bullshit one.

Magic and Larry met even before they battled each other in the NCAA tournament, they both met during the WIT (World Invitational Tournament), a college all star like tournament against other countries. From there Larry lost the NCAA championship to him.

Then eventually they went their separate ways into the league, and their rivalry was it's own story. Flash vs Simple, Hollywood vs Blue Collar, Black vs White. And most importantly it was a rivalry, Larry didn't beat down Magic every time they played and vice versa. If any of you have read their book "When the Game was ours" or the documentary "A Courtship of Rivals" there's revenge stories, immense respect, dark back stories. All these things culminated into the perfect rivalry.

It changed the face of a dying league and saved basketball, you couldn't write it any better into a book, this happened in real life and it was probably one of the most electrifying stories in professional basketball ever, if not the most.

So begs the question, do you think we'll ever witness another rivalry akin to Bird and Magic's? It could really change the league if it does again.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

A legitimate rivalry, not some media concocted bullshit one.

Magic and Larry met even before they battled each other in the NCAA tournament, they both met during the WIT (World Invitational Tournament), a college all star like tournament against other countries. From there Larry lost the NCAA championship to him.

Then eventually they went their separate ways into the league, and their rivalry was it's own story. Flash vs Simple, Hollywood vs Blue Collar, Black vs White. And most importantly it was a rivalry, Larry didn't beat down Magic every time they played and vice versa. If any of you have read their book "When the Game was ours" or the documentary "A Courtship of Rivals" there's revenge stories, immense respect, dark back stories. All these things culminated into the perfect rivalry.

It changed the face of a dying league and saved basketball, you couldn't write it any better into a book, this happened in real life and it was probably one of the most electrifying stories in professional basketball ever, if not the most.

So begs the question, do you think we'll ever witness another rivalry akin to Bird and Magic's? It could really change the league if it does again.

Jabari vs. Parker?

[SpecialQue]

I hope so. The Durant/Lebron one is bullshit since they're both friends.

[Le Shaqtus]

Jabari vs. Parker?

This is the first one that came to mind, but it's going to be tough since both of their teams have been bottom feeders in their respective conferences (Milwaukee more so). If they can elevate their teams to success over a period of time it could become one.

I think it's something that will take a couple of years to mature, depending on how their teams grow with them. But Magic and Bird made immediate impact on their teams so anything could happen.

I hope so. The Durant/Lebron one is bullshit since they're both friends.

Yeah, it's not a rivalry if you're buddying up and training together, there's no fire.

Larry hated Magic's guts up until they did that converse commercial, they became friends but they never trained together.

[sammichoffate]

If both live up to their maximum potential, Parker and Wiggins. They also have to not buddy up like Lebron and KD.

[ZMonkey11]

If both live up to their maximum potential, Parker and Wiggins. They also have to not buddy up like Lebron and KD.

I don't think their can be rivalries like this anymore.
#1, you can't build up the college hype machine. Kids are leaving after one year. That takes the mystique out of building the young rivalry.

#2, they had the race dynamic going.

#3, their polar opposite personalities really made them shine once they became friends.

#4, the cities they went to also had cultures that were also polar opposite of each other.

#5, freaking social media has taken the mystery out of our players. We can follow every single footstep they take. The 80s was a lot of word of mouth. As the stories are passed, they get embellished, adding to these larger than life figures. Social media lets you see exactly what happens, what they are thinking, and you get 200 people adding their thoughts into it. Nothing is left to the imagination anymore.

The Magic/Bird rivalry will go down as the greatest player basketball rivalry in history and nothing will come close. The stars aligned just right for this one.

[imnew09]

Lebron fked it up by taking his talents to south beach. bad example

[stanlove1111]

I don't think their can be rivalries like this anymore.

The Magic/Bird rivalry will go down as the greatest player basketball rivalry in history and nothing will come close. The stars aligned just right for this one.

Not sure how you came to that conclusion..Its probably number 2 behind Wilt vs Russell.

[CasterL]

"When the game was ours" is such a good read. Good Shout. I'd be surprised if another rivalry like that came along, there were a lot of unique circumstances involved.

[Beastmode88]

League is too soft. Everyone is too buddy buddy. KD/Lebron rivalry is only hyped by the media but you see them working out / hanging together. Larry/Bird's rivalry is why basketball isn't a 2nd rated sported, MJ just elevated it another level with his dominance, too bad he had no rival.

[pauk]

Lebron fked it up by taking his talents to south beach. bad example

Im sorry but Bird & Magic were top 10 all-time greats IDENTICALLY good/dominant/impactful, they were handing it to eachother many years in the Finals (and before that, in college)..... now THAT is a rivalry....

So i mean Wade for Lebron was more like what Dantley was for Bird or Magic.... or what Drexler was for Jordan....

Lebron taking his talents to south beach is like if Jordan took his talents to Portland Trailblazers with Drexler & Brad Daugherty (Bosh) there, thats more equivalent..... a bad team and two players who never were his rivals, just some good dudes who would most often just be punching bags, before & after he played with them...

I doubt we will see something like a Bird & Magic rivalry anytime soon....

[ZMonkey11]

Not sure how you came to that conclusion..Its probably number 2 behind Wilt vs Russell.

You go to another country outside of the US and you ask about the Wilt v Russell rivalry, you are probably going to get blank stares.

You ask them about Magic/Bird, they will probably know something about it.

I came to this conclusion because of the reasons listed.

[kamil]

I hope so. The Durant/Lebron one is bullshit since they're both friends.

LeBron* is friends with everyone.

Dat collusion.

[nycelt84]

The Bird vs Magic rivalry was a once in a lifetime rivalry.

[Haymaker]

Melo/Bron was supposed to be a rivalry, as well as Bron/Durant. Both failed the expectations.