The 30 greatest NBA team rivalries in league history

16. Best NBA rivalries of all-time: New York Knicks vs. Washington Wizards

These days, a rivalry may pit two teams against each other in a couple of playoff matchups. If they’re lucky, they will come within consecutive years of each other. More often than not, however, a distance is created that kicks the tires on whatever momentum may have already been established.

From 1969 to 1974, the New York Knicks and the Baltimore Bullets — now known as the  Washington Wizards — were as intertwined as two NBA teams could be. They each had their own small/big dynamic duo — New York with Walt Frazier and Willis Reed. Washington with Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld — that made for some great basketball.

These two didn’t just meet sporadically during this time frame. They met in six consecutive postseasons, an unheralded streak even during a time where the number of NBA teams was under 20. New York would take claim to five of the six victories, the exception being Washington’s run to the 1970-71 NBA Finals where they would ultimately come up short.

To stir the pot a bit more, the Bullets traded who was then a two-time NB All-Star in Monroe to the Knicks for the little-known Mike Riordan and Dave Stallworth. It was a move that netted the Knicks a star-studded backcourt alongside “Clyde” Frazier, one the team in the Nation’s Capital would have to watch impose their will in another three straight playoff battles, all losses.

As far as a competitive balance goes, this isn’t the shining example. Even so, to face off against the same opponent that many times makes the game more mental than anything. It’s a battle of wills after so much familiarity, limiting what one can physically on that court to out-best their opponent, a challenge the Knicks emerged victoriously from more often than not.