The 30 greatest NBA team rivalries in league history

15. Best NBA rivalries of all-time: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs

Every time the San Antonio Spurs matched up against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was a dogfight between two of the best in the west. The Spurs had won championships and they were trying to extend the dynasty, while Oklahoma City was attempting to kick off one of its own.

Having originally met in the 2012 Western Conference Finals, San Antonio would go up 2-0, putting the upstart Thunder in their place with much more to learn. The Thunder disproved the idea that its time was in the future, rattling off four straight victories to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since the franchise’s move to Oklahoma City.

San Antonio found itself in a similar situation once again in 2014, having given up a 2-0 series lead to the Thunder in the conference finals once again. This time, they’d finish the job in bouncing back with two consecutive victories and would go on to win the 2014 NBA Championship.

Then came perhaps the strangest matchup between the two in the second round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs. San Antonio had won 67 games that year, while the Thunder had somewhat underachieved with 55.

Following a 32-point drubbing in Game 1, many doubted whether Oklahoma City had the necessary tools to beat such a disciplined Spurs team. The Thunder wound up taking the series in six games, prompting Tim Duncan’s retirement.

What made this rivalry so intriguing was the constant imbalance of power at each end. At times, the Thunder’s star power and athleticism would overwhelm the Spurs, while San Antonio’s precision and unselfishness would carve up Oklahoma City’s defense. No matter who held the baton at any given time, watching them was always a must for even the most casual NBA fans.