The 30 greatest NBA team rivalries in league history

3. Best NBA rivalries of all-time: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Not only has the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers been around since the 1950s, but it’s a flame that has continued to be re-ignited at various points in time since with intense postseason battles.

It was a rivalry between two teams centered around two of the games greatest players. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain defined an era with their dominance around the paint. As Chamberlain found his way to Philadelphia, the two squared off in four consecutive playoff battles, a spectacle even back then.

Chamberlain would continue his ownership of the stat sheet in ways only he could accomplish but ultimately come away victorious only once on his way to one of his two championships. Like most teams back then, Boston was simply too much to handle even with one of the most dominant low-post presence on your side.

It wasn’t until the 1980s where destiny locked these two up together again, this time headlined by Larry Bird and Julius Erving. Both were two of the best at the small forward position but operated in vastly different ways. Bird was best as a shot-maker from every inch of the court, while “Dr. J’s” high-flying abilities made him a tough cover in transition.

From 1977 to 1982, they would see each other four times — although Bird didn’t arrive until 1979, missing out on one meeting. Those battles included three conference finals and three series that stretched to a seventh game. Philadelphia took three of four from a Celtics team on the cusp of greatness, but to insinuate a distinct advantage would be false.

The rivalry was sparked in a seven-game series in 2012, as well as another in 2018. It never gained traction, but for two teams that always seem to find each other, history has shown that the bad blood is sure to rekindle eventually.