Passing the Torch: Predicting the Best Player Rivalries in 5 Years
Blood alone moves the wheels of history. Since the origin of time, the rivalry, the competition, the conflict, and the strife between individual, state, and nation have driven us forward.
If we’re talking about rivalry duration, few beat England and France, who fought on and off for 700 years including the Hundred Years War, the Revolutionary War, and several Anglo-French wars. It’d be inappropriate to ignore Eurasian powerhouses—Russia and the Ottomans—who battled from the early 1500s all the way to the beginning of World War I.
We could keep it simple. The Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War are all wars you’ve heard of no matter your level of education and were all sparked by disagreement and feud between the sides.
As for individuals, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr fought over irrevocable political differences which led to Burr being wanted for murder. Thomas Jefferson preferred state rights as opposed to federalism which John Adams employed. Their disagreements have affected history from the 1800s until now.
If we take a step back, we can see that the media surrounding present day politics today are all focused towards building rivalries. Presidential debates garner endless attention, and yet, most of the debate is just candidates taking shots at each other.
The art of the rivalry is perhaps the most underrated contributor towards the development of our society as well as the content in our history books and classrooms. Sports, though they can be appreciated on a less important scale, are much like life—they only advance the history by means of self-motivated competition. Whether it’s a two teams, two players, or two moments, rivalries are the best markers of sports history.
For today, I have worked to project what I believe to be the 35 best rivalries in the NBA five years from now. Here’s the list.
35. De’Aaron Fox vs Ja Morant
Fox and Morant have similar play-styles and both can get chippy when the right occasion arises. As of now, there is little rivalry between the two because they haven’t played many meaningful games against each other, but it’s only a matter of time before these two stars clash in a playoff series and spark a rivalry.
34. Draymond Green vs Dillon Brooks
Old habits die hard, and assuming Draymond Green will still be in the NBA in five years, there will always be bad blood between him and Brooks. They’ve already had multiple altercations with each other, and as long as both our on the floor at the same, there will always be potential for more.
33. Nikola Jokic vs Anthony Davis
Like Green vs Brooks, Jokic vs Davis is already an established rivalry (even if it has been fairly one-sided to this point). I expect Jokic to still be elite in five years and Davis to be a serviceable big for whoever employs him. Since they were both so good at their peaks, their matchups will always attract lots of media attention.
32. Karl-Anthony Towns vs Jaren Jackson Jr.
What I believe will be a marquee matchup for a long time because of Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards, a feisty battle between KAT and JJJ will be sparked. One is an offensive beast and the other is a mammoth in the paint, defensively. They’ll certainly have their duels in the future.
31. Kawhi Leonard vs Paul George
It’s very unlikely that these two stars will be playing together in five years. Even if they are only 10-15 PPG scorers at that time, think about their paths. Both are from Los Angeles, both went to college in California, both were drafted by Indiana, and both are in their fifth year on a quest to bring the Clippers a championship. There’s no bad blood between Leonard and George, but this would be quite a storyline.
30. Herbert Jones vs Jalen Williams
This rivalry hinges on my prediction that in five years, JDub will be an All-NBA player and Jones will be an All-Star, but these are two feisty players who are terrific on defense. Jones would guard Williams his fair share in a playoff series and is a fantastic agitator with the ability to get into his opponents' heads.
29. Cade Cunningham vs Jalen Green
If you ask Jalen Green right now, he’ll say that Cunningham is his biggest rival since Cunningham was the only player taken before him in the 2022 NBA draft, but with both players never making the playoffs in separate conferences, there isn’t much there. However, Green won’t lose that chip on his shoulder and if the Pistons and Rockets are playoff teams in five years, these two could get spicy.
28. Ron Holland vs Rob Dillingham
Holland and Dillingham are two of the league’s most explosive prospects who both have the ability to put on a show for their fans on any given night. The media will capitalize on their box office-ness if you will, and these two will play in a lot of nationally televised games.
27. Scoot Henderson vs Keyonte George
Expectations are high for Henderson and I am confident he’ll meet them to some degree. As for George, he’s been just as good if not better than Henderson despite being a mid-round pick. Both are fiery players and play in the same division out West. This matchup of young pass-first point guards could be fun for years to come.
26. Stephen Curry vs Kevin Durant
I have this all the way down at 26 because it’s unlikely that both players are still playing in 2029, particularly Durant. But this is a battle of former teammates, champions, elite shooters and scorers in history, and might be the oldest players in the league if they still play in five years, so there’d be no ignoring a Curry vs Durant battle.
25. Jalen Brunson vs Cade Cunningham
There’s not much rationale behind Brunson vs Cunningham except for the fact that they both have fantastic potential. Also, if New York and Detroit are in the playoff picture, the NBA might try to advertise their games through the lens of the old Knicks vs Pistons rivalry.
24. Cooper Flagg vs Ace Bailey
This will be your typical battle of top picks with untapped potential, but Flagg and Bailey already look so good coming into the league that they make the list. Flagg looks like a Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum hybrid and Bailey plays like a reincarnation of Tracy McGrady. These two guys will fill seats even if their teams aren’t great.
23. Joel Embiid vs Jalen Duren
I love this one because Jalen Duren is a heck of a player but not many know it yet. At 20, he’s averaging 13.7 PPG and 11.6 RPG (5th in the NBA), and as he continues to put on weight, he’ll surpass Kristaps Porzingis and Bam Adebayo and join Joel Embiid at the top of the Eastern Conference center hierarchy. If Philadelphia and Detroit are contenders in five years, Embiid vs Duren will fill the seats.
22. Joel Embiid vs Giannis Antetokounmpo
Frankly, I do not expect Antetokounmpo to be a member of the Bucks in five years, and will likely be somewhere out West where he doesn’t match up with Embiid as much. Despite that, they are still two of the most dominant players of their generation, both MVPs, and ran the Eastern Conference for years with a chance, still, to match up in the playoffs this season.
21. Cooper Flagg vs Victor Wembanyama
The only reason why this rivalry isn’t higher is because I don’t expect Flagg to be on a good team in five years. But this matchup will break viewership records straight out of the gate with Flagg being one of the best prospects in the last decade and Wembanyama seemingly having GOAT potential. In ten years, this might be the best rivalry in the NBA.
20. Jalen Brunson vs Donovan Mitchell
Brunson and Mitchell have already squared off in the playoffs once and might do it again this season. Both are All-NBA 2nd team caliber players at the moment at a similar stage in their careers. Most importantly, everyone thought Mitchell would be the star in the Garden and lead his hometown Knicks far in the playoffs, but he ended up in Cleveland. Brunson has taken the role that Mitchell probably thought he would feel, so he’ll always have a chip on his shoulder when these two square off.
19. Trae Young vs Ja Morant
There’s lots of speculation right now that Young could be San Antonio’s point guard next season alongside Victor Wembanyama. We know Morant likes to talk and brings the swagger on the court but we can’t forget that Young turned into a villain in the Hawks’ 2021 playoff run. I could see a rivalry being sparked between these two potential Southwest Division foes.
18. Tyrese Maxey vs Jalen Brunson
Since he’s alongside Joel Embiid Maxey’s name seems to get lost in the shuffle when people talk about Mitchell, Brunson, and Tyrese Haliburton as the top young guards in the East. Maxey is just as capable as any of these guys though, and Brunson, who is on this list a lot, plays in the biggest market out East, so will always be elevated into rivalry status by the media with young East guards.
17. Nikola Jokic vs Joel Embiid
It’s honestly hard to call this a rivalry right now because Embiid has only played against Denver three times since 2019. However, there’s no denying the pedigree of this matchup—3 combined MVP awards and two of the best big man of all time. There will always be a time when Jokic and Embiid were the two best players in the league, and a rivalry like that doesn’t just disappear in a season.
16. Jayson Tatum vs Jaylen Brown
Tatum and Brown have been together since 2018, but it’s rare that two players as good as them and who make as much. money as they can stay together as contenders for 11 years. Whoever it is that gets dealt to another team, Tatum vs Brown—who will be NBA champions soon—will bring out the popcorn, and unlike some rivalries, will be a gritty, hard-fought battle given their defense prowesses.
15. Nikola Jokic vs Giannis Antetokounmpo
Of the trio of Jokic, Embiid, and Giannis, this rivalry is the highest on the list for me since, once again, I believe Giannis will be ring-chasing out West. These two have combined for four of the last five MVP awards (soon to be five out of six), and always produce great TV when they go against each other. It’s likely that they’ll face off in the playoffs at some point in the next five years, cementing a great rivalry in NBA history.
14. Luka Doncic vs Anthony Edwards
Both Doncic and Edwards will be either at or nearing their peaks in 2029 and will be one of the best matchups in the Western Conference. Edwards was born to rival the best players in the league. He can talk, and he can back up with unicorn athleticism and an excellent all-around game. And as long as Doncic is at the helm in Dallas, the Mavericks will always be in the playoff picture. There will be some heavily intriguing games between these two.
13. Jalen Johnson vs Brandon Miller
You know Brandon Miller as the second pick in the draft last year but do you know about Jalen Johnson? he’s averaging 16, 9 and 4 on 51% shooting for the Hawks, is a good defender, and is the prototypical modern NBA build. Both Miller and Johnson are hard-nosed, play in the South division of the Eastern Conference, and have a similar style of play. This rivalry rides of the Hawks and Hornets being better than they are now, but if they are playoff teams, look out for these two.
12. Joel Embiid vs Jayson Tatum
The Embiid vs Tatum rivalry has always been very dependent on the 76ers vs Celtics rivalry, but given the amount of playoff battles they’ve had, it’d be unfair to say they are completely reliant on history. In seven seasons, Embiid and Tatum have squared off 21 times in the regular season and 16 times in the playoffs which is an unprecedented amount of basketball for two players in that time period. As long as there’s more to come, they’ll hover around the top ten.
11. Paolo Banchero vs Bam Adebayo
Banchero provides the fire and energy in a potential Florida rivalry between two guys who will be playing at a high level in five years. Both might be the best players on their teams and Orlando, I believe, has the chance to be a great team in two or three seasons. Banchero loves the paint but can also work in the mid-range and from behind the arc. Adebayo’s skillset mirrors that. These two blue bloods could have some fun battles over the years.
10. Zion Williamson vs Ja Morant
Like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green, these two players will forever be linked for being the first and second picks in the 2019 draft. Unlike them, Williamson and Morant are already well-established. Both are the best players on teams in the Southwest division and are going to be in the playoffs together for years to come. Both carry a chip on their shoulder (when Williamson feels like it) and are freakishly athletic, adding to the media’s likelihood to instigate a rivalry.
9. Nikola Jokic vs Victor Wembanyama
One’s mind is a unicorn and the other’s body is a unicorn. We have never seen players like Jokic and Wembanyama before and they have the potential to be the two best players in the league. Wembanyama is already looking like one of the best rookies of all time and has averaged 20.7, 11.7, 4.0, 3.0, and 5.3 in three matchups with Denver. There’s no doubt that as Wemby’s career advances, these two will put on some of the greatest statistical shows we’ve ever seen.
8. Luka Doncic vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
It’s hard to differentiate Luka vs Shai and Luka vs Ant other than the fact that SGA is already an MVP candidate which is why he gets the nod at the 8th spot. These are the two best guards in the league right now and might already be on a collision course to meet in the playoffs this season. I’d be the first to tell you to not miss a minute of a Thunder vs Mavs series—these guys are capable of averaging 40 against each other for a series.
7. Nikola Jokic vs Alperen Sengun
2029 is right around when I have Sengun hitting his peak in his 2x MVP career. Jokic might be past his prime but his skillset is built to last him a while in the NBA and he will only be 34, so I expect him to be an All-Star. Sengun and Jokic play extremely similarly and they will be a box-office matchup for years to come, particularly if Houston becomes a contender.
6. Luka Doncic vs Devin Booker
No rivalry on this list has already brewed mooe than Doncic vs Booker. These two don’t like each other. The Mavericks shocked the 64-win Suns in the playoffs two seasons ago, and they have butted heads ever since. They’ve had multiple altercations, and constantly talk on court, and their games are always featured on national TV or important holidays. With no signs of either slowing down, there’s no reason Luka vs Booker won’t be a top rivalry in five years.
5. Victor Wembanyama vs Chet Holmgren
Wemby and Chet have only played for a year, are 34 games apart in the standings, have only played three games against each other, and yet are probably considered a top-20 rivalry in the NBA right thanks to the media. Like Jokic vs Wembanyama, they are both one-of-a-kind players and provide some of the most entertaining one-on-one basketball that you can find in the league today. What prevents them from cracking the top four for me is the fact that I don’t expect Chet to be the first option or maybe even the second option on his team with SGA and Jalen Williams in the picture.
4. Anthony Edwards vs Ja Morant
Somebody have a fire extinguisher handy for this rivalry because it’s going to bring all the smoke. The Grizzlies vs Timberwolves are two young, fierce future contenders who faced off in the 2021 postseason—a coming-out party for both guys. Edwards vs Morant is filled with ferocious posters, nasty handles, clutch buckets, trash-talking, and two chippy teams. It’s must-see TV and there are few individual rivalries I’d rather watch.
3. Tyrese Haliburton vs Jalen Brunson
Haliburton makes his first appearance on this list as a result of being a highly likable player in a small market. But Brunson brings out the best in Hali, and the two have been intertwined all season as they fight for playoff positioning and a spot on the All-NBA teams. It helps that Wally Szczerbiak of the Knicks network took shots at Haliburton last season, giving the Pacers’ star a chip on his shoulder every time he plays New York. These are the two best point guards in the Eastern Conference already and they have a bright future ahead of them as rivals.
2. Victor Wembanyama vs Alperen Sengun
Wembanyama seems to be the favorite to be the face of the league in five years. For over a year, I have had Alperen Sengun slotted as my 2028 league MVP. This means, by my projection, Wembanyama vs Sengun will be an all-Texas battle of two of the very best players in the NBA. Both have entertaining playing styles as well as strong supporting casts in the making. The Wembanyama vs Sengun rivalry will be the face of European basketball and has the chance to be the face of the NBA in five years.
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Anthony Edwards
Shai vs Ant. I can see it. The two young stars are staring each other down from either side of mid court heading into a conference finals game seven. Both are scoring over 30 PPG in a classic exciting T-Wolves vs Thunder series. It’s all or nothing and both players are ready to leave every last ounce of energy that they’ve got on the floor. Edwards called out officials for gifting SGA free throws this season so there is already a dash of bad blood between them. I believe that’s just the beginning. Some day, when these two guys are on the Mount Rushmore of the Western Conference stars (Edwards will be the face of American basketball), Shai vs Ant will be highly anticipated anywhere, anytime.
