Top 5 Rivals of the Los Angeles Lakers

(last updated on October 13, 2025)

With the success the Lakers have had, more or less, throughout their distinguished history, many teams want what you have. That often creates conflict. And sure enough, this franchise – in its seemingly annual quest for an NBA title – has run into its share of enemies. Some have lasted longer than others. 

This one was short and bitter. In the early 2000s, they battled within the Pacific Division, each finishing in the top two of the standings for four consecutive years. The battles continued sometimes in the playoffs. 

The apex of this cloudburst was the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles outlasted Sacramento in a series that went the distance and with Game 7 going to overtime with 16 ties and 19 lead changes. Robert Horry’s buzzer-beater in Game 4 at Staples Center prevented the Kings from taking a commanding 3-1 lead. The Kings managed to take Game 5 at home, but the Lakers responded by taking a Game 6 loaded with controversy specifically tied to referee judgment. Los Angeles shot 40 free throws and 27 in the fourth quarter. Shaquille O’Neal scored 41 points that night and 35 in the seventh game. 

Things were so heated that they even fought in the preseason – with Doug Christie and Rick Fox coming to blows in an exchange that spilled into the tunnel headed toward the locker rooms.

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From 1999 through 2010, if the Lakers didn’t represent the West in the Finals, the Spurs usually did. In fact, 11 out of 12 NBA Finals included either L.A. or San Antonio. Six times during that span, they went head-to-head in the playoffs.

In 1999, they met in the Western Conference Semifinals. San Antonio swept and went on to its first title. In 2001, they met in the Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles swept on its way to the championship.

In 2002, they met in the Conference Semis. LA won and LA went on to three-peat. The next year, the same teams in the same round. This time, it was San Antonio prevailing on its way to a second crown.

In 2004, the Lakers beat the Spurs and advanced to the Conference Finals before ultimately losing in the NBA Finals. That series featured the most memorable (and controversial) ending of all their duals. It happened in Game 5. San Antonio was on the verge of a three-games-to-two edge when Tim Duncan made an off-balance shot with 0.4 seconds. Down a point, the Lakers inbounded needing an immediate catch-and-shoot. Derek Fisher heaved an attempt at the basket as he received the pass. Falling away, he miraculously made an 18-foot to pull out the victory.

Unlike the Kings rivalry, or any rivalry actually, for all the times they squared off there was far more respect than dislike. The mutual admiration came from Kobe to Duncan and from San Antonio head coach Greg Popovich to Kobe. This was a friendly rivalry, but no less competitive.

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Before the Lakers rekindled their rivalry with Boston in the 1980s, the Sixers were the Eastern Conference team in their way. These two faced each other in the NBA Finals three times in four years from 1980 through ’83. 

These meetings had its share of iconic moments. In 1980, Julius Erving made a ridiculous layup that is still a part of the all-time highlight reel. Game 6 began with rookie Magic Johnson subbing for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson played all five positions, scored 42 points, and the Lakers won the championship. Johnson was named series MVP.

The 1982 Finals also went LA’s way in six games, but Philadelphia strengthened its core for ’83 with Moses Malone joining the frontcourt. The Lakers were no match for Philly’s runaway squad, and Los Angeles was swept.

Fast-forward 18 years and there they were battling for the title again. Shaq was the dominant force on the inside, and Kobe Bryant handled the mid-range shots and driving layups, while the Sixers were carried to the Finals by guard Allen Iverson. LA won its second straight title in five games, but Iverson provided a moment – making a key jumper in Game 1 and stepping over Ty Lue to ensure the Lakers would not go through the playoffs perfect.

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It made sense that when the blue-collar reputation of the Pistons met the “Showtime” style of the Lakers in the late 1980s, there was strong resistance from both sides.

The “Bad Boys” made life miserable for Eastern Conference opponents during that time, pushing and shoving rivals like the Celtics and Bulls. After making it to the 1988 Finals, they tried to make it work against LA. It nearly did. Detroit had a 3-games-to-2 edge and was leading in Game 6 behind the gutsy effort of Isiah Thomas. The Lakers still found a way to win that and then held on in Game 7 to claim back-to-back championships.

The Pistons avenged that bitter loss by sweeping Los Angeles the next year in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s farewell. It would be the first of two consecutive titles for Detroit.

A new group of Pistons was set on taking down the favored Lakers in 2004. To the surprise of many, Detroit’s grit took care of LA in just five games.

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How could we leave this one out? No other rivalry in professional sports spans as many decades, features as many championship-level moments, and stars as many legendary players. 

From Cousy, Russell, Baylor, and West in the 1960s to Bird and Magic in the 1980s and being revived again in the Kobe Bryant era.

The success of Boston’s dynasty – 11 titles in 13 years – was made largely at the Lakers’ expense. Between 1959 and 1969, the Celtics and Lakers faced off seven times. Seven times the Celtics came out on top.

Larry Bird’s and Magic Johnson’s respective entrances into the league in 1979 were central casting as far as the NBA story is concerned. Bird became a Celtic, Magic a Laker. Anticipation for the next Boston-LA title meeting began. It was realized in 1984. Yet again, the Celtics won.

But it would be the Lakers at last in ’85. Los Angeles took the title at Boston Garden, prevailing in six games behind Finals MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers would win a rematch two years later, with Magic Johnson’s “baby hook” in Game 4 being the defining moment.

It took 21 years for the rivalry to be revived. Kobe’s Lakers against the Boston “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. The Celtics won their first championship in 22 years, only for the Lakers to get revenge two years later in a decisive Game 7 at Staples Center.

This rivalry isn’t just about the head-to-head battles. It’s for supremacy in the NBA. Last season’s championship moved Boston back on top. The current title count: Celtics 18, Lakers 17. At least for now.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2024 at 6:46 pm and is filed under Top 10 Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.