Giannis Antetokounmpo: Top 3 individual rivals in the league today
By Dalton Sell
LeBron James
The rivalry between Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James is an intriguing one as the reason for its existence is circumstance. The pair have not yet met in the postseason, and James owns a clear lead in regular season head to head matchups at 15-5 overall in 20 games.
What makes the relationship between these two a rivalry is their position in the NBA today. James has arguably been regarded as the NBA’s best player for a decade now, and Antetokounmpo has positioned himself to take the throne next. The race for MVP this season is a perfect example, as it concluded as a two-person race between these players as it had been for most of the year because of their all-around success.
Milwaukee and Los Angeles split the season series at one game each, and both matchups had an amplified atmosphere because the top two MVP candidates faced off. Seeing two of the best players in the league go at it was spectacular, and many suspected this was going to be this year’s NBA Finals matchup.
Although there may not be any personal feud between the two players, their rivalry as the top two teams and possibly even players in basketball had just started to see the light. Led by two MVPs in Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, this rivalry has elevated to new heights this season because both players know what is at stake each time they face off.
The current and possible future face of the NBA provided two of the most exhilarating games of the season and left everyone wanting more. There potentially may not be any more basketball for the rest of this season, but next time they meet is going to be must-see.