Each NBA Superstar's Biggest Rival This Season
Rivalries fuel the NBA.
Whether it's the Boston Celtics versus Los Angeles Lakers or LeBron James battling against Paul George, it's matchups like these that are forever ingrained in the memories of basketball fans.
With a new campaign now upon us, it's time to examine which individual rivalries will take center stage as the 2013-14 season beings to take shape.
Throughout the slideshow we'll be breaking down the one player each superstar has something to prove against when they go head-to-head this season.
Honorable Mention: Joakim Noah vs. Roy Hibbert
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Neither Joakim Noah nor Roy Hibbert is considered a classic superstar, but their upcoming battles in the post should be epic and are worthy of mention.
Noah and Hibbert embody the toughness of their respective teams and play integral roles both offensively and defensively for the Central Division rivals.
And with tensions in the Central already flaring, expect some epic duels between these two as they clash throughout the season.
With Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol the consensus duo atop the NBA's center rankings, it will be up to Hibbert and Noah to duke it out for control of the No. 3 spot.
Dwyane Wade vs. James Harden
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Ever since Kevin Durant said he would replace Dwyane Wade with James Harden in Sports Illustrated's top 100 rankings, banter regarding the league's best shooting guard has not been hard to come by.
Wade even responded to Durant with a motivational message on Instagram, vowing to "make him respect your place in history...again."
The good news is that we'll get to see Wade and Harden square off twice in less than two weeks during the month of March. Houston and Miami will do battle on March 4 and March 16, the latter of which will be nationally televised.
It bears mentioning that Harden and Wade are at completely different points in their respective careers, with the former just now entering his prime while the latter is fading out of his thanks to balky knees and the intense wear and tear of three straight deep postseason runs.
The Beard is undoubtedly a more compelling talent at this point in time, but Wade proved throughout last season (21.2 points per game, 52.1 percent shooting from the field, PER of 24) that this is still a conversation worth having.
LeBron James vs. Paul George
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We know there's a mutual respect between LeBron James and Paul George dating back to last season's Eastern Conference Finals, which makes this budding rivalry even more intriguing.
Although James stated over the summer that his biggest individual rival is Paul Pierce, the talent gap between the reigning MVP and former Boston Celtic is greater than the gap between LeBron and George.
With the Indiana Pacers seeking to knock the Miami Heat off of their Eastern Conference throne, this will be a crucial year in George's development, during which we'll see if he can take another large step toward catching up to his postseason rival.
Already established as one of the game's premier wing defenders, George made a leap forward offensively during his third season, averaging 17.4 points while shooting 36.2 percent from distance. However, efficiency still lacked for George, who shot just 41.9 percent from the field and posted an efficiency rating just above average (16.8).
Look for improved shot selection and a game modeled more closely after James' as George seeks elite superstar status alongside his archnemesis.
Kevin Love vs. Blake Griffin
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Whether or not you believe Kevin Love or Blake Griffin is the league's best power forward, they represent the future at said position.
Although the two embody different styles of play, both possess the credentials to soon be atop the Association's power forward hierarchy.
Love's offensive game is considerably more versatile than Griffin's at this point in time, as there's no spot on the floor that he's incapable of knocking down shots from.
Factor in that Love is the league's preeminent and most dedicated rebounder, and he's the leader in the clubhouse to assume the position formerly held by Tim Duncan.
Griffin is certainly in the conversation, though, especially if he takes a step forward defensively.
The electric dunker has worked tirelessly at expanding his offensive repertoire and extending his range, but the overall versatility that Love provides is something Griffin currently cannot match.
He'll also need to improve dramatically at the free-throw line, as he's never hit on more than 66 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe in a given season.
Dwight Howard vs. Marc Gasol
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We've broken down the league's third-best center debate, so it'll be up to Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol to go head-to-head for the best overall big man crown.
Factor in that Gasol and Howard recently scrapped in a preseason contest, and this rivalry is a sneaky one to watch throughout the 2013-14 season.
Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies have established their identity as one of the league's scrappiest and grittiest teams while the Rockets are still modifying their offense with Howard now in tow.
With Gasol the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Dwight two years removed from his last individual defensive title, look for Superman to make a run at reclaiming the hardware he's won three times in the past five years.
Kevin Durant vs. Carmelo Anthony
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The title of top scorer will be on the line this season as Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony seek to assert their dominance as the league's most distinguished filler of stat sheets.
It was Anthony who usurped Kevin Durant's scoring crown last season after three consecutive years of the Oklahoma City wunderkind taking home top honors.
Although Durant led the league in total points scored last season, it was Anthony who came out on top with an average of 28.7 points, .6 better than his primary competitor.
The Thunder and New York Knicks will only do battle twice this season, but one will come on the game's biggest stage when the Eastern and Western Conference powers clash on Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden.
The lengthy Durant doesn't quite have the strength or versatility that Anthony possesses as a reliable face-up scorer in the post, but he'll undoubtedly seek to become even more efficient this season, a scary thought after he posted a true shooting percentage of 64.7 and an effective field-goal percentage of 55.9 last season.
Russell Westbrook vs. Patrick Beverley
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You probably weren't expecting this one, right?
Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley aren't in the same universe when it comes to their respective talent levels, but tensions that linger from the 2013 postseason make this a rivalry on the rise worth watching in 2013-14.
In addition to Beverley being responsible for Westbrook's torn meniscus, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder are on the brink of engaging in a fierce Western Conference rivalry.
Considering the tensions between Beverley, who was recently promoted to starting point guard, and Westbrook, James Harden's past with OKC, Dwight Howard's arrival in Houston and the presence of Kevin Durant, it's evident that a new-age NBA rivalry (between the teams) may soon be upon us.
Stephen Curry vs. Kyrie Irving
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Kyrie Irving versus Stephen Curry feels like a strange cross-conference rivalry, but their place in the game as young superstar point guards makes this individual battle one to watch.
Although they possess varying offensive styles of play, Curry and Irving are two of the game's most dynamic scorers for two of the league's top up-and-coming squads.
So, which one will be able to shine brightest?
Curry's 2013 postseason propelled him to unthinkable heights, and the Golden State Warriors' status as a Western Conference contender could push him even farther up the superstar rankings before the season comes to a close.
But don't think Irving won't have something to say about that when the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dubs meet on Dec. 29 and March 14.
Chris Paul vs. Derrick Rose
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While Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving represent a potential rivalry near the top of the NBA's point guard rankings, it's Derrick Rose and Chris Paul who are competing for the No. 1 spot.
Both lead teams at the forefront of the NBA title conversation, and Rose's return is starting to give prognosticators pause when it comes to labeling the Association's most dynamic point man.
Fortunately, we won't have to wait long to see Paul and Rose hound each other on both ends of the floor, as they're set to square off Nov. 24 at Staples Center.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls will then take center stage on Friday, Jan. 24 in a nationally televised showdown.
While Rose is on a mission to prove that he's the league's best player, and Paul seeks to carry the Clippers to the franchise's first Western Conference title, meetings between L.A. and Chicago this season should be fascinating.
Kobe Bryant vs. Father Time
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Kobe Bryant has said in the past that he has no true individual rival, but it would feel wrong to omit him from any list that mentions superstars.
While Bryant no longer has to prove his worth comparatively against any one player, he's on the mend from a nasty Achilles injury, one that could limit his effectiveness upon returning.
Going up against a ticking biological clock and a body that has dealt with every ailment from sprained ankles to torn wrist ligaments, Bryant is facing an uphill battle when it comes to playing like the "Black Mamba" of old.
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, Kobe won't return until he "can perform at an exceptional level," and reiterated that he remains without a timetable to return to practice.
A return is undeniable. How effective he is once he's back, though, remains to be seen.
