Basically, the title.
Which among crean of the crop superstars rivals held each other the most that prevent both of them in climbing on most of the respectable and honorable nba all time list?
MY LIST
1. MAGIC AND BIRD
They are #1 for me. If either one of them doesn’t exist, the other one left will be the by far best player in the 80s. And ofc, as an effect will win more rings. (Maybe 2 or 3 more rings)
2. Kobe and Duncan
All those countless western conference playoffs matches. They were lucky they were both in West. So, their finals record is not affected by them winning/losing against each other. But still, the existence of both of them prevented each other of winning more rings
I want to put Russell and Wilt #3. But Russell won 11 rings to Wilt’s 2. So, they didn’t held each other.
Who else?
A one sided rivalry but Steph stopped Harden from having a massive jump, stopped him from making the finals likely 3 times (2 for sure) and at least 1 ring for sure.