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?
I would want to say Miami LeBron and Duncan. the early 2010s showed the heated battle between 2 superstar trios: LeBron, Wade and Bosh (with Ray Allen) and Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. especially after that dagger 3 from Allen that gave LeBron his 1st championship, if not for Ray’s 3, LeBron would have 3 rings and Duncan 6.
Ray Allen dagger 3 was LeBron 2nd championship. His first one was over the young Thunders.