NBA: Ranking the league's all-time top individual rivalries

Berry Tramel ranks the top five NBA rivalries between individuals.

By Berry Tramel | Published: June 24, 2012

1. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain

The greatest individual rivalry in sports history. Russell's Celtics met Wilt's Warriors, 76ers or Lakers in eight playoff series in the '60s, either in the East finals or the NBA Finals (1964, 1969). Russell won all but the '67 East and became basketball's greatest champion. Counting the playoffs, they faced each other 142 times. Russell won 85. But in those 142 games, Wilt averaged 28.7 points and 28.7 rebounds a game. That is not a misprint. Russell, a defensive demon, averaged 14.5 points and 23.7 rebounds.

photo - Boston Celtics basketball player Bill Russell (6) outreaches Philadelphia 76ers Wilt Chamberlain (13) to control a rebound in Boston in this Jan. 15, 1967 photo. Chamberlain, a center so big, agile and dominant that he forced basketball to change its rules and the only player to score 100 points in an NBA game, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999 at 63.(AP Photo)

Boston Celtics basketball player Bill Russell (6) outreaches Philadelphia 76ers Wilt Chamberlain (13) to control a rebound in Boston in this Jan. 15, 1967 photo. Chamberlain, a center so big, agile and dominant that he forced basketball to change its rules and the only player to score 100 points in an NBA game, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999 at 63.(AP Photo)

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