10 Emerging Rivalries in Sports

Cavs vs. Bulls, Luck vs. Wilson and more.

LeBron James Says Bulls Better Than Cavaliers - Ask LeBron James and it's as clear as day — the Chicago Bulls stand between his Cleveland Cavaliers and a spot in the NBA Finals. "[The Bulls] are a team that's much better than us right now just off chemistry," James told ESPN on Tuesday. "They've been together for a while; we've got a long way to go." That being said, King James scored 18 points to lead his Cavs to a 107-98 victory over the Bulls in preseason action at Ohio State University on Tuesday, despite 30 points from Derrick Rose.(Photos from left: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images, Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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10 Emerging Rivalries in Sports - LeBron James is back in Cleveland. Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls are the favorites to come out the East. It's one of the best budding rivalries that sports has to offer. Click on for a look at 10 competitive competitiions that emerging in sports. (Photos from left: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images, Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Clippers to Renew Rivalry Tonight - The marquee point guard matchup of Chris Paul and Stephen Curry, the sharpshooting of Klay Thompson and the all-out aerial onslaught of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Those are just a few of the many components which helped make the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers' first-round playoff series last season a seven-game thriller and Wednesday night's matchup between them a must-see game. However, in their first meeting of the new 2014-15 season, the Warriors drew first blood, not only crushing the Clippers, 121-104, but demoralizing them as well. Super ugly! (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Clippers to Renew Rivalry Tonight - The marquee point guard matchup of Chris Paul and Stephen Curry, the sharpshooting of Klay Thompson and the all-out aerial onslaught of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Those are just a few of the many components which helped make the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers' first-round playoff series last season a seven-game thriller and Wednesday night's matchup between them a must-see game. However, in their first meeting of the new 2014-15 season, the Warriors drew first blood, not only crushing the Clippers, 121-104, but demoralizing them as well. Super ugly! (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers - The San Francisco 49ers were one play and a matter of seconds away from making the Super Bowl last season. Instead, they watched their rival Seattle Seahawks make the big game and win it. This has all the makings of a rivalry...and for years to come. Each the 49ers and Seahawks feature two of the game's best young quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson, respectively. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has even thrown some slick talk at 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh before. And don't even get us started about Richard Sherman and Michael Crabtree. Then factor in that the teams face each other twice in a three-week span over late November-early December and this rivalry is one that will likely only grow.(Photos from left: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images, Michael Thomas/Getty Images)

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Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers - The San Francisco 49ers were one play and a matter of seconds away from making the Super Bowl last season. Instead, they watched their rival Seattle Seahawks make the big game and win it. This has all the makings of a rivalry...and for years to come. Each the 49ers and Seahawks feature two of the game's best young quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson, respectively. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has even thrown some slick talk at 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh before. And don't even get us started about Richard Sherman and Michael Crabtree. Then factor in that the teams face each other twice in a three-week span over late November-early December and this rivalry is one that will likely only grow.(Photos from left: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images, Michael Thomas/Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers-Chicago Bulls - The Chicago Bulls was LeBron James's main rival when he was with the Miami Heat. Now, back with the Cleveland Cavaliers, King James knows that a healthy Derrick Rose and a revamped and deeper Bulls squad is the main obstacle standing between him and a fifth-consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.  (Photos from left: Jason Miller/Getty Images, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Cleveland Cavaliers-Chicago Bulls - The Chicago Bulls was LeBron James's main rival when he was with the Miami Heat. Now, back with the Cleveland Cavaliers, King James knows that a healthy Derrick Rose and a revamped and deeper Bulls squad is the main obstacle standing between him and a fifth-consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.  (Photos from left: Jason Miller/Getty Images, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are the old dogs that refuse to leave the yard. Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will try to make them yet again this year. Tough task, one that KD and company failed at during last season's Western Conference Finals. But if the reigning MVP and his sidekick Russell Westbrook are able to return at full strength, anything's possible.(Photos from left: AP Photo/Jim Cowsert, File, Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are the old dogs that refuse to leave the yard. Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will try to make them yet again this year. Tough task, one that KD and company failed at during last season's Western Conference Finals. But if the reigning MVP and his sidekick Russell Westbrook are able to return at full strength, anything's possible.(Photos from left: AP Photo/Jim Cowsert, File, Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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St. Louis Cardinals-San Francisco Giants - The San Francisco Giants ended the St. Louis Cardinals season en route to winning their second World Series crown in three years. The fact that the Cards and Giants have two of the best pitchers in baseball—in Adam Wainwright and Madison Bumgarner, respectively—only sweetens the deal. This is a rivalry that will live on.(Photos from left: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images, Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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St. Louis Cardinals-San Francisco Giants - The San Francisco Giants ended the St. Louis Cardinals season en route to winning their second World Series crown in three years. The fact that the Cards and Giants have two of the best pitchers in baseball—in Adam Wainwright and Madison Bumgarner, respectively—only sweetens the deal. This is a rivalry that will live on.(Photos from left: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images, Rob Carr/Getty Images)

New York Knicks-Brooklyn Nets - It was a rivalry when it was the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets. The latter franchise's move to Brooklyn only upped the ante in this rivalry, in which the victor can lay claim to running New York City. Nothing better than city bragging rights. With roots in BK, we know this is something Carmelo Anthony cares about.(Photos from left: Rich Barnes/Getty Images, Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

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New York Knicks-Brooklyn Nets - It was a rivalry when it was the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets. The latter franchise's move to Brooklyn only upped the ante in this rivalry, in which the victor can lay claim to running New York City. Nothing better than city bragging rights. With roots in BK, we know this is something Carmelo Anthony cares about.(Photos from left: Rich Barnes/Getty Images, Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Mikhail Prokhorov-Jason Kidd - Let's keep it all the way real—the Brooklyn Nets are a middle-of-the-pack team and the Milwaukee Bucks are downright terrible. This is a rivalry because of the no love lost between Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and ex-Brooklyn coach and current Bucks coach Jason Kidd. Speaking about Kidd, Prokhorov recently commented it's better to get "even" than "mad." He'll have that chance when the Nets host the Bucks in Brooklyn on November 19th. (Photos from left: Oleg Nikishin/Epsilon/Getty Images, Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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Mikhail Prokhorov-Jason Kidd - Let's keep it all the way real—the Brooklyn Nets are a middle-of-the-pack team and the Milwaukee Bucks are downright terrible. This is a rivalry because of the no love lost between Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and ex-Brooklyn coach and current Bucks coach Jason Kidd. Speaking about Kidd, Prokhorov recently commented it's better to get "even" than "mad." He'll have that chance when the Nets host the Bucks in Brooklyn on November 19th. (Photos from left: Oleg Nikishin/Epsilon/Getty Images, Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts-Seattle Seahawks - It's a shame that Andrew Luck has only faced Russell Wilson once, resulting in an Indianapolis Colts' 34-28 win over the Seattle Seahawks last October. The way that prognasticators compare these two—clearly as two of the best young QBs in football—we wish we can see them go head-to-head more often. Already, Wilson has a Super Bowl ring and Luck touts the all-around game and numbers.(Photos from left: Scott Halleran/Getty Images, Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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Indianapolis Colts-Seattle Seahawks - It's a shame that Andrew Luck has only faced Russell Wilson once, resulting in an Indianapolis Colts' 34-28 win over the Seattle Seahawks last October. The way that prognasticators compare these two—clearly as two of the best young QBs in football—we wish we can see them go head-to-head more often. Already, Wilson has a Super Bowl ring and Luck touts the all-around game and numbers.(Photos from left: Scott Halleran/Getty Images, Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Portland Trail Blazers-Houston Rockets - Damian Lillard's deep three-pointer in Game 6 of last season's first-round playoff series. Scintillating for the Portland Trail Blazers. Deflating for the Houston Rockets. With their rosters relatively intact, the tone has been set for a budding rivalry between these two Western Conference squads that will meet for the first time this season on December 22nd. Happy holidays! We'll see if James Harden can help even the score.(Photos from left: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images, Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 

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Portland Trail Blazers-Houston Rockets - Damian Lillard's deep three-pointer in Game 6 of last season's first-round playoff series. Scintillating for the Portland Trail Blazers. Deflating for the Houston Rockets. With their rosters relatively intact, the tone has been set for a budding rivalry between these two Western Conference squads that will meet for the first time this season on December 22nd. Happy holidays! We'll see if James Harden can help even the score.(Photos from left: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images, Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 

Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard Still Feuding - Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard still don’t like each other. The NBA superstars, who were teammates for one tumultuous season in Los Angeles, were involved in a light skirmish during last night's NBA season opener at Staples Center. In the fourth quarter of a 108-90 win for the Houston Rockets, Howard elbowed Bryant and the NBA All-Stars had to be separated by teammates. It looked like Bryant called Howard “soft” while telling the big man to “try me, try me.” The Lakers play the Rockets in Houston on Nov. 19, which should be interesting.(Photos from Left: Paul Buck/Landov, Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

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Kobe Bryant-Dwight Howard - Sometimes rivalries in sports aren't team oriented...they're personal, mano y mano. Such is the case with Dwight Howard, who sparked an instant rivalry between himself and Kobe Bryant after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after one season (2012-13) to join the Houston Rockets. Critics immediately quipped that Howard didn't like teaming with Bryant. That may have came head-to-head, when the teams clashed on this season's opening night last Tuesday and Howard's elbow thrown at Bryant triggered the Black Mamba into repeatedly warning the big man to "Try me." Those are fighting words. Keep an eye on this rivalry.(Photos from Left: Paul Buck/Landov, Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)