NBA Rivalries That Went Too Far: From Locker Room Altercations to Public Feuds

The NBA has witnessed its fair share of intense rivalries, but some of the most shocking feuds go beyond the typical court battles. Whether it’s a brutal altercation, personal vendettas, or a clash of egos, these rivalries have created some of the most infamous stories in basketball history. Here’s a look at some of the NBA’s most jaw-dropping, and in some cases, deeply personal, player feuds:

1. Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal

The most famous NBA duo in history, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, led the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive championships in the early 2000s. However, behind the scenes, their relationship was anything but harmonious. The tension between the two players grew as Kobe’s intense work ethic clashed with Shaq’s more laid-back approach. Kobe’s obsessive drive to be the best led to public criticisms of Shaq’s lack of conditioning, while Shaq fired back, accusing Kobe of being difficult to work with. Their feud reached its peak in 2004 when Shaq publicly blamed Kobe’s inefficiency for the Lakers’ loss in the Finals to the Detroit Pistons. Their relationship deteriorated to the point where Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat. Although the two later reconciled in 2018, many believe their inability to coexist during their prime years cost the Lakers a potential dynasty.

2. Draymond Green & Rudy Gobert

The rivalry between Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert escalated into physical altercations and public insults. It started with Green mocking Gobert for shedding tears after not making the All-Star game in 2019, leading to Gobert firing back with the phrase, “Insecurity is always loud.” Things came to a head during a 2023 game when Green put Gobert in a chokehold on live television after an on-court scuffle. The fight resulted in Green being suspended indefinitely, and tensions have remained high between the two, with Green frequently criticizing Gobert’s style of play and Gobert calling it all “noise.” The rivalry shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon, especially with both players maintaining a public animosity.

3. Devin Booker & Luka Dončić

A fierce rivalry between two of the NBA’s brightest young stars erupted in the 2022 Western Conference semifinals, when Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks eliminated Devin Booker’s Phoenix Suns in a stunning seven-game series. The animosity grew after Booker mocked Luka’s dramatic flopping with the phrase “Luka special” during the series, sparking a series of taunts, trash talk, and even a social media follow/unfollow drama. The tension flared up again in 2023 when Booker taunted Luka after missing a potential game-tying shot, leading to a near brawl. The rivalry between these two is deeply personal, with Booker calling out Dončić’s leadership and Dončić not holding back his opinions on Booker’s antics. These two players represent the future of the NBA, and their feud shows no signs of dissipating.

4. Gilbert Arenas & Javaris Crittenton

One of the wildest NBA feuds ever took place in a Washington Wizards locker room in 2009. Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, both known for their competitive and fiery personalities, got into a heated argument over a gambling debt, escalating into a locker room standoff where Arenas brought in unloaded guns as a “joke.” Crittenton responded by pulling out a loaded pistol, threatening Arenas. The altercation led to Arenas being suspended indefinitely and pleading guilty to felony gun charges. Crittenton’s life took a darker turn when he was convicted of murder in 2011. This feud left both players’ careers shattered, and the story remains one of the most infamous in NBA history.

5. Rajon Rondo & Ray Allen

During the Boston Celtics’ championship run in 2008, the bond between Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen seemed unbreakable. However, beneath the surface, tensions were building. The root of their conflict stemmed from Allen’s desire to bring in a superstar point guard (like Chris Paul), which Rondo saw as a direct challenge to his position. When Rondo learned about this, he felt disrespected, leading to an intense feud between the two. Their rivalry came to a head when Allen left the Celtics in 2012 to join their biggest rival, the Miami Heat. Rondo refused to shake his hand when the Celtics faced the Heat, and the two exchanged public barbs for years after. The feud was deep, personal, and one of the ugliest in recent NBA history.

6. Kyle Lowry & Aaron Gordon

Kyle Lowry and Aaron Gordon’s rivalry ignited in the bubble during the 2020 NBA season. After Lowry delivered a hard foul on Gordon, Gordon got into Lowry’s face, and Lowry responded by inviting him to a physical confrontation in his hotel room. Despite the escalating tension between them, the animosity has persisted, with Lowry calling Gordon a “soft” player and Gordon delivering a shoulder check to Lowry during a later matchup. Their rivalry has simmered, with both players taking shots at each other on and off the court, but they’ve yet to face off in the kind of fight Lowry once jokingly invited Gordon to.

7. Donovan Mitchell & Rudy Gobert

The breakdown of the relationship between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in Utah is one of the NBA’s most famous feuds. Their tension reached a boiling point when Gobert’s careless behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic led to Mitchell testing positive for the virus. The rift worsened when Mitchell criticized Gobert for his lack of accountability. This disagreement was further exacerbated by Gobert’s departure from the Jazz to the Timberwolves in 2022. Mitchell has been diplomatic in recent interviews, but their relationship is fractured, and the fallout from their time together in Utah will forever be part of both players’ legacies.

8. Chris Paul & Rajon Rondo

Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo’s rivalry came to a head in the 2018 playoffs when Rondo allegedly spit in Paul’s face during a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. The confrontation turned physical, with punches being thrown and several players being ejected. Paul and Rondo’s animosity dates back to their time as point guards on different teams, with Rondo’s cocky attitude clashing with Paul’s control and leadership. Their rivalry remains one of the most heated in NBA history, especially considering the disdain each player has for the other’s style of play.

9. Dillon Brooks & DeMar DeRozan

Dillon Brooks has made a name for himself as one of the NBA’s most hated players, and his rivalry with DeMar DeRozan is a perfect example of how Brooks thrives on antagonizing opponents. The feud started during the 2023 playoffs when Brooks, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, delivered hard fouls and trash talk directed at DeRozan. The two clashed again in 2024, with DeRozan calling out Brooks for being a coward and refusing to approach him face-to-face. This heated rivalry, fueled by Brooks’ penchant for dirty play, shows how far one player is willing to go to assert his dominance.

10. Ja Morant & Klay Thompson

A more recent rivalry, Ja Morant and Klay Thompson’s beef began in the 2022 playoffs when Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies knocked out Thompson’s Golden State Warriors. Their tensions resurfaced in November 2025 when Morant mocked Thompson’s missed shot and taunted him after the game. The back-and-forth, which includes Morant’s antics on the bench while injured and Thompson’s harsh criticism of Morant’s off-court issues, has kept the drama alive. This rivalry has become personal, with both players exchanging barbs over their competitive histories.

These NBA rivalries are about more than just basketball—they represent pride, ego, and the raw emotions that come with competing at the highest level. Whether fueled by personal insults, misunderstandings, or a clash of playing styles, each of these feuds has added to the rich and dramatic history of the NBA, proving that sometimes the game is as much about what happens off the court as it is about what happens on it.