Top Sonics Rivalries

This will probably be my last nba post before my f-you nba post I will do after the Sonics actually move. Anyways here is my list of the top 10 Sonics rivalries.

10. Chicago Bulls: Jordan and Co. ended the sonics championship run back in the 1995-96 season.

9. Memphis Grizzlies: More of a rival when they were in Vancouver, but I will honor the legacy of the Vancouver Grizzlies with a spot on the list.

8. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Sonics and the wolves play in the same division, but there has not been any major events in the rivalry as of yet.

7. Houston Rockets: Along with the Jazz and Blazers the Rockets were among the Sonics biggest rivals in the west in the mid 90s. From 93 to 97 the Sonics and the Rockets played each other in the playoffs three times with the Sonics having a 2 to 1 edge.

6. Utah Jazz: The Jazz were one of the Sonics biggest foes in the mid 90s with each team having two superstars, Malone and Stockton for the Jazz and Kemp and Payton for the Sonics. Sonics and Jazz have also played each other in the playoffs four times in my lifetime.

5. LA Lakers: Everyone in the west should hate the Lakers. The Sonics have played the lakers seven times in the playoffs with the Lakers winning five times.

4. Washington Wizards: The Sonics and the then Washington bullets played in back to back nba championships with each team taking one.

3. Denver Nuggets: The Sonics and Nuggets play in the same division and have faced each other in the playoffs several times. The Sonics were victims of one of the biggest upsets in NBA history at the hands of the Nuggets back in 1994, when the one seed sonics were upset by the eight seed Nuggets in the first round.

2. Portland Trailblazers: The only legitimate geographical rival of any of Seattle's pro sports teams. Portland is also built on Seattle talent from coach Nate Macmillan to young star and Seattle native Brandon Roy. The glory days of the two teams also somewhat intersect in the late 70s and mid to late 90s.

1. Oklahoma City whatevers: This is not an on-court fight, but a fight for the very survival of the team. The nba and the ownership is doing everything in their power to ensure that OKC wins and Seattle loses. If Seattle wins it will be the greatest upset in sports history.