Rival No. 2: Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will probably be rivals for the rest of eternity at this point, just like the Celtics and Lakers. When the playoffs in the 2010s are brought up, it is impossible to speak about it without talking about the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
From the 2015-2018 NBA Finals, the Cavaliers and Warriors faced off against each other. Four seasons in a row where these teams faced in the NBA Finals is insane, and is not brought up as much as it should be. The Warriors won in 2015, 2017, and 2018, and the Cavaliers won in 2016, after coming back down from a 3-1 deficit.
Yes, everyone from the 2016 NBA Finals group is not on the Cavaliers anymore, and the only players on an NBA team from that roster at this point are LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. The 2016 Warriors team only has Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green still left on that team today.
One small detail is that the Cavs’ signing, Ty Jerome, played for the Warriors last season. It’s not something major, and will not cause anything bitter between either side, but it’s just something small to note.
Yes, the rivalry is practically gone, as everyone on that Cavs roster is not there anymore, but the bad blood is still there between Warriors and Cavaliers fans, nonetheless.