Devin Booker discusses why he feels the NBA has no true rivals

NBA looks very different now than it did in the past. Change is unavoidable over time, and this is particularly true in the NBA, where there have been several changes to the style of play on the court and how clubs create their rosters off the court. Rivalries are another sector that has seen significant change. Specific rivalries between players and teams are becoming increasingly rare, and Devin Booker believes he knows why.

Back then, elite teams and players were nearly constantly at odds with one another, which drew viewers to games. However, there aren't many rivalries to speak of now, and when there are, they're significantly less fascinating than they previously were. 

Booker has been in the NBA for eight years, so he understands the league's environment. Rivalries, in his opinion, no longer exist because many of these players had known each other before joining the NBA, making them friends rather than adversaries. 

As per BasketballNetwork during The Old Man and The Three podcast, Devin Booker said, “I’d say there are no real rivalries because of grassroots basketball.”  “A lot of these guys we’ve known for a long time and I think people just realize that it’s not that deep half the time. People always say, ‘Oh, they’re not about to fight out on the court, they’re not about to do that.’ Yeah, that's a half-a-million-dollar fight. Nobody should do that.”

Rivalries are back in the league

Rivalries occasionally return in the league, but they are considered unusual in today's pleasant climate. Consider Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, for instance. They have a strong rivalry, although it is primarily because they have met in the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. 

This is due in large part to the fact that many of the world's best basketball prospects get to know one another before entering the NBA. Even when you make it to the league, there is a sense of brotherhood among the players that did not exist previously.