The Lakers and the Celtics are the biggest rivals in the NBA. The Celtics have faced down the Lakers in the NBA finals a total of 11 times. The Lakers have enjoyed much more recent success while the Celtics have only become a competitive team again in the last few years. While the Celtics still hold the record for championships won at 17 titles, the Lakers have crept up behind them winning their 15th banner in 2009. The rivalry began in 1959 with the Celtics sweeping the Lakers on their way to 10 titles in 11 seasons. Of those 10 titles, 7 of them came against the Lakers. The rivalry was renewed in the 1980s when two of the best players to ever touch a basketball went head to head - Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. They were so evenly matched in terms of skill, but each of them had a different style and a different approach to the game. Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett went head-to-head during the 2008 season.