Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest enemies of the 1990s

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22 May 1998: Nick Van Exel #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles around Howard Eisley #10 of the Utah Jazz during game three of the Western Conference Finals at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Jazz defeated the Lakers 109-98. /

1. Utah Jazz

The airballs, the sweep, the tears and the losses, in two playoff series the Utah Jazz did more to stop the nascent dynasty the Lakers were trying to start. By keeping the young Lakers at bay the Jazz gave the team fuel for what was to come in the next decade.

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By 1997 the Jazz along with their terrific duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton were ready to finally take the next step in getting into the NBA Finals. In their way was the Los Angeles Lakers who had acquired Shaquille O’Neal that season and traded for Kobe Bryant’s draft rights.

Their semifinal series as a five game affair that ended in the Jazz favor, memorable as game five ended in overtime with the 18-year-old Bryant air-balling three three-point attempts as O’Neal had fouled out.

In 1998 the teams met again this time in the Western Conference Finals, the Jazz swept the young Lakers away. As the pick n roll offense executed perfectly by Stockton and Malone decimated the Lakers as O’Neal and Bryant struggled to respond. The Lakers would eventually realize their full potential but by then age had brought an end to the Jazz dominance.

Next: Lakers biggest enemies of the 1980s

Overall, the 1990s may not have been the best decade in Los Angeles Lakers history, but they certainly had their own bitter rivals.

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