5 Phoenix Suns rivalries of the future

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas’ move up for Luka Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft makes them a compelling rival for the Phoenix Suns. With Doncic matched up against Josh Jackson on the wing and Dennis Smith Jr. facing off against Devin Booker at guard, the matchups are there for a rivalry to be born.

While the Suns currently have for pieces in place, the two teams are still on a similar timeline when it comes to being ready to compete. Mark Cuban makes it clear he wants to compete, so he could end up cutting corners in the rebuild in order to get his team back in the playoffs as soon as possible.

Cuban is also known to make some head turning remarks. In a future matchup between competitive Mavericks and Suns teams, Cuban could make some comments that fan the flames of a potential rivalry.

Another source of tension between the teams will be that Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic were both top three picks in the 2018 NBA Draft, and both were in consideration for number one overall. Everyone wants the first pick, but it comes with a lifetime of questioning whether or not the team made the right decision.

If Ayton and Doncic both become good players, people will always ask who was the best player to come out of the draft. The constant comparisons will always link the two players, and it’s certainly good material for a developing rivalry.