5 Best NBA Social Media Beefs So Far This Season

In terms of the number of social media soap operas unfolding every night, the NBA is in a stratosphere all by itself. In 2019-20 alone, we've seen some of the best athletes in the world revert to high-schoolers and start some petty feuds on Twitter or Instagram that only serve to make their eventual on-court clashes that much more explosive. These five clearly stand head and shoulders above the rest.

5. Lou Williams vs Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. has a tough job, as he has to produce 10 hours worth of live content per week when there often isn't that much content worth discussing. Sometimes, he tells some little white lies, like claiming that Kawhi Leonard was fed up with LeBron James' apparent reluctance to guard him. Clippers guard Lou Williams quickly put the kibosh on that by calling Stephen A. a liar, and further fanning the flames of tension between Smith and some of the NBA's best.

4. Kyle Kuzma's Trainer vs LeBron James

The Lakers traded almost their entire roster, except for Alex Caruso and Kuzma, to facilitate the Anthony Davis trade. For a period of time, it seemed like Kuzma could be on HIS way out (still could happen!) after his trainer insinuated that Kawhi Leonard was working harder than LeBron James, and Kuzma's "call a spade a spade" tweet certainly didn't do much to smooth things over. LeBron says that things are good, but if Kuz does get traded, we'll all know exactly what caused their relationship to sour.

3. Joel Embiid vs Karl-Anthony Towns

Embiid is the master of trolling and starting fights on social media, and Towns found this out the hard way. While Towns outdueled Embiid in their first meeting this year, the Sixers ended up winning, and Embiid took a shot at him on Instagram by referencing Jimmy Butler's infamous practice, where he beat Towns in a scrimmage alongside the backups. Towns called Embiid a liar and a clown, and then Embid lit Towns on fire with the above post. You come at the king, you best not miss, and Towns whiffed hard on this one.

2. Jimmy Butler vs TJ Warren

Butler is a nightmare to go up against, as he will physically assault you for 48 minutes on the court and then start messing with your mind off of it. After Pacers forward TJ Warren was ejected following a scrap with Butler, the Miami Heart guard claimed that Warren is nowhere close to the caliber of player he is, and then posted a picture of Miami's return to Indiana in March on Instagram. Warren might not have asked for it, but he's in Butler's crosshairs, and that is a kiss of death in the NBA.

1. Kevin Durant vs Kendrick Perkins

You knew this had to be on here. NBA analyst and former Oklahoma City Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins waxed poetically about how Russell Westbrook was the greatest Thunder player ever instead of Kevin Durant, now a Brooklyn Net. Durant responded by torching Perkins for his lack of production in Oklahoma City. Perkins called Durant a coward over his decision to exit stage right to Golden State, and Durant called Perk "weak" for again failing to produce. KD has made this an elevated art form, so let's just sit back and let the master of his craft work.