Top 5 teammate fall-outs in the NBA over the last decade

#3 Nick Young vs. D'Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell's prank backfired

In 2016, Los Angeles Lakers rookie, D'Angelo Russell, pranked Lakers teammate Nick Young by getting Young to admit to cheating on his fiancée, rapper Iggy Azalea on video without Young's consent. D'Angelo was just 20 at the time, yet putting a teammate out there for the world to see was not the best way to endear himself to the Los Angeles Lakers organization, his teammates, fans and the NBA in general. A short time later, both were no longer playing for the Lakers.

#2 Ben Simmons vs. Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid

It has to be said that the Philadelphia 76ers might have hit their peak when Jimmy Butler was in tow

The Philadelphia 76ers were even more feared back in 2018 as they were before the Ben Simmons fallout. When Jimmy Butler was sent to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade deal, Philadelphia fans wondered what happened. How could Philadephia 76ers brass jettison a true NBA All-Star glue guy in Butler? Wouldn't Jimmy Butler be perfect to mentor young stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid? Well, reportedly, Jimmy Butler did not like Philadelphia's front office and thought Ben Simmons to be of lesser mental fortitude. Now it all makes sense. Fast forward to as messy an NBA offseason as a team can have, and one of the easiest teammates to get along with in Joel Embiid is also beginning to speak out publicly about Simmons' misgivings. This is the ugliest for the NBA.

#1 Kyrie Irving vs. LeBron James

Imagine what could have been accomplished if Kyrie Irving and LeBron James stayed together

For three years, the Cleveland Cavaliers had two of the best basketball players on the planet. After failing to win the NBA championship vs. a juggernaut Golden State Warriors team in part because of team injuries, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally won their first NBA title in team history in 2016. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James were just too much for the defending champs, and it appeared Cleveland would become the next title town in sports. Kyrie Irving was the unquestioned leader of the Cavs before LeBron returned to complete a promise he made to Cleveland fans. His return has reportedly been a problem for Kyrie Irving - who eventually sought to elude LeBron's shadow despite winning the aforementioned championship.

When Kyrie Irving landed in Boston, some words were not flattering re: LeBron James and James took offense. Kyrie Irving did not work in Boston, and now the gifted point guard is in Brooklyn with James Harden and Kevin Durant seeking to win another NBA title. Questions will always be asked about what could have been if Kyrie had stayed in Cleveland, yet we'll never know.