ESPN MAGAZINE

The Concept
Two 20-somethings, different as night and day, battle for turf supremacy. Think Dharma & Greg meets Raw Is War. Viewers may notice a resemblance to '80s hit Larry & Magic.

The Plot
Previously on The Rivalry: KG gets over the loss of his friend Stephon with the help of new playmate Terrell . . . TD fights his own injuries, even as he copes with teammates' bad back (Robinson), bad play (guards) and bad luck (Elliott). But now, with most minor plot lines resolved, The Rivalry becomes the two-man show fans and critics have anticipated from the beginning. Both take turns giving and getting in an epic seven-game war, emblematic of the writing that distinguishes this series from other hyped rivalry dramas. As the battle escalates, we find KG and TD aren't so different after all. Brash and boisterous KG forgoes dunks for sly up-and-unders. And in a series of flashbacks, he patiently answers postgame questions and quietly chides a teammate for not pulling his weight. Tim stretches his character too. Boring (as a bulldozer), he flashes ruthless baseline drives that end in spin-reverse jams, and lets loose the screaming warrior inside. Off the court, TD mulls leaving the nest, a decision complicated by his realistic son-to-father relationship with Pop. We leave this series emotionally exhausted but energized by the expectation that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship -- and a Rivalry that'll keep us coming back year after year.

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