3 classic big-man beefs
What is this, 1974? While true centers don't dominate the NBA as they did back then, Friday's social media beef between Joel Embiid and Hassan Whiteside does at least feature two of the league's current premier pivots.
Here are three other memorable feuds - acrimonious or not - between big men.
Shaquille O'Neal vs. Brad Miller (2002)
O'Neal's sheer size and strength meant he put up with a lot of abuse that went un-whistled, and one night, he snapped after the Chicago Bulls' Brad Miller and Charles Oakley hacked him under the basket. It's a good thing Shaq didn't land that roundhouse, because it looked like it could've killed Miller.
Shaq vs. Hakeem Olajuwon (1995)
When the Houston Rockets swept O'Neal's Orlando Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals, a brief rivalry was born. There were even plans for a pay-per-view one-on-one battle between the two - promoted by none other than Donald Trump - that never materialized. All that was left were some Taco Bell commercials.
Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Not so much a beef as a historic rivalry, it was one-sided in terms of wins. Boston Celtics legend Russell won seven of eight postseason series against Chamberlain's teams, but many still rate Wilt the Stilt higher. While Russell is remembered as one of the best defenders ever, Chamberlain ranks fifth all time in points and first in rebounds.