Others believe talk of a rivalry was mostly for the fans.

But whether they are former Blazers or Sonics, each believes there was something about the 38-year-old series that will be impossible to replace if Seattle relocates to Oklahoma City — which is widely expected to happen soon.

Here are what a few former Blazers and Sonics remember about playing against their rival:

‘A natural rivalry’

Two cities, 170 miles apart, and a rivalry budding between them. And that was before basketball arrived.

“The two cities seemed to develop a real good rivalry. I remember one time, a lot of fans came up from Portland, bought seats and rooted for Portland. After that, they could hardly get a seat because it kind of turned the fans on in Seattle, got them going. Then they started buying all the seats.

“It’s a natural rivalry. Both northwest cities, and great fans.”

— Lenny Wilkens, Sonics player from 1968-72; Sonics coach from 1977-1985, Blazers player from 1974-75. Coaching record vs. Blazers: 31-28.

Rulers of the Northwest

A summer of fun for players often started with handing out a nice whuppin’ during the season.

“Not that we didn’t like each other. We just knew we had to go in there and compete so we could talk trash all summer. So you could go to a golf tournament and look at a guy, and the guy would want to kill you.”

— Maurice Lucas, Blazers forward from 1976-80, 1987-88; Sonics forward from 1986-87. Record vs. Sonics: 14-19. Record vs. Blazers: 4-2.

“Each team cared about really ruling the Northwest. It’s only two teams up here. It’s Oregon and Washington. It’s always been a rivalry between the two states in whatever you do. But more or less, having professional teams, basketball teams, it was just heated.

“ ‘X’ (Seattle’s Xavier McDaniel) and I, we always got technicals. I just set aside $100 every time we played them. And we truly did not like a lot of the other parties in there. It wasn’t a hatred, but it was a dislike. When you’re gonna play, we’re gonna try to beat the (heck) out of you, and vice versa.”

— Jerome Kersey, Blazers forward from 1984-95. Record vs. Sonics: 37-27

“We just had some knock-down, drag out affairs. And it was wonderful. Everybody was pumped. I was pumped, they were pumped. The feeling was just extraordinary. The teams matched up so well. They knew they had a rival. Whether they played here or there, it was going to be tough.”

— Bill Schonely, Blazers play-by-play broadcaster from 1970-98

“I don’t think we took it personal. I think what happens is you compete at a high level. And if you have to knock someone down, you knock them down. I mean, that’s just the way it was. But it wasn’t anything dirty. I think both clubs played really hard, and neither team was intimidated by the other.”

— Lenny Wilkens

Fans made the rivalry

To some players it was just another game. It was the fans who took it to the next level.

“The fans, because of the location of the two teams, made it our rival. And just like most players, our rivals were the Lakers. It wasn’t the Blazers. ... It didn’t feel that way. It didn’t feel like a rivalry game. They were a good team, and it was a big game because they were a talented team. But the rivalry was more Celtics, Lakers, Philly.

“I think the Blazers fans made it that, because at that time they were successful and they were traveling with the team. They were supporters. When Portland came to Seattle, you saw a lot of Portland fans in jerseys in the stands. They had a huge following. I think at that time we played three teams in the Kingdome, and the Blazers were one of them. We played the Celtics, we played Chicago, and we played the Blazers because they had a large group following them.”

— Nate McMillan, Sonics player from 1986-98; Sonics coach from 2000-05; Blazers coach from 2005-present. Playing record vs. Blazers: 35-29. Coaching record vs. Blazers: 7-13. Coaching record vs. Sonics: 5-6.

“The fans took a lot of pride. I can remember busloads and busloads of fans going up to Seattle, following the team, and vice versa. I remember their fans coming down to Portland and rooting their team on. It was a very intense rivalry.”

— Maurice Lucas

An era that already ended

The rivalry may soon end, but the intensity got a head start on a series that has not felt as heated in recent years.

“I say that because Seattle is in a different frame right now, a different mindset. The guys who are playing there aren’t really attached to that city, where as the guys who were playing there, Fred (Brown) had been playing there a long time, Dennis (Johnson) and them had gotten drafted there. Gus (Williams) had gotten drafted. So they had built a nice team. These (current) guys are all trade guys, and not really affiliated with that team.”

— Maurice Lucas

“It hasn’t been (as intense). I understand that. I think, the Sonics are going to move — that started years ago — and it just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger and then, finally, ‘Who cares about Seattle anymore? We’ve got the Lakers, or we’ve got Golden State, or we’ve got Denver.’ It’s not the same.

“But at one time, boy, it was hammer and nails. I loved it.”

— Bill Schonely