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Andrew Bogut verbally flipped-off the Clippers

The verbal taunts are already flying between the L.A. Clippers and Golden State Warriors and the regular season hasn't even started yet.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

In this day of league-wide camaraderie among players, many insist that rivalries between NBA teams no longer really exist. Lakers-Celtics is the NBA's all-time rivalry, but they're both in the midst of rebuilding. A rivalry between a couple of teams that aren't any good isn't much of a rivalry, is it?

Fear not, because the hatred between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors is real, and it is spectacular. It's about the closest thing to a legitimate rivalry we have in the league today. Clips coach Doc Rivers recently said (to Grantland's Zach Lowe) that the Warriors were lucky to get through the West and win the title a year ago. He's not necessarily wrong, of course, but that didn't sit well with Golden State's players. Here's what Klay Thompson had to say on the matter.

Center Andrew Bogut made an appearance on a Bay Area radio station Friday, and he, too, was also asked about Doc's comment. Let's just say Bogut took a subtler route to his burn than did Thompson.

"I’ve actually got my ring fitted for my middle finger so they can kiss that one."

Look, I dislike the Warriors as much as anyone else here, but I have to say: This was a pretty sick burn. Klay's comments are whatever. Bogut just basically straight up said, "Eff you, Clippers!" Now that's more like it! He had some other things to say, as well:

"We’ve got a ring. We did all the hard work. We know what it takes. We don’t need any more motivation, but if they want to throw some at us, we’ll definitely put it on a little board and be aware of that. It’s one thing taking it from a team that’s won a championship, taking those kind of criticisms, but from a team that hasn’t is kind of dead air."

Man, for a team that just won the title the Warriors are pretty touchy! Golden State won the season series a year ago 3-1, and the first regular season showdown between the clubs will take place November 4th in Oakland. Getcha popcorn ready.