ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 26: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
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11:56 PM ET ESPN News Services Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler aggravated a tailbone injury that had kept him out four games in his return to the court on Monday, a 105-90 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Butler favored his back after a hard fall on a missed driving layup early in the first quarter.
A pair of game-worn Michael Jordan sneakers from his “Last Dance” championship season are available at Christie’s Auction. Michael Jordan may have played 1,072 games in his illustrious NBA career, but not all games are weighted equally. Some moments outshone others: Jordan won the NBA championship in six of his 15 NBA seasons, and only
7:27 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — LeBron James said he and his teammates have to play better when asked about the scrutiny facing Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “I think criticism comes with the job, you know? Frank is a strong-minded guy. He has a great coaching staff. And we as his players
Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett reveals in a GQ interview that he was close to joining the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the Celtics. Late last year, Sports Illustrated NBA reporter Michael Pina traveled to Minnesota to spend 48 hours gathering Kevin Garnett’s incredible story for GQ Magazine. Garnett, who spent 21 seasons in the
The boxing broadcast of the Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz fight mistook a ringside Kevin Garnett for Dwight Howard — and didn’t even notice Paul Pierce. Getting spotted in the crowd at a Staples Center event is practically a Los Angeles tradition. While it usually takes place at Lakers and Clippers games, there were celebrities
7:20 AM ET The two best teams in the NBA met twice last week, splitting the series. Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns shut down Stephen Curry on Tuesday in Phoenix, but the Golden State Warriors bounced back on their home floor on Friday. They both start the week at a league-best 19-4, but which
10:13 PM ET ESPN News Services ATLANTA — Miles Bridges scored 32 points and the Charlotte Hornets, without four players, leaned on their best 3-point shooting game of the season to beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-127 on Sunday night. Bridges made each of his four shots in the fourth quarter when he scored 13 points.
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. If you are the kind of perverse sports fan who enjoys extreme blowouts, Thursday night must have been an absolute delight. The Grizzlies beat the Thunder 152-79 (a 73-point
3:19 PM ET Associated Press DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will miss Saturday night’s game against Memphis, the second night of a back-to-back, with what the team says is left ankle soreness. Doncic missed three consecutive games last month because of left ankle and knee sprains. Dallas lost all three. The 22-year-old showed
Ty Jerome, Oklahoma City Thunder, Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies. (Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports) Watch: Notre Dame football players react to Marcus Freeman being named Fighting Irish head coach by John Buhler Memphis Grizzlies fans chanting “DE-FENSE” when up 78 points on the Oklahoma City Thunder is the type of inherent pettiness all NBA fans’
7:12 PM ET Jamal Collier Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat with right calf soreness, coach Mike Budenholzer announced before the game. It’s the second straight game Antetokounmpo has been sidelined because of the injury, which kept him out of the second half of a back-to-back on Thursday
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors. (Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports) Sean McVay is a great coach, but is he part of Rams’ struggles? by Matt Verderame Scottie Barnes left no doubt that he 100 percent is a rookie while failing miserably to execute the Toronto Raptors’ pregame introduction on Thursday night. Though he might be the
Dec 3, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) warms up before the start of the game against the Phoenix Suns at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Watch: Kenny Pickett looked like Michael Vick with fake-slide-turned-touchdown run by Ethan Lee Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry
1:31 AM ET NEW YORK — With DeMar DeRozan drawing James Harden and Kevin Durant with him on a drive into the paint, Lonzo Ball was all alone on the right wing as he launched a 3, crouched in anticipation and then turned toward courtside to the fans behind him after drilling a late dagger
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors. (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Report: Oregon has an ‘aggressive’ offer to keep Mario Cristobal in place by John Buhler Leave it up to Captain Klay Thompson to say the Seattle SuperSonics should be back in the NBA. Nobody wants the Seattle SuperSonics back in the NBA more than Golden State Warriors
5:45 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — After the New York Knicks lost their third straight game, and for the fourth time in their last five, against the Denver Nuggets Saturday afternoon, All-Star forward Julius Randle said it’s up to him and his teammates to decide what kind of season they want to have.
Dec 3, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) directs teammates during a break in the action against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Bellator 272: Sergio Pettis pulls off unreal comeback KO of Kyoji Horiguchi to retain title
9:57 AM ET ESPN News Services The Charlotte Hornets have had four players — LaMelo Ball, Jalen McDaniels, Mason Plumlee and Terry Rozier — enter into the NBA’s health and safety protocols, it was announced Saturday. The Hornets have sent players and staff home from their practice facility as there’s concern of possible positive COVID-19
Neil Olshey, Portland Trail Blazers. (Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports) Lamar Jackson brags no one has ever caught him in a game of tag by Aryanna Prasad Reminder: MLB trade discussions can still continue during the lockout by Aryanna Prasad The Portland Trail Blazers have parted ways with long-time general manager Neil Olshey. After a decade
Neil Olshey, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) When is the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game? by Patrick Schmidt Portland Trail Blazers fans are over the moon about former general manager Neil Olshey getting fired. While an inevitable rebuild is coming to the Pacific Northwest, Portland Trail Blazers fans rejoiced over
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 24: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakersl against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images
3:25 AM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James said his brief stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols left him feeling “confused,” “frustrated” and “angry” after his first game back in the Lakers’ 119-115 loss to the LA Clippers on Friday night. James missed the Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday after
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Last week, just before a short holiday hiatus, we took a traditional approach to power rankings, focusing on the best teams in the league. Today, we’re going to put
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. On Tuesday night, the Phoenix Suns stretched their win streak to 17 games but picked up what was clearly their most important win of the season. By knocking off
After being fined their next second-round draft pick, it seems the Miami Heat won’t have to pay out their fine for another six years. As the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat soar through the Eastern Conference on the wings of Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry, an investigation hung over the heads of these teams as
1:57 AM ET ESPN News Services PORTLAND, Ore. — New Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups questioned his team’s effort after a 114-83 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. The Blazers were without All-Star guard Damian Lillard but still put up little fight against a Spurs team which came into the
Ben Simmons has been excused for mental health-related reasons, but the team is now fining him if he does not cooperate with team doctors. The Ben Simmons saga rages on in Philadelphia, as the 76ers have once again begun to fine the once-successful 76er. According to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the 76ers fined the All-Star
While the Suns and Warriors have taken the NBA by storm, the Utah Jazz have quietly improved upon last year’s dominant play with the league’s best offense. The Warriors and Suns currently sit at the center of the NBA world’s attention this week, and rightfully so. The two teams have won a combined 36 of
12:14 PM ET The Portland Trail Blazers have fired general manager and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey following an investigation into workplace misconduct, the team announced Friday. “Following the conclusion of the independent review of concerns and complaints around our workplace environment at the practice facility, the Portland Trail Blazers organization has decided to
Nov 28, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts against the Detroit Pistons in the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Virginia football: 5 replacements for Bronco Mendenhall after surprise resignation by Cody Williams LeBron James tested positive for COVID on Tuesday but the
11:37 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Even with history looming as it approached a franchise record win streak, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams said he tried not to bring it up to his team. But after a 114-103 victory Thursday night over the visiting Detroit Pistons set a franchise mark with 18 consecutive wins, Williams allowed
Dec 2, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ty Jerome (16) goes to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports MLB trade grades: Who won Hunter Renfroe-Jackie Bradley Jr. swap? by Scott Rogust The Oklahoma City Thunder were humbled
Former Celtics and Grizzlies guard Tony Allen. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Watch: Tommy Rees’ speech to Notre Dame players about staying was utterly awesome by Alicia de Artola Former Celtics and Grizzlies guard Tony Allen was arrested and charged with domestic assault after an altercation with his wife near Memphis. Tony Allen’s retirement really isn’t going
6:23 PM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has been cleared to return to the lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ game against the LA Clippers on Friday after a brief stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the league announced Thursday. James has returned eight negative tests since returning to Los Angeles on
New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle commented on how a lack of officiating based on his size isn’t fair in the NBA. Beyond the instance of unseen fouls, NBA officiating can be subjective, to say the least. Julius Randle experienced the brunt of that on Tuesday night during a depressingly close loss to their
Atlanta Hawks star and New York Knicks villain Trae Young received one vote to become New York City’s new mayor during their recent mayoral election. As Knicks fans streamed out of Madison Square Garden on June 3, they espoused their hatred from the man who prevented a potential Knicks title: Atlanta Hawks Trae Young. [embedded
NBA Hall of Fame shooter Ray Allen complimented Golden State Warriors Steph Curry on nearing his all-time 3-point record. For 18 years, Ray Allen dominated the NBA known as the best 3-point shooter in NBA history. Allen surpassed Reggie Miller, another great, on the NBA all-time leaderboard for 3-point makes. From 1996 to 2014, Allen
12:28 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid said “it’s going to take awhile” for him to fully round back into form after an extended bout with COVID-19. Embiid had his second straight rough shooting performance in Wednesday’s 88-87 loss to the Boston Celtics. “I would never use it as an
New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry now share a fascinating statistic unique only to them. What does towering Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas have in common with prolific Warriors shooter Steph Curry? It’s certainly not height. Curry is listed at 6-foot-2, while Valanciunas is oversized at 6-foot-11. It’s
The NBA will make the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls forfeit second-round draft picks as penalty for tampering in Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry deals. The long-awaited verdict for the tampering trade charges involving Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry has finally been released. After a four-month investigation, the NBA has determined that the offending
1:26 AM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — As Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo charged toward the basket during the closing seconds of a tie game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, he knew he was going to have to get creative to score. So, Antetokounmpo flipped the ball off the bottom of the glass with
In a new interview, Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl Anthony-Towns shared a sweet memento he still keeps from his mom, who passed away from COVID in 2020. The focus of The Undefeated’s recent profile on Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns fixates on how the game is coming together for the 26-year-old. “There’s just way more joy in his
After a brief stint with the Santa Cruz Warriors, NBA veteran Jeremy Lin returns to China to join the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. At 33 years old, Jeremy Lin has had quite the basketball journey, from Harvard to feverish Knicks “Linsanity” to the resulting seven-year journey involving six different NBA teams. But
3:20 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo will undergo surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, the team announced Wednesday. Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Adebayo is expected to be out for four to six weeks, which would cause him to miss between 15 to
Warriors fans are awaiting the return of Klay Thompson but they should be excited by what he’s doing while rehabbing with G-League Santa Cruz. While the Golden State Warriors are looking like one of the NBA’s elite once again after some pedestrian years by their measure, the franchise also has an ace in the hole:
11:07 AM ET Denver Nuggets guards Bones Hyland and Austin Rivers have entered into the league’s health and safety protocols, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday. If they test positive for the virus, they will be away from the team for at least 10 days, which would result in at least six missed games.
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler joked with longtime Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan that he stole DeRozan’s best friend, former Raptors star Kyle Lowry. Jimmy Butler just took trash-talking to a whole new level. In a comical Instagram story photo, Butler hit DeRozan where it hurts: his heart. “There’s a new bestie in town,” Butler said,
Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic had the final say on the Jokic-Morris feud by blaring the Serbian national anthem in a Miami nightclub after the Nov. 29 win. The heated feud between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris began on Nov. 8 after Jokic reacted to Morris with a dirty play. The moment caused Jokic, Morris and
With Jamal Murray still out and Michael Porter Jr. undergoing back surgery, are the Denver Nuggets watching their championship hopes slip away? As Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals came to an end, the broadcast cut to a shot of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Kevin Durant together on the sideline. The three men
11:10 PM ET PHOENIX — Devin Booker left the Phoenix Suns‘ big matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night with a left hamstring injury and did not return. He suffered the injury during the second quarter, grabbing his leg after a drive six minutes before halftime. He left the game moments later. Booker
The Houston Rockets haven’t been able to trade John Wall and now he doesn’t want to sit out and wait anymore. Does this make things better or worse? John Wall wants to play again. After sitting out all of the Houston Rockets’ games so far this year, he is now expressing a desire to rejoin
6:51 PM ET SACRAMENTO — LeBron James has entered the league’s health and safety protocols and will miss Tuesday’s game against the Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers announced. James has already missed 11 of the Lakers’ 22 games coming into Tuesday because of injuries and a suspension. L.A. is 7-4 with James this season and
Nov 28, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Avery Bradley (20) in the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Lincoln Riley will find immediate success with USC football by Alicia de Artola Los
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James praised comedian Kevin Hart for his dramatic performance in the Netflix limited series “True Story.” LeBron James frequently shares passionate opinions on Twitter, including his takes on his favorite television shows. While he loved the Netflix hit Squid Game (but hated the ending), James had nothing but praise for
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. When talking about the state of competitiveness in the NBA, the discussion generally revolves around two extremes — parity and elitism. Whether you’re talking about the entertainment product, the
2:11 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris will undergo surgery on his injured left ankle and is expected to miss four to eight weeks, with optimism he can return on the shorter end of that timeline, Harris’ agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. Nets head
Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images 5 transfer destinations for former Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler by John Buhler The United States national basketball team needed a strong showing from Isaiah Thomas. Thankfully, Thomas showed up and had some late game heroics to secure victory for Team USA. Isaiah Thomas may not be in the NBA at
2:18 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN Jonas Valanciunas wasn’t exactly a marksman when he entered the NBA in 2012. In fact, in his first five seasons in the league, he went 1-of-4 from 3-point range. But those days are long gone. Valanciunas hit his first seven 3-pointers on Monday night — all in the first half
New York Knicks point guard Kemba Walker has been taken out of the starting rotation, according to Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. Kemba Walker opened his first season with the Knicks coming out strong with a revenge game win over his former Boston Celtics. One month into the season, Walker is already out of the
2:52 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters Monday afternoon that he is removing guard Kemba Walker from not only the team’s starting lineup but also the rotation as a whole, beginning with Tuesday’s showdown with the crosstown-rival Nets in Brooklyn. “It’s a tough decision to make, but you always
7:35 AM ET The battle for No. 1 in the NBA Power Rankings is on. The Golden State Warriors, winners of seven straight games, take their league-best 18-2 record into Tuesday night’s Western Conference showdown with the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix, meanwhile, hasn’t lost in over a month and is one win shy of matching the
Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green downplays league-leading defensive play by saying he wants to show his kids the best he can be. The Warriors are 15-2, and Draymond Green is a major reason why that’s the case. Ever the perfectionist, the 31-year-old power forward reflected on how his children motivate him to be
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 28: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates scoring a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of the game at Staples Center on November 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using
8:38 PM ET Stephen Curry was angry at the officials during Sunday’s 105-90 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles, then made the other team pay for it. The Golden State Warriors star scored 13 of his team-high 33 points in the fourth quarter and caught fire with just over nine minutes left, after a
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers is ejected from the game during the third quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 21, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
After LeBron James was ejected from the Lakers-Pistons game for elbowing Isaiah Stewart, a Reddit thread went viral for cataloguing LeBron’s dirtiest plays. LeBron James had only been back on the court for a few days before he reclaimed Lakers headlines. This time, it wasn’t for empowering the faltering Los Angeles team after an extended
4:45 PM ET The Milwaukee Bucks are signing four-time All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Cousins, 31, will sign a non-guaranteed deal to join the defending NBA champions, sources said. Teams must guarantee contracts for the balance of the season by January 7. The Bucks have been without center Brook Lopez with
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 01: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets brings the ball up court during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on November 01, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms
Denver Nuggets power forward Michael Porter Jr. could be sidelined for the rest of the year with a nerve issue in his back that could require surgery. Michael Porter Jr.’s back issues have been limiting him since he entered the league. Porter Jr. fell from the No.1 overall pick in 2018 to No. 14 solely
12:20 AM ET NEW YORK, N.Y. — Moments after winning their 16th straight game, the Phoenix Suns could be heard clapping and shouting in celebration of their latest victory on their way into the visitor’s locker room at Barclays Center. “We run New York!” one member of the Suns team could be heard shouting in
5:56 PM ET Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid returned for Saturday’s home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after a nine-game absence due to health and safety protocols. Tobias Harris also returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a hip injury. The shorthanded Sixers went 2-7 without Embiid, who is
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 22: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks toward the bench during the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Fiserv Forum on November 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
3:53 PM ET Houston Rockets guard John Wall has expressed his hopes to the organization that he can resume playing for the team in the near future, sources tell ESPN. Wall and the Rockets had agreed on him sitting out until a trade could be found, but the five-time All-Star guard talked to Houston general
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. We’ve been playing around with power rankings for the past few Mondays on The Whiteboard, ranking things like MVP candidates, team defenses and most improved players. As most teams
Chicago Bulls point guard Alex Caruso became aware of media bias towards the Los Angeles Lakers after he left for Chicago. Alex Caruso has the underdog trajectory often championed in sports, but it wouldn’t be evident by looking at the 27-year-old play for the Bulls this season. Caruso began his NBA path as an undrafted
Nov 22, 2021; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts to a play late in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports Red Sox projected starting rotation after signing Michael Wacha by Ethan Lee LeBron James fined for ‘obscene gesture’ in
8:28 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — LeBron James was fined $15,000 for an obscene gesture Friday by the NBA, which also warned the Lakers superstar about using profane language. James made the gesture after making a shot late in Los Angeles’ 124-116 overtime victory in Indiana on Wednesday night. He had missed a
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 24: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of
2:07 AM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — De’Aaron Fox scored 34 points, Buddy Hield had 13 of his 25 after regulation and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 141-137 in triple overtime Friday night. In a game that saw 19 ties and 23 lead changes, the Lakers led 126-124 a minute into
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates after hitting a three pointer against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on October 29, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson believes 15-2 record is a “great indicator” of Warriors winning championship. Klay Thompson has been the ultimate Warriors hype man all season. From the sidelines, Thompson has been cheering his teammates on as he rehabilitates his right Achilles tendon. He may not play until Christmastime, but Klay is
1:01 PM ET Houston Rockets rookie guard Jalen Green will miss at least one week because of a strained left hamstring, coach Stephen Silas told reporters Friday. Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, exited Wednesday’s 118-113 win over the Chicago Bulls in the second quarter because of the injury. Silas said
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Boston Celtics dropped to 7-8 on Wednesday night after a 110-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Jayson Tatum poured in 34 points but it was the sixth time
Bill Walton #5 of the Boston Celtics. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) The Boston Celtics have had 37 Hall of Famers play for the franchise at some point during their legacy. Which ones were the most forgettable? The Boston Celtics are one of the most iconic franchises in sports. They have 17 NBA championships
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports) Why didn’t Mike McCarthy challenge potential Cowboys fumble recovery? by Mark Powell You saw LeBron James’ game-winning three-pointer against the Indiana Pacers. Now, take a look at this angle of the shot from a fan. If you thought a one-game suspension was going to slow
Warriors Draymond Green calls out former teammate Kevin Durant for his ashy ankles that are currently making the rounds online. Kevin Durant is one of the most feared big men in the league, both on the court and in the DMs. KD has developed a reputation for firing back at critics on social media, evidenced
8:18 AM ET Denver Nuggets guard P.J. Dozier is feared to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, sources told ESPN. Dozier crumbled to the floor on a collision at the rim during Tuesday night’s 119-100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, and initial imaging suggested a possible end to Dozier’s season, sources
An ESPN profile on the Boston Celtics’ fall from NBA Finals contention revealed that an Eastern Conference coach sees Jayson Tatum as selfish. When Marcus Smart called on teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to “pass the ball” earlier this month, it furthered the notion that these two young wings flanking the Celtics offense seem
5:21 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Former NBA player Marc Gasol will play for Girona, the club he founded in the second division of Spanish basketball, he announced Thursday. The 36-year-old Gasol said he will play until the end of the season before deciding whether to retire. Gasol is the owner and president of
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports) 5 bold predictions for Dolphins against Panthers by Russell S. Baxter LeBron James stopped a tight overtime battle between the Lakers and the Pacers to get two fans thrown out for saying something allegedly obscene. Something went down between LeBron James and two Pacers fans
11:59 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — Nets star Kevin Durant said it “means the world” to him to pass Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for 25th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during Brooklyn’s 123-104 victory over the Celtics here at TD Garden on Wednesday night. “I mean, it means the world. I dedicated
Washington Wizards Kyle Kuzma broke the Internet with his pink sweater, defending his fit on Instagram against LeBron James, J.R. Smith and Isaiah Thomas. Kyle Kuzma has made headline after headline for opinionated statements, but the Nov. 22 fit has gone too far. Kuzma rolled up to Capitol One Arena to play the Charlotte Hornets
1:53 AM ET INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James was napping in the city that never sleeps on Monday when the NBA announced that the Los Angeles Lakers star would be suspended for the first time in his 19-year career and have to miss Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks. “Rob [Pelinka] called me. I missed
Tim Duncan #21 is hugged by teammates Tracy McGrady #1 and Cory Joseph #5 (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) The San Antonio Spurs are a legendary team with legendary stars, but there are a few players who had a short stint with San Antonio that was forgettable. The San Antonio Spurs might be considered the
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic may have reaggravated his knee injury at a Nov. 22 practice, causing him to slam the bleachers in frustration. Luka Doncic was working with the Mavericks as he worked to overcome knee and ankle injuries that have sidelined him since Nov. 15. Things looked good a week later, as
4:11 AM ET LOS ANGELES — As Luka Doncic walked past Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd in the Staples Center hallway late Tuesday night, the All-Star smiled through the fatigue of his 41 minutes logged in his first game back from knee and ankle injuries. But the Mavericks star could not have felt any better
Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports Though the 2021-22 NBA season is still in its infancy, the early results already beckon for some franchises to swing a big trade. What’s the best part about the NBA? Trading, of course! The season is about a fifth of the way finished and a handful of teams already ride
7:21 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN THE BALL SWUNG from Jayson Tatum to Dennis Schroder to Al Horford to Marcus Smart, pinging around the perimeter in search of the best possible shot. It was Nov. 19, and the Boston Celtics — already leading by 14 points with just over five minutes to go against LeBron James
Jan 4, 2020; Sacramento, California, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick (4) walks on the court during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports Matthew Judon wants mac and cheese off the Thanksgiving table by Aryanna Prasad During an appearance on First Take, J.J.
1:11 AM ET NEW YORK — Russell Westbrook was tremendous in the second half of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 106-100 loss to the New York Knicks, scoring 25 of his game-high 31 points after the break to help get his team back into a game in which it trailed by as many as 25 points
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. With Monday night’s 115-111 win over the San Antonio Spurs, the Phoenix Suns pushed their win streak to 13 games. That’s the longest win streak we’ve seen this season,
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images Reddit calls out LeBron James on history of dirty plays by Aryanna Prasad NBA Twitter had fun at the expense of Kyle Kuzma and his ridiculously oversized sweater on Monday night. Sure, there are fans who tune in to NBA games to watch their favorite players in action. But, there
5:31 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson participated in a full team practice on Tuesday for the first time since tearing his left ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals and his right Achilles in November 2020. “It’s so exciting,” Thompson said. “Just to be running up and
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 8 and is now entering NBA health and safety protocols. Forced to cope with the absence of Ben Simmons all season, Philadelphia’s Sixers have adapted accordingly, winning eight of their 10 games so far this season. Now, they’re set to lose another one
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports Through a quarter season of play, trends have begun to materialize across the league. We’re taking a look at whether these early season indicators are real or fake, and where we expect them to settle over the remainder of the season. 5. Philadelphia’s superb offense: Real or fake? The 76ers experience
Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears. (Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) Aoriqileng responds to ‘disgusting’ racist comment made by Cody Durden by Amy Kaplan During the Chicago Bulls’ blowout loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, fans were chanting “Fire Nagy” inside the United Center. The Chicago Bears faithful have just about had it with
7:15 AM ET From his days as a rookie with the Denver Nuggets, to becoming a featured act in New York, to picking up monikers based on his apparel, to his preeminence in international competition, Carmelo Anthony‘s basketball reputation has morphed in his 19 years in the NBA. Yet, as Anthony begins to carve out
Iman Shumpert on Dancing with the Stars NFL Twitter furious Steve Levy can’t say Chris Godwin’s name properly by Cody Williams Iman Shumpert has won the 30th season of Dancing With the Stars, becoming the first NBA player to hoist the Mirrorball Trophy. Iman Shumpert may be a former NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers,
7:36 AM ET The Golden State Warriors rolled past the Brooklyn Nets 117-99 on Tuesday, cruising to a league-best 15-2 record. And while coach Steve Nash has the Nets trending in the right direction, the loss to the Warriors at home is a reminder of the work still needed to be done. Stephen Curry dropped
Longtime Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry reiterates that he will always be a Raptor at heart — and he still plans on retiring as one. Loyalty can be a tricky notion in the NBA. Some of the best players who remained fiercely loyal were only ever rewarded in kindness, failing to win a coveted
11:56 PM ET Phoenix Suns big man Frank Kaminsky has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right knee and will be out indefinitely, the team announced Sunday. Kaminsky had missed the last two games after logging just under four minutes in the Suns’ victory over Minnesota last week. A key depth piece for
Apr 8, 2021; Sacramento, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph (18) celebrates as a time out is called against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports Raiders prove completely fraudulent in putrid loss to Bengals by Byron Smith Tiger Woods offers auspicious message,
1:26 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green says he has found “love and joy for the game” again after two up-and-down seasons. Green, 31, made the proclamation after leading the Warriors — now a league-best 15-2 — to another dominating win against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. “I’ve just
San Antonio Spurs coach revealed his key to success in a recent press conference: draft Tim Duncan and hope it leads to an NBA Championship. Gregg Popovich just had the most Gregg Popovich press conference imaginable. Always reluctant to speak with media, Popvich was even more reluctant to gloat about almost becoming the winningest regular
8:03 PM ET DETROIT — LeBron James was ejected from the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday for striking Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart in the face while jostling for rebounding position. The hit led to a stoppage in action while Stewart, with blood coming down his face, had to be
LeBron James talked some serious trash talk to Draymond Green after the Ohio State Buckeyes handed Green’s alma mater, Michigan State, a big loss on the gridiron. LeBron James and Draymond Green have a healthy rivalry on the court dating back to their meetings in the NBA Finals when the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland
1:05 PM ET The Sacramento Kings fired coach Luke Walton on Sunday, sources told ESPN. The Kings have lost seven of eight games and dropped to 6-11 on season — leaving them 12th in the Western Conference. Kings associate head coach Alvin Gentry — a five-time head coach in the NBA — is expected to
In a GQ interview, Milwaukee Bucks legend Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about facing challenges elsewhere, which some interpreted as an imminent departure. NBA stars are lining the pages of GQ Magazine, as Kevin Garnett just did when he offered an in-depth interview with the magazine. But of course, Giannis did his write-up with flair, earning the
Former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce squashes a mortifying longtime NBA rumor in an exclusive interview with The Athletic. It’s the biggest scandal that ever rocked the NBA, and it stained Paul Pierce’s legacy. (And his pants). All jokes aside, it turns out that these jokes no longer fly anymore, as Pierce has finally spoken
1:07 PM ET Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Friday night’s home game against the Orlando Magic because of a right shoulder sprain, the team announced. Durant said Sunday that he had been getting treatment on his shooting shoulder but had been playing through the issue. Friday will mark Durant’s first
Tyler Herro was destined to have a highlight as the Heat guard’s attempted alley-oop pass to Jimmy Butler ended up being a sick half-court shot. The Miami Heat have been playing great basketball to start the 2021-22 season and, on Wednesday night, they had a great opportunity to pick up their 10th win of the
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a call on the court in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on October 30, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 93-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,
9:28 PM ET ESPN News Services CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton‘s season is over after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Sexton, 22, hurt his knee on Nov. 7 in a game against the New York Knicks. The Cavs didn’t provide an update until Friday, when they said Sexton underwent
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 5: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against the Malachi Flynn #22 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on November 5, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using
8:21 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — The Denver Nuggets were without reigning MVP Nikola Jokic on Friday night against the Chicago Bulls because of a sprained right wrist. Jokic appeared to hurt the wrist the night before in a home loss to Philadelphia. The Nuggets big man is averaging 26.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and
Former superstar player Tracy McGrady couldn’t have been more disappointed that Anthony Davis was named to the NBA’s Top 75 list over Dwight Howard. Ever since the NBA released its list of the best 75 players of all time, people have been going nuts over it. There were some snubs and some guys on the
The Lakers were once again without LeBron James but looked like they could use a steadying force with a baffling display loosely resembling basketball. It’s not been the most promising start to the 2021-22 season for the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only has the team started out 8-7 heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the Bucks
Los Angeles Laker Russell Westbrook misheard a press conference question that led to a new nickname for the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. Russell Westbrook may have come most recently from the Washington Wizards, but the California native hails from Long Beach, CA. He’s finally back home in Los Angeles, and he’s been making
2:09 AM ET BOSTON — LeBron James‘ return from an extended absence couldn’t cure the inconsistent play that has plagued his team on both ends and was on full display in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 130-108 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. The defeat dropped L.A. — one of the oddsmakers’ favorites to win
A source from the Philadelphia 76ers said that there is a list of about 30 NBA players who the team is willing to swap for Ben Simmons. Is the Ben Simmons trade happening soon? The short answer is no, but the long answer is that the impending deal is already taking shape. The Athletic’s Sam
8:16 PM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the organization would “continue to fight for better” in the aftermath of a jury’s verdict Friday that Kyle Rittenhouse, who fatally shot two men and wounded another during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year, was acquitted of all charges. The Bucks performed
Though not known as a basketball fan, Taylor Swift has had a long-running relationship with the NBA that predates her recording career and continues today. On Friday, Taylor Swift released Red (Taylor’s Version), the second installment in her ongoing quest to re-record each of her first six albums. Red remains her best record as well
1:57 PM ET The NBA has suspended New Orleans Pelicans guard Didi Louzada 25 games without pay for violating the NBA/NBPA’s anti-drug program. Louzada tested positive for drostanolone and testosterone. In a statement to ESPN, Louzada, 22, described the source of unknowingly ingesting the banned substances as an offseason trip back to his Brazilian home
Jalen Green and Cade Cunningham, the top two picks from this past year’s draft, faced off in the Rockets-Pistons matchup and Green got the upper hand, at least on one play. The Houston Rockets playing host to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night represented the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Detroit’s Cade
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Houston Rockets are not good. Like, really, really not good. Their record currently stats at 1-14 and they’ve been outscored by an average of 10.7 points per 100
New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson has been cleared for 1-on-1 drills and full contact as he progresses toward a full return. If the Warriors are the best in the West, the Pelicans are arguably the worst, with only one win more than the 1-14 Houston Rockets. Even though they dominate the league in
7:40 AM ET Brian Windhorst Close ESPN Senior Writer ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books Andrew Lopez In a sobering statement about the New Orleans Pelicans‘ season, the team has announced more delays to Zion Williamson‘s return from a broken foot than it has victories this
The championship-or-bust Lakers currently sit well outside the championship picture. How much should we be worried about L.A.’s slow start? The Lakers introduced significant downside risk to their season the moment they traded for Russell Westbrook, but it was hard to see things going this poorly this fast. We knew it would be difficult for
As his own NBA career takes off on the league-leading Golden State Warriors, Gary Payton II found a nickname he likes that’s an homage to his HOF father. With a name like Gary Payton II, it’s hard not being compared to Dad — especially when the elder Gary Payton is a Hall of Fame point
Orlando Magic center Robin Lopez mocks the Staples Center rename and the city of Boston in one fell swoop with hilarious tweet about Crypto.com Arena. The Staples Center is iconic, which is why renaming the beloved Los Angeles event space has sent shockwaves through the sports world. Clearly, “Crypto.com Arena” doesn’t have the same ring
12:06 AM ET CLEVELAND — The Golden State Warriors have gotten so used to seeing star guard Stephen Curry dominate on so many levels that nothing he does surprises them anymore. The latest example came during Thursday night’s 104-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers — one in which Curry scored 20 of his 40 points
NBA and NFL athletes used their platform to pressure Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt to commute the sentence of Julius Jones hours before his execution. Athlete activism has seen an uptick in recent years, with countless athletes sharing their perspectives directly with fans. Professional athletes possess unparalleled platforms, as heroes to millions of adoring sports fans
8:48 AM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Ramona Shelburne Close ESPN Senior Writer Senior writer for ESPN.com Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News NBA general managers are working to finalize the formation of a professional association that would collectively support executives
The brothers of Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic and Miami Heat player Markieff Morris took the fight to Twitter and challenged one another publicly. “Brotherly love” often denotes the kind, loyal camaraderie between two siblings. In the Jokic Brothers’ case, brotherly love is about sticking up for your brother’s reputation and bringing the fight to
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been suspended for one game due to an unsportsmanlike hit that injured Miami Heat center Markieff Morris. Markieff Morris has been suffering long after Nikola Jokic decked him during a Monday night game between the Nuggets and the Heat. Now, it appears that Jokic will suffer too, as the
The Staples Center, which is the famous home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, will now be renamed in a landmark multi-year naming rights deal. The Staples Center. It’s where the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks and Kings host opponents in key matchups. The name, just as the building itself, is the home of indoor sporting
7:33 AM ET Bobby Marks The NBA season is a month old, and already we’re seeing the impact of the biggest moves of the offseason. After a run to the NBA Finals, Chris Paul re-signed in Phoenix and has the Suns near the top of the West again. Kyle Lowry went from Toronto to Miami
Former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade spoke with Stephen A. Smith about how watching the Warriors play makes him appreciate Draymond Green more. The Warriors are taking over the NBA, and they’re finally getting the attention they deserve for their league-best 12-2 record. Steph Curry is the leading MVP candidate. Steve Kerr is taking the
12:43 AM ET NEW YORK — Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson has been cleared for full contact as he continues his rehab from a torn Achilles suffered in 2020. Thompson, who stayed behind on the Warriors’ four-game East Coast swing with several members of the Warriors’ support staff, has started doing some 5-on-5 work
MRI scans confirm that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton suffered a meniscus tear during their 126-109 win over the New York Knicks. A Nov. 7 win over the New York Knicks have propelled the Cleveland Cavaliers to sixth in the Eastern Conference as they ride a four-game win streak. Unfortunately, Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton will
The Dancing With the Stars finals are set, and a former NBA champion has made history as a result. The 30th season of Dancing with the Stars is nearing its conclusion, with the finals set to take place next week. With the semi-final round officially over, a former NBA champion has made history. Iman Shumpert,
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports The Warriors have been dominant early in the season and it’s become more obvious by the day that Golden State should be heavy NBA Championship favorites. Coming into Tuesday night’s trip to Barclays Center to face the surging Nets, the Golden State
12:54 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard has received a contract extension amid Washington’s fast start to the season. Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced Wednesday that Sheppard and Sashi Brown signed multiyear extensions and received promotions. Sheppard now becomes president and GM of the Wizards. Brown, who has served as
The Chicago Bulls tried to host a jersey giveaway based on Alex Caruso and Coby White in the game against the Lakers, but neither player met minimal requirements. To liven things up before taking on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, the Chicago Bulls decided to host a fun little giveaway in the
DeMar DeRozan said he thought joining the Los Angeles Lakers was a “done deal” this past offseason. DeMar DeRozan spent three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs after being dealt to the Western Conference team by the Toronto Raptors in the infamous Kawhi Leonard deal. This past offseason, DeRozan became an unrestricted free agent, where
Cleveland Cavaliers rookie center Evan Mobley is expected to miss a few weeks due to a right elbow sprain suffered in a Nov. 15 game against the Celtics. When the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Boston Celtics on Monday night, they were 9-5 this season. This season’s early success is largely due to Cavs rookie Evan
12:42 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BROOKLYN, N.Y. — After the Brooklyn Nets were routed by the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night on their home floor, losing 117-99 to fall to 0-4 this season against the Warriors, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, Nets coach Steve Nash said his team doesn’t belong in the
Nov 10, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) dribbles as Memphis Grizzles guard Dillon Brooks (24) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Twitter has a meltdown when Jorge Masvidal pulls out of Leon Edwards fight by Curtis Calhoun Hornets play-by-play announcer Eric Collins went
The Warriors have the best record in the NBA but many people are still doubting them, something Klay Thompson and Golden State are feeding off of. It’s been a dream start to the 2021-22 season for the Golden State Warriors. Heading into their matchup against a familiar face, Kevin Durant, and the Nets on Tuesday
5:17 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been cleared to participate in contact drills, the team announced, the latest step toward his eventual return to the court. Williamson, who is in his third year, has missed every game this season because of a right foot fracture suffered in the summer.
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. We’re still months away from seeing an NBA MVP crowned for the 2021-22 season but individual campaigns have a way of codifying earlier, building momentum that sets the narrative
Kevin Durant has a matchup against the Warriors on Tuesday, his former team, and the Nets superstar’s activity on Twitter suggests a revenge game is coming. While with the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant was nothing if not prolific. The superstar forward spent three seasons with the franchise, helping to lead them to two NBA
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. I’m not sure calling it ‘improbable’ even does justice to the Washington Wizards’ start. After Monday night’s win 105-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, they are 10-3 with
12:04 PM ET There’s growing optimism that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James — who has been out two weeks with an abdominal strain — could make his return against the Boston Celtics on Friday, sources told ESPN. James has been making good progress, and Friday’s meeting with the Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) looms
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio delivered an exhilarating comeback win against the Detroit Pistons, showing the Team Spain version of himself. The Boston Celtics maybe 6-7, but they nearly had another win on Saturday night when facing the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers played up from behind, staging an incredible 91-89 comeback win at the
3:48 AM ET Jamal Collier LOS ANGELES — Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 38 points on Monday night to help lift Chicago to a 121-103 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, the fifth time in the past nine games he has notched at least 30 points. Even though DeRozan reached his season high
Washington Wizards small forward Kyle Kuzma finally answered the viral Cleveland news station who said Kuzma won an NBA Championship “thanks to LeBron.” The Wizards defeated the Cavaliers last Wednesday, but Kyle Kuzma and the city of Cleveland have been taking shots ever since. It all started on Wednesday, when Kuzma was in Rocket Mortgage
John Wall, Houston Rockets. (Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) ONE Championship’s Dovydas Rimkus has the best hair in all of combat sports by Amy Kaplan There is a chance point guard John Wall does not play a second during the 2021-22 NBA season, whether that be for the Houston Rockets or for anyone, for
10:26 PM ET In initial remarks made to Phoenix Suns employees Monday, lawyers from the New York-based Wachtell Lipton firm that’s investigating the team and majority owner Robert Sarver addressed concerns about retaliation, confidentiality and a timeline for completion, league sources told ESPN. Two attorneys from the firm — David Anders and Sarah Eddy —
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers, Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz. (Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports) ONE: NEXTGEN II official live results and highlights by Amy Kaplan Tensions were high in Salt Lake City on Thursday night, as Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert got into a backcourt kerfuffle in the final minutes of
Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte Hornets. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Raiders punter AJ Cole auditions to play linebacker with hit-stick, forced fumble by Scott Rogust Kelly Oubre was not cool enough to keep his cool when battling his former Golden State teammate Steph Curry in Charlotte. Kelly Oubure may play for the Charlotte Hornets now,
8:00 AM ET The NBA’s last remaining one-loss team suffered its second defeat Sunday when the Golden State Warriors fell to the Charlotte Hornets. Stephen Curry kicked off the week with a 50-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks — and dropped 40 against the Chicago Bulls on Friday — but was 7-of-22 from the field
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant complimented the basketball IQ of Toronto Raptors rookie forward Scottie Barnes relative to his young age. The Brooklyn Nets may have won their Nov. 7 game against the Toronto Raptors, but the Raptors came away with a different kind of win: high praise from one of the best forwards in
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 14: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket while guarded by Damion Lee #1 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter during their game at Spectrum Center on November 14, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,
11:19 PM ET Kevin Durant‘s MVP-like start to the season continued Sunday with 33 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder despite a sore right shoulder. After helping the Brooklyn Nets beat the Thunder 120-96, Durant acknowledged that he is getting treatment on his shooting shoulder. He could be seen at one point moving and feeling
The Detroit Pistons drafted Cade Cunningham to transform the franchise. The rookie is proving why patience will pay off in the long term. Cade Cunningham is starting to look more like the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the day. On Thursday, the Pistons guard put up 20 points in a win
9:57 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis “imposed his will” and Talen Horton-Tucker reintroduced his skill as the Lakers bounced back from a disappointing loss to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-106 on Sunday. Davis scored 27 of his game-high 34 points in the first half, accounting for his biggest scoring half since December
Feeling slighted by underestimation, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr compared himself to Game of Thrones hero Arya Stark. Whether you’re an NBA coach or royalty of the Kingdom of the North, there’s nothing like being fueled by underestimation. That’s the comparison Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr drew when he likened himself
8:21 PM ET Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner were among four players fined by the NBA on Friday after the two players got into a scuffle late in Thursday night’s game. Gobert was fined $35,000 for initiating the on-court altercation, while Turner received a $25,000 fine for escalating it,
The Portland Trail Blazers take another loss, but maybe they shouldn’t have because of this missed intentional foul call on the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Nov. 3, the 3-4 Portland Trail Blazers entered Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to take on the 4-4 Cleveland Cavaliers. The outcome of the game could have gotten Portland four wins while handing Cleveland
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 11: Head coach David Joerger of the Sacramento Kings reacts to a call against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting
6:05 PM ET Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets with lower abdominal pain. Lillard has struggled to start the season, shooting below 40% from the field and below 30% from 3-point range. The Blazers officially ruled Lillard out with “lower abdominal tendinopathy.” He had
Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver was accused of racist, misogynistic behavior in a toxic workplace and now his wife has sent messages to former employees. While Phoenix Suns fans await any resolution to the bombshell report that alleged team owner Robert Sarver created a toxic workplace environment with rampant racism and misogyny from the executive,
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 13: Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver attends Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center on October 13, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Sky 91-86 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User
During their Nov. 12 loss against the Charlotte Hornets, the New York Knicks proved that their bench was stronger than their starters. When the New York Knicks won their season opener against the Boston Celtics, New York celebrated in the streets about how this Knicks team just might be different. The New York team has
9:37 PM ET Philadelphia 76ers top assistant coach Dave Joerger is leaving the team for several weeks to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments for a form of “head and neck” cancer, Joerger told ESPN. Joerger, 47, has undergone treatments while coaching for the past two weeks — missing only one road game — but the
The Celtics have reportedly discussed a Ben Simmons trade with the 76ers but Boston would have to part with one of their biggest names at minimum. Any hope that the Ben Simmons situation would start to sort itself out has been unfounded through the first few weeks of the 2021-22 NBA season. The 76ers have
After the Philadelphia 76ers resumed fining Ben Simmons last week, the 76er revealed through his agent that the team is making his mental health even worse. Ben Simmons has reached a new level of unhappiness as a 76er, according to an exclusive released by The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Charania reported on Nov. 11 that Simmons
Russell Westbrook has been a let-down for the Los Angeles Lakers, prompting the question of who would have been better than him for the team. Back in August, newly-acquired Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook was ranked at the No. 10 point guard in the NBA. “Russ is ranked too low,” FS1 analyst Shannon Sharpe said
12:40 AM ET NEW ORLEANS — When he got off to a slow scoring start this season, James Harden said his body and conditioning weren’t yet ready to score 30 and 40 points. It took him 13 games but Harden cracked 30 points for the first time this season, and nearly hit 40. The Brooklyn
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Davante Adams promises Packers would use Odell Beckham Jr. right by Aryanna Prasad Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins faced off against his former team, the Timberwolves, and put his old teammate Karl-Anthony Towns on a poster with a huge dunk. The Golden State Warriors have
2:52 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis unloaded on the Lakers after Friday night’s 107-83 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves that was largely determined by a third quarter in which his team was outscored 40-12. “We sucked,” Davis said when asked about the third. “No defense. Can’t score. That’s not just this third quarter,
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Evan Mobley’s incredibly advanced defense has gotten plenty of attention in the early part of this season, including a detailed breakdown from Ben Ladner in last week’s installment of
8:07 PM ET The NBA’s probe into possible pre-free agency tampering centered on the sign-and-trade acquisitions of Chicago’s Lonzo Ball and Miami’s Kyle Lowry appears to have reached the advanced stages, sources told ESPN on Friday. The NBA has conducted numerous interviews with team executives and player agents and have gathered electronic messaging of front
The NBA has long been one of clear eras where certain players make more sense than others. Which NBA players were just born at the wrong time? It happens all the time. A sport we love seems to change its philosophies, and we think about the players from the past who would have excelled. Baseball
10:06 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — Pistons power forward Kelly Olynyk will miss at least six weeks with a sprained left knee. Olynyk was hurt Wednesday in the Pistons’ 112-104 victory over the Houston Rockets, limping off the court in the fourth quarter. The Pistons said he underwent testing Thursday that revealed a Grade
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Tom Thibodeau is fed up. Trailing by 16 points against the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night, he benched his starters for the entire fourth quarter. After the game, he was
1:54 AM ET ESPN News Services SALT LAKE CITY — Four players were ejected after Rudy Gobert and Myles Turner got into a scuffle late in the Indiana Pacers‘ 111-110 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. The tussle began after Gobert appeared to pull Turner down to the ground with him after Turner
In the final seconds of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Memphis Grizzlies game, Karl Anthony-Towns banks a buzzer-beater that sends Timberwolves to overtime. If there was ever a Hail Mary on the basketball court, it would be the shot Karl-Anthony Towns banked in at the final seconds of the Timberwolves-Grizzles game. With one second left on the shot
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: LeBron James (L) and Odell Beckham Jr. attend as Remy Martin presents Beats Party on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Remy Martin) Rams Roster: Rams wide receivers depth chart after signing Odell Beckham Jr. by Byron Smith When news broke that
2:44 PM ET Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic tested positive for COVID-19 and entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Thursday, sources told ESPN. The Bulls listed Vucevic in the protocols, but the positive test means the two-time All-Star selection will be sidelined for 10 days or until he has two negative PCR tests
Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shared his experience of attending a Harry Styles concert in Milwaukee on Nov. 3. What do NBA players do with their days off? Rest up, relax, and maybe go to a Harry Styles concert. That’s what Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo did on Tuesday, Nov. 2, his day off between
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo joked around about one day running for U.S. president while celebrating his championship at the White House. The celebration for winning the 2020-21 NBA Championship continues, as the Milwaukee Bucks visited the White House on Nov. 8 to celebrate their momentous achievement. But being in the political atmosphere got Giannis Antetokounmpo thinking:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has added a new trick to his bag this season, and the Hawks’ offense has struggled to get off the ground. Much of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career has unfolded in relative obscurity, but the absence of a spotlight has done nothing to stall his growth as a player. The 23-year-old made steady, substantive improvement
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The NBA season is — almost — a month old. What standouts are here to stay? The Eastern Conference standings is full of early-season surprises, including impressive starts from the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are dealing with injuries as they work
In a chat with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzales, Charles Barkley addressed how social media has an impact on the NBA and its players. In a new interview, Charles Barkley sat down with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzales to discuss the ways social media can impact NBA players. Barkley chatted with Durant and Gonzales on
12:23 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — Throughout the New Orleans Pelicans‘ much maligned start to the 2021-22 season, coach Willie Green has tried to stay positive about the direction in which his team is headed. But after a 108-100 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night in which his team picked up five
The Houston Rockets canceled a planned “Travis Scott Night” and instead will hold a moment of silence for Astroworld Festival victims. The Houston Rockets have been on the road for more than a week, playing their last home game on Thursday, Oct. 28. Of their five games on the road during that stretch, the 1-9
3:52 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had no interest in rehashing Monday’s on-court incident involving his team and the Denver Nuggets, or the subsequent penalties handed down by the NBA on Tuesday. “I’m done talking about it,” Spoelstra said Wednesday after his team’s shootaround in advance of Miami’s game against
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 24: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a call during a 121-118 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on October 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Bears vs. Steelers live stream Reddit for Week 9 by Braulio Perez Knicks
Dwight Howard wasn’t included on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. How did being left off the list impact him? At one point in his career, Dwight Howard was a force to be reckoned with. Now, at 36-years-old, he’s more of a role player for the Los Angeles Lakers. When considering his career, the folks who
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. To be clear, the Oklahoma City Thunder offense is not good right now. Through nine games they’ve averaged just 98.0 points per 100 possessions, worse than any team but
4:49 PM ET Three former Phoenix Suns employees have received messages from Penny Sarver, the wife of Robert Sarver, who is the team’s majority owner. Two messages came from the @pennsar Instagram account and another was a text message from a number that belongs to Penny Sarver. These former employees say they consider the messages
Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George needed to cool himself down after hitting a three-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Los Angeles Clippers just earned their second win of the season this past Monday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, thanks to a 32-point performance by Paul George. On Wednesday night, George was showing off his
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler. (Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports) NBA Twitter bowing down to Stephen Curry, monster performance for Warriors by Cody Williams NFL quarterback rankings, Week 10: Josh Allen struggles by Matt Verderame Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler wanted to meet Nikola Jokic outside for a fight after the Nuggets forward cheap shotted Markieff
9:59 PM ET Denver Nuggets star and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has been suspended for one game without pay for forcefully pushing Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris in the back on Monday night. The Nuggets will not have their franchise center against Indiana on Wednesday Markieff Morris was also fined $50,000 for his flagrant two
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 23: Xander Zayas (L) and Frank Gore (R) walking to the ring before Xanders fight against Dan Karpency at State Farm Arena on October 23, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images) Nick Chubb goes on COVID list, but may not miss a game because he’s
1:11 PM ET Emotions from NBA MVP Nikola Jokic‘s retaliatory bodycheck from behind on Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris on Monday night have spilled onto social media as the brothers of both players weighed in. As the league looks into whether to levy any further punishment over the Denver Nuggets star’s ejection after his run-in
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. With injuries to Markelle Fultz and a series of roster-clearing trades, Cole Anthony ended up with a lot of offensive responsibility as a rookie. His combined usage and assist
11:56 PM ET Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic could be facing a possible suspension from the NBA after the reigning league MVP was ejected with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat for aggressively blindsiding Heat power forward Markieff Morris in retaliation to a hard foul. Jokic was bringing the ball down
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson appreciates Warriors teammate Gary Payton II on Twitter for Payton’s defensive prowess. Being sidelined with a torn Achilles hasn’t stopped Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson from showing up for his teammates. Rather than on the court, Thompson has been at the games to cheer on his teammates to
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Nikola Jokic levels Markieff Morris with massive hit (Video) by Cody Williams Stephen Curry delivered a vintage superstar performance for the Warriors against the Hawks and NBA Twitter couldn’t help but fawn over him. NBA fans were promised on Monday night that they would
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) Did NFL refs screw up not ejecting Jalen Ramsey for unsportsmanlike conduct? by Scott Rogust Max Fried joins Braves royalty with second career Gold Glove by Scott Rogust Even when the Houston Rockets struggle to add to the win column, Jalen Green has a way with
12:41 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors star guard Stephen Curry scored an NBA-season-high 50 points in Golden State’s 127-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. Curry finished the night 14-for-28 from the field, 9-for-19 from 3-point range and 13-for-13 from the free throw line, while chipping in 10 assists and seven rebounds
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The 2021-22 NBA season is still very young — most teams have only played about 10 games thus far — but we’re already starting to see separation among the
6:13 PM ET After initial resistance, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons met with a team-recommended medical specialist to discuss his mental health on Monday, sources told ESPN. It is unclear what Monday’s meeting means for the Sixers’ ultimate hopes of a Simmons return to play, but it was a change of direction for Simmons
Nov 1, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green (32) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzles guard Desmond Bane (22) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports NBA reportedly looking to start it’s own version of ManningCast by Scott Rogust Jeff Green of the Denver Nuggets
In the ultimate sports crossover, former NBA All-Star Deron Williams is set to join the Jake Paul/Tommy Fury card to fight NFL running back Frank Gore. The UFC has provided a fascinating open forum by which former and current athletes from all forms of sport can come battle it out in the ring. After all,
8:00 AM ET Who are the best teams in the NBA right now? The Milwaukee Bucks certainly don’t look like a team that belongs in the upper tier of the league. The defending champs, who continue to be without Khris Middleton after the All-Star tested positive for COVID-19 last week, have lost five of their
Nets forward Blake Griffin. (Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports) Fans are blaming Shailene Woodley for Aaron Rodgers vaccine debacle by Aryanna Prasad Piston fans don’t like Blake Griffin and they let him know it when he came back to Detroit. The Nets forward responded with boos of his own. The split between the Pistons and Blake
12:20 AM ET Fantasy staff We are merely two weeks into the fantasy basketball season, but already it’s easy to identify some draft-day hits and misses. Our team of fantasy experts — Eric Karabell, Andre Snelllings, Eric Moody, Jim McCormick and John Cregan — got together to discuss some of the things that have stuck
Nov 7, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio (3) celebrates after scoring a three-pointer against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports NFL Twitter putting Rams on blast for getting blown out by Titans on SNF by Alicia de
Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey looks on during warm ups before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports Aaron Rodgers loses endorsement deal after admitting he didn’t get COVID vaccine by Patrick Schmidt Shailene Woodley responds to haters blaming her for Aaron Rodgers vaccination drama
1:59 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — The NBA told its players, coaches and referees Sunday that they should receive booster shots against the coronavirus, with particular urgency for those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The league and the National Basketball Players Association — working jointly based on guidance from the league’s
Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images Tigers acquire former Gold Glove catcher in trade with Reds by Ethan Lee Yankees: Does Tucker Barnhart trade mean Gary Sanchez is staying? by Ethan Lee Scottie Pippen didn’t hold back in his new book letting the world know just how upset he was with Michael
Oct 20, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Zach Calzada injured: Who is Texas A&M backup quarterback Blake Bost? by Alicia de Artola Is Jac Collinsworth related to Cris Collinsworth? by Cody Williams Michael Porter Jr.
11:44 PM ET PORTLAND — A stomach illness caused Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis‘ night to end prematurely during Saturday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, according to the team. Davis exited the game with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. He went straight to the locker room and did not return. The
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 03: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on November 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty
2:45 AM ET PORTLAND — Having already navigated speculation about his desire to be traded and pushback over the hiring of his franchise’s new head coach in recent months, Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard said his duty will remain the same while the team opens an investigation into general manager Neil Olshey. “The games
James Harden, Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports 3 trades Steelers need to make to get back in playoff picture by Alicia de Artola James Harden always felt like a target for the NBA’s new foul-hunting rules but he looks like a broken player trying to adjust to them. Whenever the NBA announced
Brooklyn Nets head coach and former NBA star Steve Nash had perfect response to hearing that Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul surpassed his NBA record. When Hall of Fame players enter retirement, it suddenly becomes possible that their hard-won records can be toppled by active players. That’s what happened to Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash on
The 1-8 New Orleans Pelicans head to San Francisco to take on the 6-1 Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Friday, Nov. 5 at 10:00 pm ET. Record-wise, the Pelicans-Warriors match is the most mismatched game on the Friday night slate of NBA games, which might be why the Warriors have a primetime slot
12:33 PM ET Jake Paul‘s next fight card will feature a familiar name to sports fans. Deron Williams, the former NBA All-Star point guard, will compete in a boxing match at the event headlined by Paul and Tommy Fury on Dec. 18 in Tampa, Florida, Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian confirmed Friday with ESPN.
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle and Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis. (Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports) UFC 268: Who is Bruno Souza? by Steven Irvine NBA Twitter couldn’t believe the Bucks collapse and the Knicks turnaround as New York erased a 21-point lead to blow out Milwaukee. Fiserv Forum definitely hasn’t been home, sweet home
1:29 PM ET Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey is under an independent investigation commissioned by the team into allegations of workplace misconduct, a source confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. In a statement, the team acknowledged an investigation but did not name Olshey, saying the Blazers were “recently notified of concerns around
The Los Angeles Lakers face a difficult hurdle early in the 2021-22 NBA season as LeBron James remains sidelined with an abdominal strain. LeBron James has already had an up-and-down start to the 2021-22 season, as has his Lakers team. After an embarrassing loss to the 1-6 Oklahoma City Thunder the last time they played on
2:38 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors are quickly becoming the talk of the NBA after starting the season 7-1 and looking like the dominant two-way force that they proved to be during their championship reign. After a 126-85 demolition over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, star guard Stephen Curry
Trae Young and the Hawks were bored on Thursday night, so they went out and lost a regular season game to the Utah Jazz. The Hawks had a chance to prove a point early in the season against the Utah Jazz, who finished last season with the best record in the Western Conference. Rather than
8:19 PM ET DETROIT — Mayor-elect Eric Adams said Friday night that New York City will not change its COVID-19 vaccination mandate that currently prevents Kyrie Irving from playing in games there. Adams, who won the city’s mayoral election Tuesday, put the onus on the NBA and Irving to find a resolution. The current mandate
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Lakers’ bumpy start to the season got a bit bumpier on Thursday afternoon with the news that LeBron James would be out of the lineup with an abdominal
12:36 PM ET The Philadelphia 76ers fined All-Star guard Ben Simmons his $360,000 game salary for missing Thursday night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons and plan to continue fining him until he cooperates with team physicians on his mental health and fulfills other basketball-related obligations, sources told ESPN on Friday. The Sixers will again place
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Before the season began, Bryan Toporek posited that this might be the season where the NBA Eastern Conference finally caught up with the West. A variety of roster upgrades
3:29 AM ET LOS ANGELES — If the Lakers had managed to protect two massive leads against the Oklahoma City Thunder — up 26 on the road last week and up 19 at Staples Center on Thursday night — they would be sitting pretty with a 7-2 record and OKC would be winless at 0-8.
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The first few weeks of the NBA season are always dotted with breakout performers, players showing significant skill growth, or just taking advantage of new roles or opportunities. Over
James Harden hasn’t been himself to start the new season, but how concerned should the Nets be about their star’s struggles? When the Nets acquired James Harden last season, they hit the ground running. Integrating the ball-dominant Harden into an offense that already featured Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving required virtually no time at all
2:46 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Lakers superstar LeBron James has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of an abdominal strain, the team announced. While no timeline for his return has been provided by the Lakers, a source familiar with the injury told ESPN that the team’s medical staff
SESPN finally released its massive investigation into the Phoenix Suns and owner Robert Sarver. The allegations are shocking. Two weeks ago, the Phoenix Suns pre-emptively released statements, defending the organization and owner Robert Sarver from allegations that had yet to be made public. They were rumored to be coming in a massive piece of
12:00 PM ET ON THE EVENING of Oct. 30, 2016, at Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix, Earl Watson, in just his third game as the Suns’ head coach, faced a tall task: beat the powerhouse Golden State Warriors. The young Phoenix Suns team had been toiling at the bottom of the NBA’s standings
Portland Trail Blazer point guard Damian Lillard makes a throwback Millennial reference by suggesting an Instagram tweak inspired by MySpace. Generation Z kids remember the days before TikTok and Instagram, but before there was Twitter or even Facebook, there was the predecessor for all major social media: MySpace. At least, that’s the case for Millennials,
Warriors, Gary Payton II (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) TCU football swinging for big names to replace Gary Patterson by Brad Berreman Gary Payton II basically put on the Infinity Gauntlet and snapped Kelly Oubre Jr. to dust as the Warriors guard dunked all over the Hornets reserve. When it comes to the Golden State
11:12 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Boston Celtics had a players-only meeting ahead of Wednesday’s 92-79 win in Orlando over the Magic, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The meeting came in the wake of Boston’s fourth-quarter meltdown Monday against the Chicago Bulls, as Boston went from being up 14 at the start of the fourth
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Miami Heat have looked absolutely dominant to start the season. Their only loss was an 11-point blip to the Indiana Pacers but their six wins include victories over
Longtime Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard revealed how a conversation with LeBron James made him contemplate a move to the Lakers. Throughout his career, Damian Lillard has remained extremely loyal to the Portland Trail Blazers. However, when he and the team fell in the first round of the playoffs last year to a short-handed Nuggets team,
1:26 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Lauri Markkanen has joined teammate Kevin Love and entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The team said Markkanen will miss Wednesday’s game against Portland and his status will be updated “at the appropriate time.” The 7-foot Markkanen is in his first season with Cleveland after
Daryl Morey has built winning teams wherever he’s gone, but his refusal to trade Ben Simmons may hurt the Sixers in the short and long term. When Daryl Morey arrived in Philadelphia as the Sixers’ new president of basketball operations last summer, things did not look promising for the team. They had just been swept
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Considering the unresolved messiness of the Ben Simmons situation, the Philadelphia 76ers have to feel very optimistic about their start to the season. They are currently 5-2, with wins
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 01: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden on November 1, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions
Monty McCutchen, the NBA’s vice president of referee development and training, said Tuesday afternoon that he’s pleased with the league’s progress toward eliminating foul calls on non-basketball moves. He added that his officials are still working to strike the right balance between not calling those non-basketball moves and missing some defensive fouls, and that the
Drafted in 2005, 35-year-old Atlanta Hawks shooter Lou Williams says that the 2021-22 NBA season may be his last before retirement. Lou Williams is more than a veteran of the NBA. In Williams’ own words, he is a “jarhead” of the league, putting in 16 seasons as a professional basketball player. And after a shocking
11:12 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul moved into No. 3 on the all-time assists list with his eighth against the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. With 1:34 left in the second quarter, on a 3-pointer by Jae Crowder, Paul notched career assist No. 10,336 to push past Suns legend
Oct 14, 2021; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) runs down the court against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports 49ers fan goes viral, dressed for football weather (Photo) by Cody Williams Colts offense getting more help from refs than Carson
Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images ESPN reveals College GameDay Week 9 location by Ethan Lee As the Oklahoma City Thunder lost their third straight game, one Thunder fan walked out of Paycom Center with $20K in a halfcourt heave contest. The halfcourt heave contest is like a carnival game for NBA fans: there’s a tantalizing
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook terrified announcers on Halloween with a missed shot that’s reminiscent of his “Westbrick” nickname. Russell Westbrook hasn’t been himself since he’s been traded to the Lakers — or, maybe, he’s been more of himself, but in the worst way. Westbrook took a mid-range jump shot against Houston Rockets
5:13 PM ET Ramona Shelburne Close ESPN Senior Writer Senior writer for ESPN.com Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 The Philadelphia 76ers are increasingly frustrated with Ben Simmons‘ refusal to accept organizational assistance to address his mental
Oct 22, 2021; Orlando, Florida, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) is congratulated by New York Knicks guard Evan Fournier (13) during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Patrick Mahomes got bailed out by Daniel Jones after another awful interception (Video) by Cody Williams The New York
11:39 PM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — Marcus Smart called out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown after the Boston Celtics lost their third game in a row on Monday night, saying the star duo needs to get their teammates more involved. “Every team knows we’re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen,” Smart said
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 30: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans and RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks meet on the court after a NBA game at Smoothie King Center on October 30, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
Boston Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports) Kadarius Toney proves he’s the Giants best weapon, even as a passer (Video) by Scott Rogust Sterling Shepard injury: Giants WR out for MNF by Alicia de Artola The Boston Celtics held a moment of silence ahead of their game against the Bulls to mark
11:04 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — After yet another ugly individual performance Monday night in a season full of them so far, Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard said his poor start is a chance for him to show the world what he’s really about. “I always look at struggles as an opportunity to
PORTLAND, OREGON – OCTOBER 29: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts against the LA Clippers during the first quarter at Moda Center on October 29, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
3:20 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is “progressing” in his recovery from a fractured right foot, but his return to play is still up in the air. Pelicans coach Willie Green told reporters on Monday that doctors were encouraged by the latest set of scans on Williamson’s
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers. (Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports) College GameDay Week 10 location is a first for ESPN by John Buhler LeBron James dressed up as Freddy Krueger to celebrate Halloween this year. When it comes to Halloween, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James does not mess around. James went with a
8:00 AM ET After falling to 3-4, the Milwaukee Bucks have forfeited the No. 1 spot this week. The Utah Jazz, who were the league’s final unbeaten team before falling to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, handed Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks their third straight loss on their way to the top of our list.
PORTLAND, OREGON – OCTOBER 04: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks on before the preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 04, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
10:58 AM ET The son of Turner Sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson has died at the age of 33. Johnson tweeted about the death of his son, Michael, on Friday night. “We are grieving and at the same time so grateful for having been witnesses to a miraculous 33 years with michael,” Ernie Johnson wrote. We
Oct 24, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) looking to pass against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports Michael Vick congratulates Braves on reaching World Series by Scott Rogust NFL Twitter wants Jimmy Garoppolo benched after
After missing the first two weeks of the NBA 2021-22 season, it seems that Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons is back at team practice. Ben Simmons has been capturing headlines since the NBA season began, but he’s nowhere to be found on the court. The 76ers are 3-2, and Simmons has been sidelined for
12:47 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Milwaukee Bucks are scheduled to make a trip to the White House to celebrate winning the 2021 NBA title on Nov. 8, sources told ESPN. The Bucks will be the first NBA team to visit the White House since the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers visited former President Barack Obama. Milwaukee
The Lakers did not win on Wednesday night. That would be the simplest way to put matters. Instead, they blew a huge lead to the OKC Thunder. The Thunder had to get their first win of the season sometime! Unfortunately for them, the Lakers fell asleep at the wheel after just one quarter of play.
Russell Westbrook had a quadruple-double for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Oklahoma City Thunder but that isn’t a good thing. Under normal circumstances, an NBA star putting up a quadruple-double would be an awesome achievement. What Russell Westbrook did on Wednesday night against the Thunder proved that’s not always the case. The Lakers guard
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports What time does UFC 267 start in the United States? by Amy Kaplan Second-year power forward Patrick Williams will miss the rest of the season after suffering a wrist injury against the New York Knicks. The Chicago Bulls are off to a hot start this season, posting a 4-1 record through
6:52 PM ET Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant was fined $25,000 by the NBA for “forcefully throwing the game ball into the spectator stands” during the third quarter of Friday’s Nets win over the Indiana Pacers. After play was stopped with a foul while Durant was driving, he fired the basketball into the stands with
New York Knicks have two words to symbolize their early-season success. It’s simple. It’s catchy. It’s…big bong. The catch phrase has gone viral on NBA Twitter, and every win brings with it more bings, and more bongs. Just one week into the season, the Knicks were first in the Eastern Conference. It all started on
1:43 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green is enjoying basketball a lot more these days. And it’s not just because his Golden State Warriors have started the season 5-1 after a 103-82 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. “Can I also say how satisfying it’s been to watch the game of basketball
I never thought I’d feel sorry for James Harden, but NBA officials have a personal vendetta against him so far this season. Harden could get mauled, or attacked by a tiger on the court, and it wouldn’t matter. He would not get a foul call. Despite his status as a star in the Association, NBA
5:33 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN DETROIT, Mich. — The wait is over. A new era of Detroit Pistons basketball is officially underway as No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham will make his debut on Saturday against the Orlando Magic, coach Dwane Casey announced ahead of the 7 p.m. ET tipoff. Cunningham missed the entire preseason and
Rockets rookie Jalen Green. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Astros: Will Lance McCullers pitch in the World Series? by John Buhler 3 Astros trades that helped get them to World Series by Scott Rogust Rockets rookie Jalen Green threw down over Jason Tatum of the Celtics with a highlight jam that threatened to take down the rim.
Washington Wizards small forward Kyle Kuzma voices his approval of the NBA’s new restrictive rules on foul drawing, citing how much it’s changed the game. Ballers who have mastered the art of the flop won’t be able to show their artistry in the 2021-22 season. That’s because the NBA has finally implemented new rules to
7:36 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Trae Young was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Friday for making contact with a referee. The star guard was penalized for his actions with 6:41 left in the second quarter of Atlanta’s 122-111 loss to Washington on Thursday. Young was driving left and bumped by defender
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