5:16 PM ET MIAMI — A couple of hours after the Miami Heat opened up their postseason run with a dominant 115-91 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, the NBA announced the finalists for the 2021-22 regular-season awards. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was named one of the top three candidates for Coach of the
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the Eastern Conference 2022 Play-In Tournament at Barclays Center on April 12, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 115-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges
So far, the Timberwolves are two-for-two in fan protests this postseason, if you count the play-in. So, why are fans against Glen Taylor? Timberwolves protest, explained. Taylor sold the Timberwolves to a new group of owners, that of which includes former baseball star Alex Rodriguez. However, he is still connected to the franchise for now.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports) Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugás live results and highlights by Jeremy Herriges The fathers of Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns shared some friendly banter after Game 1 between the Grizzlies and Timberwolves. Ja Morant and Karl-Anthony Towns have a rivalry on the court to worry
8:00 AM ET If NBA fans outside of Pennsylvania didn’t know the name Tyrese Maxey, they sure do now. While the Toronto Raptors were keying in on superstars Joel Embiid and James Harden, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ second-year guard was showcasing why he is such an important player in their success with 38 points in a
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 15, 2022 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
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports As the Los Angeles Lakers come off one of the worst seasons in franchise history, there are several questions they need to address. The team that won the NBA Finals two years ago has headed downhill, after coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history. After being eliminated by
Boston Celtics GM Brad Stevens Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports Bud Light offers to set up Patrick Beverley with post-game beverages by Sapphires Sealey Brad Stevens did not hesitate to shoot down the idea of him taking over the head coaching position with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are on
8:49 PM ET BOSTON — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he was responding to words he heard from the crowd when he flipped off several Boston Celtics fans on two separate occasions during Sunday’s 115-114 loss in Game 1. After the game, Irving made it clear that he would have “the same energy for
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Jayson Tatum game winner: Celtics steal show from Kyrie Irving, Nets by Mark Powell Brooklyn Nets star guard Kyrie Irving absolutely hates everything about the Boston Celtics. The pure unrivaled disdain Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets has for the Boston Celtics is
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 17: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat fouls Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round at FTX Arena on April 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
1:55 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Tim MacMahon Close ESPN Staff Writer Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009 Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic remains unlikely to play in
Despite leading by 10 points entering the fourth quarterback, the Clippers blew their double-digit lead to the Pelicans. The NBA is a game of runs, and the Pels were lucky that their surge was best saved for last. Despite holding a 15-point lead of their own in the second quarter, the Pelicans answer with a
There are two early suitors that could be interested in acquiring guard Russell Westbrook from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers were expected to be contending for the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the 2021-22 regular season, especially after they brought in guard Russell Westbrook. Instead, the team failed
3:40 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors have a long-standing history of small-ball lineups. During the first championship run of their dynastic era, their small lineup was so lethal it was dubbed the “death lineup.” It has gone through a few different renditions since then, but as the Warriors embark
Adam Silver, NBA Draft. (Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) Pelicans advance: Best memes and tweets after another Clippers meltdown by Mark Powell With the NBA play-in tournament behind us and only the postseason to look forward to, the Draft order is set for all teams that did not make the playoffs. The Clippers held
4:00 PM ET The 2022 NBA playoffs have finally arrived! After an unprecedented regular season, featuring some of the closes races in recent memory, Saturday marks the beginning of what each of these 16 teams hope will be a two-month march to the NBA championship. In the Western Conference, Donovan Mitchell and the No. 5
A woman chained herself to the basket during Game 1 of the Memphis Grizzlies’ playoff series vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. For the second postseason round in a row, the NBA has to deal with protestors interrupting Minnesota Timberwolves games, as a woman chained herself to the back of the basket during Game 1 of their playoff series
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young is great at playing the villain, and he’s fine with that role. Trae Young knows that people are going to talk about it. Trae Young wants people to talk about it and so Trae Young goes out of his way to get them talking. Young walks a fine line between
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry should be good to go for the first round of the NBA playoffs with his foot injury healing quickly enough. The Warriors had to finish out the regular season without Stephen Curry for the final 12 games. Fortunately, they won’t have to begin the postseason without him. The star
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is congratulated by Draymond Green #23 after Curry made a three-point basket against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Chase Center on March 14, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
11:35 AM ET After running and shooting without back pain for over a week, Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons is expected to take the next step on the floor in the coming week and begin practicing against teammates on the court, sources told ESPN on Saturday. His continued progress is fostering hope that Simmons could
For much of the regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks have avoided the national spotlight. They begin their campaign for a second-consecutive championship on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, and the numbers say they’re just as good as last year. Less than nine months ago the Milwaukee Bucks secured the franchise’s second championship and first in
8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The NBA playoffs are here with four first-round games taking place on Saturday and Sunday. In the East, all eyes will be on the Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets series as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving look to upset the No. 2 seed Celtics, who are without injured center Robert
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 NBA Play-In Tournament wraps tonight, setting the final two playoff spots, with the postseason proper beginning Saturday and Sunday. To break down some of the biggest questions in
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington called out Denver Nuggets point guard Facundo Campazzo on Twitter after an egregious flagrant 2 foul. Sometimes, a flagrant 2 foul call just isn’t enough. At least, that’s how Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington seems to feel following a high-scoring 146-141 win over the Denver Nuggets on April
1:07 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN For the New Orleans Pelicans, all seemed lost in the third quarter Friday night in Los Angeles. The team that started the season 1-12 and was 14-32 at its lowest point had fought its way back to 36-46 and grabbed the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Mar 29, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) high fives guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Pistons 130-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Kevin Durant makes his pick for NBA MVP by Cody Williams The Brooklyn
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 26: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on December 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting
Apr 10, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) walks off the court injured during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Auburn football schedule won’t do the Tigers, Bryan Harsin any favors by Alicia de Artola Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 10: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks is attended to my Casey Smith head trainer in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center on April 10, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
12:37 PM ET LA Clippers star Paul George has entered health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 and will miss Friday night’s play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim Bontemps. The winner of Friday’s game earns the No. 8 seed and a first-round meeting with the
Every NBA MVP candidate has flaws in their resume but digging into those flaws leads down a neverending rabbit hole of arguments and counterarguments. The NBA MVP Award, given to the most valuable player of the current regular season, has been around since 1956. Until the 1979-80 season, players voted on the winner. Since then,
Apr 12, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Bears draft picks: 5 receivers to target to support Justin Fields by Alicia de Artola Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen will attempt to play
8:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN THE LINE WAS wrapped around the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. It was July 5, 2019, and the debut of Zion Williamson was here. After waiting through the first three games, fans were eager to see the main event: Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans taking on the
ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke ( Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports How can Steelers make room to sign Tyrann Mathieu? by Rylie Smith Marcus Smart has a strong case for why he should win DPOY. In a Twitter conversation ESPN Broadcaster, Doris Burke added her opinion on why he should win too. Doris Burke and Malika
4:38 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry participated in the team’s scrimmage Thursday, marking another benchmark in his return from a left foot strain that has kept him out since March 16. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said both he and Curry are optimistic that the guard will be
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 10: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors stands on the court during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 10, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
Indian basketball player Satnam Singh Bhamara (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images) Packers sign former Chiefs star to help fill wide receiver void by Cody Williams Tom Brady has hilarious request for Elon Musk buying Twitter by Sapphires Sealey Former NBA Player Satnam Singh made his debut last night, and it was not
9:00 AM ET Mark Fainaru-Wada Close ESPN Staff Writer Investigative reporter for ESPN’s Enterprise and Investigative Unit since 2007 Co-author of New York Times best-selling books “League of Denial” and “Game of Shadows” Co-winner, 2004 George Polk Award Steve Fainaru Close ESPN Senior Writer Winner, 2008 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting Four-time first-place winner in
The Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets feature three of the smartest and most creative stars in the NBA. How will their first-round matchup play out? The NBA playoffs have a way of selecting for the most disciplined, intelligent and adaptable teams, but it’s still rare for the first round to deliver the kind of
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 NBA Play-In Tournament kicked off last night with the Nets and Timberwolves advancing and seizing the No. 7 seed in each conference. Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks will take
James Harden has been critiqued many times for being out of shape and now a recent report has revealed that Kevin Durant had a problem with Harden’s shape too. It has been reported that the Brooklyn Nets’ former big three of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden were not on the best of terms
11:02 PM ET Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges struck a young fan with his mouthpiece after he was ejected from the team’s 132-103 play-in loss to the host Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, later calling his actions as he exited the court “unacceptable.” With Atlanta up big in the second half and Charlotte’s season winding
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports) Florida State football gets huge transfer win with former Georgia 5-star OT by Cody Williams Charlotte Hornets star Miles Bridges lost his temper after being ejected against the Hawks and threw his mouthguard at fans in Atlanta. Play-in games can feel like life or death situations
12:24 AM ET ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks coach Nate McMillan took some heat from his coaching staff — as well as some fans on social media — for having starters on the court with just over five minutes left in Wednesday night’s 132-103 play-in victory over the Charlotte Hornets. “The coaches were yelling and screaming
Apr 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) locks arms and has words with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley (22) after a whistle during the first quarter of a play-in game at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Watch: Kyrie Irving explains being able to play while fasting
Apr 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley (22) throws his jersey into the crowd after the Timberwolves secured a play-off spot by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in a play-in game at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports The Whiteboard: Nets precision, Clippers meltdown and the Trae Young stopper
7:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN ON THE FINAL night of the All-Star break, New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, forward Brandon Ingram and coach Willie Green went out for a small, private dinner at FLINT by Baltaire in Phoenix. The Pelicans had gone 1-4 since the Feb. 8 trade that sent Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky,
Patrick Beverley has plenty of playoff experience, and he revealed the advice he gave his Timberwolves teammates. For just the second time since a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the playoffs. It’s just the play-in games right now, but they’ll host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday
3:23 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards and Patrick Beverley stood on the Target Center scorer’s table, screaming and celebrating in an ode to an iconic moment in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history when Kevin Garnett stood on the table and celebrated in the 2004 playoffs. Not long after jumping off the table, Beverley sat on
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 NBA Play-In Tournament kicks off tonight with the Brooklyn Nets facing the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. In each case, the
12:38 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant has been in the league long enough to know that it’s not wise to give a playoff opponent any extra motivation before a series begins. So when Durant heard Nets guard Bruce Brown‘s critique of the Boston Celtics, saying that the Nets can
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 05: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 05, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
3:09 PM ET Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams — architect of the NBA’s best regular-season team — has been voted the National Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for a second consecutive time. The award, named in honor of the late NBCA executive director Michael H. Goldberg, is based on a vote of the
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 NBA Play-In Tournament begins tomorrow and the potential for chaos is everywhere. To break down some of the biggest questions in the NBA this week, I tapped in
8:24 PM ET DALLAS — An MRI on Monday confirmed that Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic suffered a left calf strain in the team’s regular-season finale, a source told ESPN. The source said no timetable has been set for Doncic’s return. Asked if he could be ruled out for Game 1 of the team’s first-round
David Fizdale, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) The Los Angeles Lakers will likely replace former head coach Frank Vogel after three seasons. With Frank Vogel likely out, the Los Angeles Lakers need to find a new head coach to lead them. The Lakers failed spectacularly this season. Not only did the lineup age horribly,
10:43 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — With Frank Vogel removed as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the day, Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook opened up about the disconnect that existed between the two of them in his first season in L.A. “I think it’s unfortunate, to be honest, because I’ve never
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Pirates: Latest report makes Bob Nutting look even cheaper by Ethan Lee The NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday, Apr. 16. Here are the matchups for the first-round. The 2021-22 NBA regular season has officially reached its conclusion on Sunday night. With that, it is time for the playoffs, where teams will
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports 3 coaches the Lakers could hire to replace Frank Vogel by John Buhler The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Frank Vogel, but the worst isn’t behind them just yet. NBA fans are ruthless, and they’re coming for the Lake Show. LA informed Vogel he was fired on Monday afternoon, after
2:08 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers fired head coach Frank Vogel on Monday, the team announced. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Frank both on and off the court,” Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “Frank is a great coach and a good
Apr 10, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) reacts with teammates after leaving the game after just eight seconds played in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports Watch Scottie Scheffler put on the Green Jacket after winning The Masters by
1:03 AM ET DENVER — Anthony Davis thinks he and LeBron James can still be the core of a title team moving forward despite two straight disappointing seasons following their championship in 2020. “I think us two can. We’ve shown that we can,” Davis said, conducting a season-wrap news conference before the Los Angeles Lakers
Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant (7) and Kyrie Irving (11): Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Scottie Scheffler continues his year for the ages with Masters title by David Salituro The NBA’s Play-In Tournament is officially set. Here is the schedule and seeding in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Sunday was the last official day of the
Matisse Thybulle, #22, Philadelphia 76ers, (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Watch: Patrick Beverley ejected from T’Wolves season finale, tells ref ‘you’re trash’ by Scott Rogust The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Matisse Thybulle once they play the Raptors in Toronto in the first-round. The Philadelphia 76ers clinched the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference,
3:38 PM ET Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons‘ pain-free progress is fueling hope that he could return in the first-round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, even if it’s just in a 10-15 minute a game role, sources told ESPN on Sunday. The Nets would need to advance out of the Play-in Tournament this week and,
For the second consecutive season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the worst teams in the NBA. For Sam Presti, it’s all going according to plan. There may not be another executive as intrinsically tied to his team’s success as Sam Presti. The current tankathon the Oklahoma City Thunder have been on for the
6:46 PM ET DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic avoided a one-game suspension when the NBA rescinded the technical foul called on him during Friday night’s blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The league office made the determination Saturday after a review of what would have been Doncic’s 16th technical foul of the
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images) Cardinals Opening Day roster has 3 likely surprises by Miranda Remaklus Luka Doncic put on a show for the Mavericks against the Pistons on Wednesday night, stunning NBA Twitter with his no-look passes. The Mavericks continued to put pressure on the Warriors for third place in the Western
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA regular season’s final weekend is here, and all we know is 48 hours of chaos lie ahead. Thanks to a jumbled seeding picture in both conferences, only a handful of seeds are decided. Here’s a quick rundown of all of it, beginning with the crowded top of the
Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers refused to speak on LeBron James’ recent comments about wanting to play with Steph Curry. This week, LeBron James made some headlines, and not just for the Los Angeles Lakers being eliminated from playoff contention following a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns. A clip from James’ HBO
New Orleans Pelicans Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports Pittsburgh Steelers full 2022 NFL mock draft by Rucker Haringey The New Orleans Pelicans have been waiting three years for their moment to get back at Anthony Davis for forcing a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers and last night that moment finally came. Last night,
7:58 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Rookie Evan Mobley was back in the starting lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers for Friday’s key game against the Brooklyn Nets. Mobley missed the previous five games with a sprained left ankle and the Cavaliers lost four of them without their big man. Mobley is a
The Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic got chippy on Thursday as a scuffle resulted in ejections for Robin Lopez, Admiral Schofield and Montrezl Harrell. The Hornets are battling for a more favorable draw in the Eastern Conference play-in games. They have plenty to play for this season. The Magic have been eliminated from the postseason.
1:17 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — After entering the All-Star break tied for first place in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls’ prolonged second-half struggles have seen them fall in the standings as they endure their worst stretch of the season heading into the playoffs. Chicago locked itself into the No. 6 seed in
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 01: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court after warming up before the basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on April 1, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this
9:36 PM ET DALLAS — Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic will be suspended for Sunday’s regular-season finale unless the NBA office rescinds the technical foul called against him after the first quarter of Friday night’s 128-78 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. It was officially Doncic’s 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic one-game
Optimizing the combination of James Harden and Joel Embiid for the 76ers means utilizing the pick-and-roll, a play neither player has used much the past few years. With the NBA playoffs less than three weeks away, teams are clawing for spots within the standings, looking to cement their seeding, avoid play-in games, and secure the
This season delivered a fascinating and unique MVP race, but only one of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić can take home the most sacred of the individual NBA awards. With Rookie, Coach, Sixth Man, Most Improved, All-Defense and Defensive Player of the Year awards taken care of, it’s time to wrap up the
1:21 PM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James will not play in the final two games of the Lakers season because of soreness in his left ankle, the team announced on Friday. The Lakers, already eliminated from play-in tournament contention since Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns guaranteed the San Antonio Spurs would finish ahead
Kentucky basketball star Oscar Tshiebwe is putting his name in the NBA Draft pool to explore his options but a return to the Wildcats is still open. Kentucky had the unanimous player of the year in their lineup in 2021-22. Could they get him back for 2022-23? Oscar Tshiebwe has accomplished just about every individual
Our WNBA Mock Draft takes a look at a talented crop of prospects and a draft order that has been dramatically remade by a number of trades. We’re less than a week away from the 2022 WNBA Draft. The Atlanta Dream hold the No. 1 pick for this year’s draft after a trade with the
12:57 AM ET ESPN News Services DENVER — Nikola Jokic made history on the night his Denver Nuggets clinched a fourth consecutive playoff berth with a 122-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Jokic became the first player in NBA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season. He had 35 points,
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) Frank Clark recruits Tyrann Mathieu back to Chiefs by Braulio Perez Kyrie Irving broke his silence on being snubbed from the NBA 75 team. He believes he deserved to make the list. At the beginning of the NBA season, the NBA released their list
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James named Golden State Warriors legend Stephen Curry as the player he most wants to play with in the NBA. LeBron James’ career is going to come to an end eventually, but the 37-year-old still has eyes on playing with a couple of figures before it is all said and
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports) Buccaneers snipe former Cowboys LB to further bolster defense by Aryanna Prasad Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry responded to LeBron James wanting to team up with him by shooting down the idea in the most brutal way. LeBron James opened the door to
8:22 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — The Memphis Grizzlies would like for All-Star guard Ja Morant to play at least once before the regular season ends. The final decision for Morant’s return rests with the team’s medical staff. “He’s doing great,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said Thursday. “All signs are in a really good
Apr 6, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets power forward Kevin Durant (7) looks to make a move against New York Knicks shooting guard RJ Barrett (9) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports The Brooklyn Nets are gearing up to compete in the play-in tournament,
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 26: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on December 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting
Injured Los Angeles Clippers Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard are healing well as the NBA Playoffs approach, signaling a potential return for the two. As the Los Angeles Clippers face off against the Phoenix Suns in a regular season preview of the playoffs, Clippers small forward Robert Covington made sure to remind everyone that the
7:42 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that while there was no specific discussion of the impending arbitration between Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers, he said his bigger concern moving forward is “a trend of star players not participating in a full complement of games,” and hopes
Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul has made history with four different NBA teams, which serves as a timely reminder as the No. 1 Suns enter playoffs. The NBA’s WAR (wins above replacement) metric offers a statistical quantification of how much one player influences a team’s record. According to FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR WAR calculations, Denver Nuggets
12:43 AM ET NEW YORK — For the first time since they both spurned the New York Knicks and joined forces with the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2019, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving played together inside Madison Square Garden and helped lead their team to a 110-98 victory over a Knicks team that
LeBron James is in range to win the 2021-22 NBA scoring title but he’ll need to overcome some hurdles to get to the top of the stat charts. It’s been an utterly disappointing season for the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been eliminated from the playoffs despite compiling a “big three” of stars including LeBron
Apr 5, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Houston Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green (0) drives the ball against Brooklyn Nets small forward Bruce Brown (1) and Brooklyn Nets center Andre Drummond (0) during the first half of the game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports White Sox shopping young outfielder after electric
7:10 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Philadelphia 76ers listed guard Matisse Thybulle as “ineligible to play” in Thursday’s game in Toronto against the Raptors, a sign Thybulle could also be unable to play in the three road games of a potential playoff series between the two franchises. Last week, ESPN asked the four teams atop
Despite his longtime Philadelphia 76ers ties, Sixers legend Julius Irving (Dr. J) picked Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic over 76ers big man Joel Embiid. As the NBA season draws to a close, MVP votes are being cast by all who watch the game. Three big men continue to dominate this conversation—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Meet Sam Gordon, the girl changing football for good by Aryanna Prasad Last week, Joel Embiid was a guest speaker on Draymond Green’s podcast. The two had some strong words to exchange. Joel Embiid and Draymond Green are no strangers to a little bit of healthy trash talking. Last June, Green
With the NBA season almost finished, which players distinguished themselves most this year on the defensive end? Accurately evaluating NBA defense is an almost impossible endeavor, and opinions of individual defenders depend largely on the eye of the beholder. There are so many little things that happen (or don’t) within a possession that can fly
11:51 AM ET Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball will not return for the remainder of the season, the team announced Wednesday. Ball, who has not played since Jan. 14, had surgery on his left knee on Jan. 28 to repair a slight meniscus tear. The team said he is still experiencing pain “with high-level
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 50-40-90 season is one of the rarest achievements in the NBA record books. It requires a player to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent
12:57 AM ET PHOENIX — A season that started with championship promise for the Los Angeles Lakers ended with the pain of failing to even qualify for the play-in tournament. Tuesday’s 121-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns — coupled with a 116-97 win by the San Antonio Spurs over the Denver Nuggets — officially eliminated
Former Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut spoke on a recent podcast about how the refs let him get away with anything when it came to physical play. For over a decade, the face of illegal screens in the NBA seemed to be former NBA center Andrew Bogut. Bogut embraced this identity, saying in 2019
2:26 PM ET PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Lakers will head into a potential elimination game without their leader, LeBron James. James was ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns with left ankle soreness, the team announced. It will be James’ third missed game out of the Lakers’ last four. The Lakers, who
A general view of the NBA logo: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner, but unlike most years, there is an impossible amount of questions still surrounding the league. Most important among them is, who is the best team this season? The NBA Playoffs are just about here, but there
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 16: Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash instructs his team against the Dallas Mavericks during their game at Barclays Center on March 16, 2022 in New York City. The Nets aren’t going to enter the NBA Playoffs with a high seed, but that doesn’t mean they can’t defy the
8:00 AM ET Could the NBA regular season’s final week decide the 2022 MVP? While Denver Nuggets center and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has the inside track at the award, both he and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have plenty to play for down the stretch. (The Nuggets can still capture home-court advantage in the
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6): Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner, but there is still a lot that must be settled before we get there. That doesn’t mean it’s too early to make some bold predictions about what’s going to happen. It’s been a wild NBA season.
With the start of the playoffs just a few days away, it’s time to hand out some awards for the 2021-22 NBA season. Amazingly, we are less than two weeks away from the end of the NBA season, which means it’s time to get to work on selecting 2021-22 award winners. I, of course, do
7:37 PM ET Free-agent guard Luca Vildoza is expected to finalize a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that’ll take him through the 2022-23 season, sources told ESPN. Vildoza — MVP of the 2020 Spanish ACB League finals — has fully recovered from foot surgery and will be activated for the Bucks in the playoffs, sources
Kevin Love is playing for a resurgent Cavaliers as LeBron and the Lakers drop out of the playoffs. Could LeBron be headed back to Cleveland again? The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers that shocked the Golden State Warriors still keep in touch. Often. “100 percent, We have six of us on there.” Kevin Love told FanSided. “It’s
2:35 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant said he believes his team’s season got derailed when he injured the MCL in his left knee in mid January. “To be honest, I feel like our season was derailed by my injury,” Durant said after Monday’s practice. “So I’m not looking at it
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 02: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on April 02, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. The Heat may have had some dysfunction on the sidelines recently, but they’re still a legitimate NBA title contender for these five reasons. Jimmy
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook isn’t quite finished with hinting at disagreement with Frank Vogel and the Lakers coaching staff. When ESPN reported in early March that the Lakers organization was pressuring Frank Vogel to demote Russell Westbrook from the starting lineup, Vogel maintained that there was enough time for Westbrook to turn his
8:00 AM ET With one week to go in the NBA’s regular season, only three postseason seeds are locked in: The Phoenix Suns will have the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies will have the second and the LA Clippers are locked into eighth. The other 17 seeds remain up for
Doug Pensinger /Allsport These five legends are known for their incredible play on different teams, but here we take a look back at their time with the Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets, formally known as the New Jersey Nets, are composed of superstars. From the sharpshooting Kevin Durant to Kyrie Irving, who possesses handles that
10:23 PM ET LOS ANGELES — After the Lakers continued their free fall from play-in tournament contention with a sixth straight loss on Sunday, Anthony Davis looked back at a season gone awry and reflected on what “could have been.” “I think the biggest thing that I think about personally is what we could have
San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports) NJPW: Starter’s guide to New Japan Pro Wrestling by Gerard Hennessy Who will be inducted into the 2022 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class? Reports are trickling in about the latest Hall of Famers. When it comes to individual honors in sports, it doesn’t
4:34 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar publicly criticized LeBron James once again Sunday, with the Los Angeles Lakers legend saying he believes the current Lakers star has a greater responsibility in how he conducts himself given his elevated platform. “Some of the things he’s done and said are really beneath him, as far
Apr 1, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; A man is carried off by security personnel after running onto the court during the third quarter of the game between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Dolphins make Xavien Howard NFL’s highest-paid CB: NFL Twitter reacts by Scott
12:15 AM ET ATLANTA — Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant scored a career-high 55 points that included a career-high eight 3-pointers on Saturday night — but those weren’t the numbers he was focused on after a disappointing 122-115 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Durant said he was frustrated that his team was “undisciplined” defensively, and
After defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, the New Orleans Pelicans updated their Twitter bio in a savage way. Despite the return of Anthony Davis and a resurgent effort from LeBron James, the Lakers fell short against the New Orleans Pelicans. With the loss, the Lakers fell one game out of the play-in
1:02 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors have been coy about how much they’ve been watching the Western Conference standings. Some have admitted to monitoring them. Others have said they’re an afterthought. But, heading into Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, there was not one person in Golden State’s locker
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the new all-time leading scorer in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It was only a matter of time, but it finally happened, as Giannis Antetokounmpo finally overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading scorer in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history. Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-best 30.1 points per game in
2:18 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili, five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, three-time WNBA champion and two-time gold medalist Swin Cash, and five-time WNBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion Lindsay Whalen highlighted the 13-member Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 that was announced Saturday. Other honorees included two-time NCAA
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.’ There are just nine days left in the NBA season and plenty of things still need to work themselves out. To break down some of the biggest questions in
8:57 AM ET Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has filed a grievance to challenge the nearly $20 million of salary withheld to him by the Philadelphia 76ers this season, setting up a potentially significant showdown, sources told ESPN on Saturday. The grievance — which will now go to an arbitration process — could have larger
With six regular-season games left, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could win his first ever scoring title. Fresh off surpassing the iconic Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points scored in Milwaukee Bucks history, Giannis Antetokounmpo stands a real chance at winning his first ever scoring title. The two-time MVP and reigning NBA champion is averaging 30.1 points
10:19 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis will return to the lineup for the Lakers‘ crucial game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, the team announced. James missed the past two games with a sprained left ankle and was cleared to play after undergoing an on-court workout about an
LeBron James had Los Angeles Lakers fans panicking after his April Fool’s Day tweet. After ruining Space Jam, LeBron James backed up his Razzie Award-winning performance as a fictionalized version of himself by sending Los Angeles Lakers fans everywhere into a full-blown panic. It may have been April Fool’s Day, but nobody is laughing. How could they
4:01 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Kendra Andrews Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will have his left foot sprain re-evaluated in a week, but both he and the team are confident that the recovery timeline will allow for him to be back
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: Draymond Green #23 and head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors reacts when Green was ejected from the game after receiving his second technical foul against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Chase Center on March 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. The Warriors
Kevin Durant expects for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors organizations to retire his No. 35 jersey shortly after he calls it a career. While Kevin Durant is one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, his exits from both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors were not exactly smooth. Now
8:00 AM ET New Los Angeles Lakers are typically brought to owner Jeanie Buss’ second-floor office overlooking the practice floor at the team’s training facility. And with good reason: On a specially designed credenza under a wide window sit 11 Larry O’Brien trophies — the centerpieces of the building and the sources of constant motivation
The Pelicans won’t entertain Zion Williamson trade offers unless he forces their hand. But if he does, the New York Knicks should be ready to pounce. Let’s say this off the top – the Knicks need to stay the course and continue to build through the young guns and the draft. They have a collection
Every team is looking for a sharp jersey to rally their fans. But no one topped the Phoenix Suns, who won Best Costume Design at the FanSided Sports Oscars. The late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” If YSL were still with us today he’d doubtlessly have much
1:28 AM ET NEW YORK — Giannis Antetokounmpo became the Milwaukee Bucks‘ all-time leading scorer on Thursday night by delivering the type of unbelievable performance that has defined his star-studded career. Antetokounmpo broke Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s franchise mark of 14,211 points, scoring 44 points on Thursday to move his total to 14,216. As
If LeBron James doesn’t make it back in at least some of the season’s remaining games, he may not win the scoring title after all. As the NBA season approaches a close, certain unknowns come into focus. There’s still a battle among big men for the MVP candidacy, and there are a few teams battling
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. As the end of the NBA season approaches playoff and award races are narrowing. In the case of MVP, that latest straw poll at ESPN indicates that we’re likely
Joel Embiid has put the Philadelphia 76ers on his back and earned MVP-caliber recognition as an all-around player—but he nearly left the NBA back in 2014. Sixers big man Joel Embiid is being able to shine in a way he hasn’t for years. There are various factors—he’s watched tape to improve as an all-around player,
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, the leading defender on the NBA’s leading defense, believes he is the Defensive Player of the Year. So, too, does Mikal Bridges, the Phoenix Suns‘ fourth-year wing and the franchise’s top NBA All-Defensive candidate. But, based on the award’s history, it’s unlikely either of the
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 23: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics talks with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on March 23, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
With their most important player out for at least a month, it’s worth wondering whether the Celtics are still the same threat they were before Rob Williams’ injury. The harshest reality in the NBA is that a team could spend months furiously coalescing into a juggernaut, only to be undone by a poorly-timed injury while
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 Rookie of the Year race has tightened and it seems likely that Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes will finish 1-2-3 in some order. While there may
4:34 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN When asked directly within the past 24 hours if their teams are fully vaccinated, both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers declined to comment to ESPN — opening the possibility that both teams could potentially be missing players in road games of a first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors.
The Brooklyn Nets are eighth in the Eastern Conference. But they still may have a chance at a magical run, thanks to the play-in tournament. The NBA regular season is coming to an end and lower-seeded teams are gearing up for the play-in tournament, with hopes of keeping their season alive. Teams who finish in the
12:07 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The top of the NBA’s Eastern Conference couldn’t be much more compact. Entering Tuesday’s action, four teams — the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers — were within a single loss of one another. And, in serendipitous timing, all four were set to face off, with the
Illinois basketball career now entering the rearview, star big man Kofi Cockburn is eyeing his NBA future and perhaps a Fighting Illini reunion. Kofi Cockburn wants to play basketball in the state of Illinois next year. Ideally, it will be in Chicago with the NBA Bulls alongside his former college teammate at Illinois, Ayo Dosunmu.
5:02 PM ET ESPN Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print The Los Angeles Lakers have listed LeBron James as out and Anthony Davis as doubtful for Thursday’s game at the Utah Jazz. Both didn’t play in Tuesday’s 128-110 blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks. James has been dealing with a left ankle sprain since
Mar 29, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (yellow hoodie) sits on the Laker team bench during the second quarter of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Trevor Bauer suing journalist & The Athletic for
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson will likely miss the entirety of his third season in the NBA. On NBA Media Day back on September 27, 2021, it was first announced that Zion Williamson had broken his right foot over the summer and undergone subsequent surgery. The news was shocking, but both Zion and David
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 15: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans stands next to the bench during the third quarter of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on March 15, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
8:27 AM ET After undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee Wednesday morning, Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III is expected to return within four to six weeks — a timetable that could land him back in the lineup as soon as the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, sources told
Elsa Hasch /Allsport The Miami Heat have a history of growth and have seen some NBA legends stick around. Some legends, however, have made appearances so quickly you may have forgotten they played for the Heat. Some extremely talented NBA players have played for the Miami Heat, including current forward Jimmy Butler and future Hall-of-Famers
12:33 AM ET DALLAS — For the first time since the first week of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on the outside of the play-in tournament looking in after Tuesday night’s 128-110 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Playing without LeBron James (left ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (right mid-foot sprain), the
Kareem Abudul-Jabbar penned a response to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony. Even for those who did not watch the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 27, they were made aware on the news or on their social media feeds of one particular moment. During the ceremony, Will Smith
6:01 PM ET After missing three months with an elbow injury, LA Clippers All-Star guard Paul George is expected to return to the lineup against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, sources told ESPN. George, who hasn’t played since Dec. 22, completed rehab on a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, was upgraded
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises this season and have now introduced a new reward for grit: The Junkyard Dog Chain The Cleveland Cavaliers have not been very good lately. They have gone 6-10 since the All-Star Break, and are now in the seventh seed where they would be forced
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Last season, the Denver Nuggets‘ Nikola Jokic surpassed Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid in the closing weeks of the NBA’s regular season to win the Most Valuable Player award, as injuries to Embiid and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James cleared the path for Jokic to become the first
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 23: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics rebounds during the second quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on March 23, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to
Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams has perfected the art of offensive rebounding by just standing there. When it comes to offensive rebounding, Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams likes to KISS it: Keep it simple, stupid. Adams was asked at the podium on how to explain his success on the glass in layman’s terms to the commoners
4:42 PM ET LeBron James and Anthony Davis will both be listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after practice Monday. Davis went through a full, live practice for the first time since suffering a mid-foot sprain on Feb. 16 against the Utah Jazz. James
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Andre Drummond of Brooklyn Nets warms up before the NBA match between Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn of New York City, United States on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Albert Pujols contract details: Full list of incentives
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 Eastern Conference playoff picture has come into focus. The Knicks and Wizards are all but eliminated leaving us with 10 teams locked in for the playoffs and play-in
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 27: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during the third quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans Pelicans won the game 116 – 108. NOTE TO USER:
12:01 PM ET Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III — an anchor of the league’s best defense — suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced Monday. He will miss several weeks, minimally, sources told ESPN on Monday. An MRI on Monday revealed the tear, and further evaluation Monday will help provide
Mar 26, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett (12) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors center Khem Birch (24) during the first quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports March Madness bracket update 2022: Who does Villanova play in Final Four? by John Buhler Jay Wright contract: How
8:00 AM ET As the Brooklyn Nets continue to fight for playoff seeding, Kyrie Irving is now able to play in home games. New York City Mayor Eric Adams lifted the mandate for unvaccinated players and performers on Thursday, clearing the way for Irving to play in home games at Barclays Center. He made his
TEMPE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 03: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury handles the ball during Game Three of the 2021 WNBA semifinals at Desert Financial Arena on October 03, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Aces 87-60. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Braves rotation takes shape as Brian Snitker reveals final 2
1:38 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving made his home debut Sunday night during a 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets — making it clear that he believes his presence on the floor represents something much larger than a basketball player. “I was just trying to ground myself as much as
CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 20: LeBron James #6 of Team LeBron looks on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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
2:35 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The New Orleans Pelicans have listed Brandon Ingram as probable for Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, setting up the forward to end a 10-game absence by returning against his former team. Ingram has been out since March 8 with a strained right hamstring. After missing the Pelicans’ most
While he often gets criticized for some shortcomings and errors, Russell Westbrook is moving up on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Russell Westbrook is a polarizing player. He’s been the league’s MVP and was considered one of the best in the NBA, but now Westbrook is the recipient of seemingly relentless criticism and critiques for
The Golden State Warriors are getting a key contributor back as Draymond Green is gearing up to make his return in the coming days. It looks like the Golden State Warriors are getting some great news heading into the final stretch of the season. Draymond Green, who has been out with an injury since early
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green opens up about how the Warriors played their worst basketball in their loss to a terrible Orlando Magic team. The Golden State Warriors and Orlando Magic live in alternate realities at the opposite ends of their respective conferences. The Warriors are No. 3 in the Western Conference with a
6:21 AM ET ESPN News Services Portland Trail Blazers forward Trendon Watford will be sidelined at least a week with a hyperextended knee and bone bruise suffered in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. Watford led the Blazers with 15 points and 10 rebounds before suffering the injury with 3:01 remaining in the 115-98 loss.
Atlanta Dream forward Monique Billings could be quickly headed for a breakout WNBA season. Monique Billings joined professional basketball just four years ago with the Atlanta Dream. She was selected in the WNBA draft as the 15th overall pick and has continuously worked her way up to earn more overall time in games. In 2021,
9:16 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors‘ game against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night restarted at 9:30 p.m., about 70 minutes after it was suspended in the second quarter and the arena evacuated because of a fire in a speaker hanging over the stands. Players headed to their locker rooms with
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MARCH 23: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets react during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on March 23, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph,
1:04 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN MIAMI — When news first broke on Wednesday that the New York City mandate that prevented unvaccinated athletes from playing in home games has been lifted, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he had to keep pinching himself to make sure it was real. On Thursday, New York City mayor
Jason Williams thrilled NBA fans with his dazzling passes but the highlight of his career was winning a championship playing in Miami’s winning culture. Jason Williams, aka White Chocolate, was one of the most memorable players of his era. Basketball fans remember Williams bursting onto the scene as a lottery pick with Sacramento in 1999
7:44 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — If it were up to Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel, LeBron James would be adding a fifth MVP award to his career accomplishments after this season. “He is as deserving for MVP consideration as anybody in the league,” Vogel said after practice Friday. “I know how the
Mar 24, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) gestures to the crowd in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Angels make the most obvious Opening Day decision known to man by Miranda Remaklus What needs to happen for Duke to
LeBron James greeted former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love before Monday’s game, and then he posterized him. On Monday night, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made his return to Cleveland to play his former team, the Cavaliers. Prior to the game, James greeted and spoke with former teammate Kevin Love. But during the game,
Former Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Kevin Love are as close as ever—even after LeBron embarrassed love with a monstrous poster dunk. Initially, the reunion between LeBron James and Kevin Love at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was a joyous one, with LeBron and KLove embracing like old times. That all changed toward the end of the
4:40 PM ET MIAMI — Kyrie Irving is finally allowed to play at home games inside Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets couldn’t be happier about it. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the mandate for unvaccinated athletes and performers has been lifted, clearing the way for Irving, who hasn’t been able
Bob McAdoo #11 of the Boston Celtics (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) Originating in and representing the birthplace of America, the Philadelphia 76ers have attracted some legends onto their team over the years. The Philadelphia 76ers have faced some rocky seasons but have claimed some legendary players as their own over the years. The
5:52 PM ET Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman has been ruled out for the rest of the season and will continue rehabilitating his right knee, sources told ESPN on Friday. Wiseman has been recovering from a meniscus repair that he had in April 2021, and recent swelling in his right knee precluded him from
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.’ Award races are heating up, statistical achievements are falling left and right and the playoff picture is coming into focus. To break down some of the biggest questions in
6:00 AM ET James Harden would like to think he knows an MVP when he sees one, having won the award himself in 2018 and played alongside two others in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. And in Harden’s book, his new teammate, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, “deserves” to win the award this season. “He
An improved offense and malleable defense suggest the Milwaukee Bucks’ best play is yet to come, and that the defending champs might still be the best team in basketball. The case for the Milwaukee Bucks as NBA title favorites isn’t built on a historically dominant season or a rampant surge through the standings, but rather
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 29: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during the game on March 29, 2019 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph,
With New York City athletes now allowed to perform without having the COVID-19 vaccine, Yankees star Aaron Judge commented on the issue. The COVID-19 vaccine has become politically polarizing, even in the world of sports. Many athletes have tried to keep their vaccination status to themselves, evidenced by the Aaron Rodgers debacle in which he
12:00 AM ET Associated Press DENVER — Chris Paul returned from a broken right thumb to help the Phoenix Suns wrap up the top seed in the NBA playoffs with a 140-130 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Devin Booker led Phoenix with a season-high 49 points, and Paul had 17 points —
Mar 23, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports USMNT vs Mexico: How Americans could qualify for World Cup tonight by Mark Powell Two young NBA players are making
8:00 AM ET The NBA playoffs are less than a month away and both conferences feature seeding races that are sure to come down to the wire. Several top teams are missing key players who could return in time for the playoffs and help their teams’ postseason hopes. The No. 5 Chicago Bulls and No.
It’s probably safe to say that Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, and the rest of the Miami Heat aren’t all that thrilled right now. Fighting with a teammate isn’t exactly an activity that most people would recommend. Generally, that indicates that something very wrong is happening in that moment. With that said, the Miami Heat are
Why Vince Carter’s final season as an Atlanta Hawk, and his years as a veteran mentor, mean just as much as prime Vinsanity did. He stepped onto the court for the first time in the 2019–20 season, donning a white Atlanta Hawks uni with bright red and neon green lettering — a loud contrast against
New York Knicks have found a new public enemy in Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, who has terrorized New York City once again. Knicks fans run on two things: unending hope that this year is their year, and the rage that follows when this year is ultimately not their year. Usually, it’s helpful when that
8:00 AM ET IT WAS DARK on the Minnesota Timberwolves team plane as it took off from San Antonio late on the night of March 14, headed home to Minneapolis. But it wasn’t especially quiet. There was no chance of that after the game star center Karl-Anthony Towns just had, scoring a career-high 60 points
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks with the media after scoring a career high and franchise record 60 points in beating the Orlando Magic by score of 150 to 108 at Amway Center on March 15, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees
6:05 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Jeff Passan Close ESPN ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” The progress toward further changes to New York City’s private-sector vaccine mandate has inspired confidence that
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 19: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Capital One Arena on March 19, 2022 in Washington, DC. With the point, LeBron James passed Karl Malone to become second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. NOTE TO USER:
8:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN WHEN HE WAKES up in the morning, Josh Hart is greeted by a smiling family. Every morning he opens his eyes and looks at the wall in his bedroom, where he sees a wedding photo and a picture of a newborn baby. Except it isn’t from his wedding. And it
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young visited Madison Square Garden and put up an historic performance against the New York Knicks. In the opening round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks fans found their new Reggie Miller in the form of Trae Young. The Atlanta Hawks star ripped apart the hearts of Knicks fans
8:00 AM ET Tim MacMahon Close ESPN Staff Writer Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009 Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM Kevin Pelton Close ESPN Senior Writer Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system For a guy
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 NCAA Tournament shouldn’t factor into evaluations of draft prospects more than what each player has done across the rest of their season. But we all know the bright
The Over and Back NBA podcast is celebrating the NBA at 75 by rewatching some of the greatest Slam Dunk Contests in NBA history. The NBA slam-dunk contest was back. Vince Carter had single-handedly resurrected the competition from the deep dark depths of death. Or did he? The 2000 dunk contest would be the last
10:04 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has tried to keep a low profile on social media while rehabbing his fractured right foot that has kept him out the entire 2021-22 season. That changed on Tuesday night. Williamson posted a 5-second clip to his Instagram story showing him at the Pelicans’
If LeBron James continues to lead the league in scoring, he will claim the second seasonal scoring title of his 19-year NBA career. The debate continues to rage as to whether LeBron James is basketball’s GOAT, and the only thing that can strengthen his case is winning more titles. Of course, those titles aren’t restricted
8:00 AM ET NOT LONG AFTER Tyronn Lue had been doused with cold water by his team after matching the second-largest NBA comeback since 1996, his cellphone was ringing. On the other end, Lue heard a familiar, distinct and drawn voice. “So you just going to keep getting down 25, come back and win, huh?”
8:00 AM ET As the NBA’s 2021-22 regular season draws to a conclusion on April 10, teams near the middle of the standings are battling for postseason seeding with a special focus on the league’s play-in tournament. Held before the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, the play-in tournament adds an exciting wrinkle to
The Phoenix Suns have one of the most potent pick-and-roll attacks in the NBA with multiple options to score. Is there any way for defenses to counter? Despite a surprising hand injury shelving Chris Paul for several weeks, the Phoenix Suns have the luxury of coasting their way into the playoffs thanks to the cushy
12:57 AM ET CLEVELAND — With the Los Angeles Lakers‘ flat-lining season experiencing a bit of blip with Monday’s 131-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James says he still has something left to play for. “I’m literally having the time of my life right now,” James said after the Lakers finished their four-game road
Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers The best memes, Tweets, gifs and more from women’s March Madness so far by Rylie Smith Myles Turner’s Lego collection is sure to make you jealous. Indiana Pacers‘ star Myles Turner has been out since Jan 14. rehabbing an injured foot. Turner was averaging 12 points a game before he
12:00 PM ET With a layup in the first half against the Washington Wizards on March 19, 2022, LeBron James moved past Karl Malone for second place on the NBA’s career regular-season points list. Now the Los Angeles Lakers star has his eyes set on another Lakers legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s current all-time leading
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 30: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 30, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
8:00 AM ET While the Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a disappointing NBA season, LeBron James continues to be the lone bright spot. James passed Karl Malone on Saturday night, moving into the No. 2 spot on the all-time scoring list. Though James racked up another individual milestone, his team fell to
12:58 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors had a chance to start their two weeks (at least) without Stephen Curry on a good note. Led by Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, they fought back from trailing the San Antonio Spurs by 10 in the third quarter. Momentum was on the
NBA legend Larry Bird predicted that LeBron James made his surrounding cast look better during his first stint in Cleveland, and he turned out to be right. When it comes to overall NBA excellence, it’s virtually impossible to beat Larry Bird. Bird remains the only person to win in NBA history to win Rookie of
1:36 PM ET NEW YORK — As the Brooklyn Nets prepare for the final 11 games of the regular season, center Andre Drummond offered an interesting perspective on how he hopes the team approaches the stretch run. “Got to treat this s— like pickup,” Drummond said, laughing, after Sunday’s practice. “Just take the best five
6:23 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN MINNEAPOLIS — A small fracas in the game Saturday between the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves led to a pair of ejections midway through the first quarter. Bucks forward Serge Ibaka and Wolves forward Taurean Prince were face-to-face after fighting for positioning following a free throw from Karl-Anthony Towns, when
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. There is a perception that the golden age of NBA big men was a distant era. Maybe the 1960s, when Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell were doing battle. Maybe
9:13 PM ET WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a cut to the basket and an uncontested driving layup, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time second leading scorer Saturday night in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards. James passed former Utah Jazz Hall of Famer Karl Malone with 5 minutes, 20 seconds
Russell Westbrook put Los Angeles Lakers fans in a glass case of emotion after making an overtime-forcing shot against the Toronto Raptors. To say that Los Angeles Lakers fans had a stressful time watching their game against the Toronto Raptors may be an understatement. The closing seconds of regulation were truly something, with the team
4:47 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman‘s return to game action has been pushed back again because of more swelling in his right knee. Wiseman was held out of practice Friday and Saturday and will not play in either Santa Cruz Warriors G League games this weekend. There
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confronted Celtics guard Marcus Smart for two dangerous plays involving Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson may not consider Celtics guard Marcus Smart to have played dirty against them, but that doesn’t mean the Warriors-Celtics game was free from confrontation. The Celtics defeated the Warriors 110-88, but
1:25 AM ET Just seconds after badly missing a 3-pointer off the backboard, Russell Westbrook came up with a big steal before sinking a clutch 3 that forced overtime to help the Los Angeles Lakers snap an 11-game road losing streak in Toronto. Westbrook’s 3, which he hit after looking down and moving his foot
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports The Houston Rockets win the NBA Draft Lottery and sent the order in our first 2022 NBA Mock Draft. As March Madness gets going we’re taking a first stab at 2022 NBA Mock Draft. For this iteration, we’ve used an NBA Draft lottery simulation from Tankathon, with the Houston Rockets landing
5:23 PM ET The Dallas Mavericks responded Friday to a wrongful termination suit by Donnie Nelson, accusing the former longtime general manager of a “lengthy scheme to extort as much as $100 million” and saying the lawsuit was preceded by demands that he receive “in effect, a blackmail payment” in exchange for his promise not
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 are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, 12-3 over their last 15 games and outscoring opponents by an average of 12.7 points per 100
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook opens up on how incessant taunting from Lakers fans is taking a toll on his family. When Los Angeles Lakers fans booed loudly during the team’s 28-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Russell Westbrook said the booing does not bother him and he wouldn’t take it home
Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook says he doesn’t care about trash talk, but Timberwolves Patrick Beverly and Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t help but talk. The trash-talking NBA players endure beyond the confines of the game tend to cross the line, as the Russell Westbrook situation has proven in Los Angeles. Westbrook has been a mind-boggling disappointment
4:23 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will be reevaluated in two weeks, the team announced, after he sprained a ligament in his left foot Wednesday night. Curry injured the foot in the second quarter of Golden State’s game against the Boston Celtics when he and Marcus Smart
Dec 14, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Liberty Media robbed a generation of Braves fans of their Chipper Jones by John Buhler Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant had an NSFW back-and-forth
Los Angeles Clippers shooter Reggie Jackson tripped up Russell Westbrook in the most embarrassing way before scoring 3 soon after. When Reggie Jackson and Russell Westbrook both played in Oklahoma City, it was Jackson who played behind Westbrook. Now that both point guards are in Los Angeles—for the Clippers and Lakers, respectively—it’s Jackson who was
The Clippers 21-point victory over the Lakers on March 3 further shapes the narrative between the crosstown Los Angeles rivals. Although Los Angeles basketball star and former Clippers point guard Baron Davis once hoped to bring the team their first division and conference title. The division titles came in 2013 and 2014, but the Clippers
8:00 AM ET SIXTY FLOORS ABOVE Philadelphia’s Center City, sitting at a side table by the window-walled lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel, Malik Monk peeks through the glass toward the hustle and bustle below. It’s a Wednesday afternoon in late January and the Lakers are set to face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Chase Center on March 16, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to
10:07 PM ET ESPN News Services ORLANDO, Fla. — Saddiq Bey went off for a career-high 51 points in the Detroit Pistons‘ 134-120 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, continuing what has already been a torrid month of individual scoring in the NBA. Bey’s performance marked the NBA’s eighth 50-point game in March,
Why Draymond Green’s offense may be just as important to the Warriors as his defense. Plus: why the Miami Heat might be the best team in the East. After more than 1000 days on ice, one of the truly unique trios in NBA history is intact once again. Draymond Green’s return from a back injury
12:52 PM 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 Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is expected to return for the start of the Western Conference playoffs
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 the surface, the most obvious link between the 60-point games for Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyrie Irving this week was their 3-point shooting — 7-of-11 for Towns, 8-of-12 for
March 14 marked the first time Golden State Warriors golden trio Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Steph Curry have played together in 3 years. It’s been a long time since Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry have hit the hardwood together, but exactly how long has it been? 1005 days, to be precise. The
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 14: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against Gary Payton II #0, Jonathan Kuminga #00 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden on December 14, 2021 in New York City. The Warriors defeated the Knicks
1:48 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — As fans showered the Minnesota Timberwolves starters with thunderous applause when they exited the game late in a blowout win, Karl-Anthony Towns raised one hand and waved toward the Los Angeles Lakers‘ bench, gesturing by opening and closing his hand several times. There was noticeable trash talking during the Timberwolves’
The 2022 NCAA Tournament will be a great introduction to what could be a deep crop of future superstars in the NBA Draft. The 2022 NCAA Tournament is loaded with deep, talented rosters and there are more than a few players here who will likely be playing in the NBA next season. From explosive guards
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James celebrated Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving’s historic 60-point performance against the Orlando Magic. When NBA fans saw Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyrie Irving join the exclusive 60-point club in the same week, it garnered reactions from across the league. Most points in a half this season: 36 — Karl-Anthony Towns
11:37 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was ruled out of the second half of Wednesday night’s 110-88 loss to the Boston Celtics due to left foot soreness, the team said. Curry injured his foot at the 4:17 mark of the second quarter when his leg got rolled
Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving joins the historic 60 Point Club, but he is still far from being the NBA’s most prolific member. Even though Kyrie Irving hasn’t played much in the 2021-22 season, the Nets shooter has still managed to make NBA history in the team’s 150-point victory over the Orlando Magic. Irving added
Nikola Jokic is ridiculously talented and able to complete all sorts of absurd passes. Please enjoy another moment of his greatness. The Denver Nuggets have one of the best basketball players in the world in Nikola Jokic. What their star center is able to do is almost otherworldly. Given his size, he’s a tough person
8:42 PM ET ORLANDO, Fla. — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving put together one of the most impressive offensive halves of basketball in recent NBA history during Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, scoring 41 points in a dominant performance. In 23 first-half minutes, Irving went 14-for-19 from the field, 6-for-7 from beyond the arc,
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Baker Mayfield releases statement after Browns meet with Deshaun Watson by Scott Rogust Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving dropped 60 points and had one of the most productive first halves in recent NBA history on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic. On Monday night, Karl-Anthony Towns
8:00 AM ET Luka Doncic drives hard toward the baseline after catching the ball on the right wing, muscling Memphis Grizzlies rookie Ziaire Williams en route to the basket and drawing three more defenders into the paint. That kind of crowd can be problematic for a lot of guards, leading to a forced layup attempt
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: NBA player LeBron James attends Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Over the weekend, LeBron James left the door open for a possible return to Cleveland when he hits
CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #6 of Team LeBron talks to the media during NBA All Star Practice as part of 2022 NBA All Star Weekend on Saturday February 19, 2022 at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user
9:30 PM ET Kyrie Irving might have just had the game of his life. The 29-year-old Brooklyn Nets guard dropped 60 points en route to his team’s 150-108 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. Irving shot exceptionally well, going 20-for-31 from the field and 8-for-12 from beyond the arc. He scored 41 in
Having been with the Bulls for less than a month, Tristan Thompson is proving loyalty to his new team with fierce words for Bucks guard Grayson Allen. Tristan Thompson was a part of the landmark Pacers-Kings trade package that sent Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to Indiana, but within nine days, Thompson was already back
1:15 PM ET ORLANDO, Fla. — The Brooklyn Nets still have no idea exactly when Ben Simmons will be able to make his season debut as he continues to deal with a back injury, but coach Steve Nash said after the shootaround Tuesday that he has “extremely high hopes that we’ll see him in the
It’s been a season full of turmoil for the Lakers, and Sunday night in the desert was more of the same. How many times can one team hit rock bottom? The 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers keep testing the limits after yet another embarrassing performance on Sunday night, a 140-111 blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns.
7:00 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN LESS THAN A minute has ticked off the clock at the United Center, with the Bulls hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers, when a microcosm of Chicago’s most surprising success story this season reveals itself — again. Cavs guard Darius Garland walks the ball up the left side of the court. He
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 NCAA Tournament starts this week shining the spotlight on, among other things, some of the best draft prospects in this year’s class. The consensus seems to be that
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce sang the national anthem at a 76ers game after helping to raise $100,000 for former Connor Barwin’s charity. Coming back to the Eagles alone was probably enough to make Philadelphia fans’ love for Jason Kelce grow. Then on Monday, he gave them, and everyone in America even more to love.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 24: Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on February 24, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 13: Kyrie Irving of Brooklyn Nets is seen during NBA match between Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn of New York City, United States on March 13, 2022. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Seahawks: Tyler Lockett expresses desire to play with
11:39 PM ET ESPN News Services SAN ANTONIO — Karl-Anthony Towns had a team-record 60 points — the most scored in the NBA this season — as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 149-139 on Monday night. Towns shot 19-for-31 and grabbed 17 rebounds in surpassing his previous career best of 56 points
Carlos Boozer did not mince words when comparing his Chicago Bulls teams to this year’s up-and-coming squad. June 14, 1998. Over 23 years ago. That was the last shot Michael Jordan would take in a Chicago Bulls uniform, Byron Russell nudged away for championship number six after Karl Malone did not see Jordan coming for
8:00 AM ET As college basketball prepares to kick off the men’s and women’s tournaments this week, the NBA is quietly entering the home stretch of the regular season. And while the Phoenix Suns have run away with the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors trail the Memphis Grizzlies by just half a game —
2:01 AM ET PHOENIX — LeBron James created a statistical category all to himself Sunday, becoming the first player in league history to reach the 10,000 plateau in points, rebounds and assists in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 140-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns. “To now sit alone at a statistical category in this league that
5:52 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant has been so dominant for so long that he admits he feels “at ease” on the floor. It certainly didn’t look difficult in Sunday’s 110-107 win over the New York Knicks as Durant dropped 53 points, dished out 9 assists and grabbed 6
3:07 PM ET Milwaukee Bucks forward DeAndre’ Bembry is feared to have suffered a season-ending knee injury, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Bembry is undergoing imaging Sunday, but that’s expected to confirm that he suffered a serious injury in Saturday night’s 122-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors, sources said. Bembry had averaged nearly 10
The Over and Back NBA podcast is celebrating the NBA at 75 by rewatching some of the greatest Slam Dunk Contests in NBA history. The 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest was an embarrassment. The NBA, which once prided itself on high-flying, larger-than-life superstars used their All-Star Saturday night showcase, for a boring, mundane, uncompetitive contest.
1:20 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Klay Thompson walked down the hall from the court to the Golden State Warriors‘ locker room to the sound of fans shouting “Good game, Klay” and clapping their hands. “That one felt good,” Thompson said, as he high-fived a few of the people along the way. As
Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls says that he never received an apology from Grayson Allen after his hard foul left him injured. Back in January, Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls lay down on the court with a fractured wrist. That injury occurred after he was hit with a hard foul by Grayson Allen
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. A seven-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers has Gregg Popovich is on the verge of making history. He is currently tied with Don Nelson with 1,335 career wins,
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – DECEMBER 14: Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan during a game between San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns at Arena Ciudad de Mexico on December 14, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) Eagle FC 46: Kevin Lee outduels Diego Sanchez in
7:17 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris was cleared to play Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves following a four-month absence because of a whiplash injury. Morris was injured in a Nov. 8 scuffle with Denver’s Nikola Jokic. He missed 58 games. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game
With just one month remaining in the regular season, Kawhi Leonard is making significant progress in his ACL tear rehab. Jackie Moon was not the only one who made a surprise appearance before Tuesday night’s Clippers-Warriors game at the Chase Center. Kawhi Leonard was also spotted on the court pre-game, getting up shots and going
11:12 PM ET San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich never had spent a moment thinking about NFTs until his longtime assistant, Brett Brown, raised the idea on a phone call to coincide with his inevitable breaking of Don Nelson’s record for regular-season career coaching victories. What inspired enthusiasm about the idea for Popovich is that
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Seahawks draft quarterback to replace Russell Wilson by Brad Weiss Los Angeles Lakers legend James Worthy criticized the team following their overtime loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Just when you thought the Los Angeles Lakers could not find a new low this season, they
3:57 AM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James continues to redefine the standard for what a star is capable of at such a late stage of his career. James, 37, scored 50 points for the second time in his past three games in lifting the Lakers to a much-needed 122-109 win over the Washington Wizards
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 08: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers congratulates DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors for a 116-94 win over the Lakers at Staples Center on December 8, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
6:34 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN One day after announcing Brandon Ingram would miss at least a week with an injury, the New Orleans Pelicans suffered another blow Thursday when the team announced it was placing guard CJ McCollum in health and safety protocols. McCollum had 32 points and eight assists for the Pelicans on Wednesday
Russell Westbrook is having a year to forget for the Los Angeles Lakers but Stephen Curry has his back right now. The drama doesn’t look like it’s going to be ending in the near future for Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook is in his first year near Hollywood, but his performances on
8:00 AM ET For nearly two decades, Manu Ginobili has had hundreds of dinners and countless talks with San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, discussing everything from “politics, war, the game, or kids.” Popovich even showed up at Ginobili’s door at 1 in the morning with wine to cheer him up after a tough game.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 11: Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls in action against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on December 11, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
10:31 PM ET PHILADELPHIA — Ben Simmons endured all the boos that came his way during an emotionally charged return to Philly — and his new Brooklyn Nets teammates made sure they got the last laugh with a dominant 129-100 win over the 76ers on Thursday night. Making his first appearance in Philadelphia since requesting
16-04-2021: Basketbal: Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo v UMMC Ekaterinburg: Istanboel”nISTANBUL, TURKEY – APRIL 16: Brittney Griner of UMMC Ekaterinburg, Satou Sabally of Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo during the Euroleague Women Final Four match between Fenerbahce Oznur Kablo and UMMC Ekaterinburg at Volkswagen Arena on April 16, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey (Photo by /BSR Agency/Getty Images) 3 free
Skip Bayless’ feud with Russell Westbrook’s wife took a step in the right direction over the weekend, when Bayless address the interaction itself. This is not the first nor will it be the last public feud in the long, storied career of sports talking head Skip Bayless. At a certain point, you almost have to
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 22: Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder walks up court during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Thunder 94-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this
5:18 PM ET New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish will miss the rest of the season with a right shoulder separation, the team announced Thursday. Reddish’s timeline for recovery will be six weeks, so he is expected to be able to have a full summer of work ahead of the 2022-23 season, sources told ESPN.
James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers tied Hall of Famer Reggie Miller on the all-time 3-pointers list on Monday. Entering Monday night, James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers was listed in fourth-place in the all-time 3-pointers made list. With one more successful shot from behind the arc, he would tie Hall of Famer Reggie Miller
Carmelo Anthony’s career resume has everything but an NBA championship. Why can’t we just love him for what he has accomplished? One thing is for sure — nobody on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team was or is as disrespected as Carmelo Anthony. Not while they were still playing. Not by their old coaches. Not by
10:51 PM ET ESPN News Services MIAMI — Not that there was any doubt about this, but the Phoenix Suns are going to the playoffs. The Suns didn’t leave any doubt in a matchup of conference leaders, either. Devin Booker scored 23 points, Mikal Bridges added 21 and the Suns shook off a slow start
MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 09: Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 09, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) Watch: Marcus Stroman outlines
2:03 AM ET HOUSTON — A triple-double from LeBron James and a high-scoring effort from Russell Westbrook weren’t enough to halt the Los Angeles Lakers‘ self-destruction tour, with Wednesday’s 139-130 overtime loss to the Rockets being the latest lowlight in a season full of them. “We kind of messed around with the game and they
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 30: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors signs autographs for fans before the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 30, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
3:24 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN CAMDEN, N.J. — Even with Ben Simmons not playing in Thursday night’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, there is plenty of excitement in Philadelphia. Sixers coach Doc Rivers said after practice Wednesday that while he isn’t a fan of the way this Atlantic Division rivalry began, he
Mar 7, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley (22) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports James Harden ties Reggie Miller on the all-time 3-pointers list [VIDEO] by Scott Rogust Dirk Nowitzki is still mad about Wade and
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