Credit: Sam Wasson/Getty Images The WNBA seemed to be moving toward a plan to play in 2020, and now they’ve made an announcement. As many major sports try to find a way to have or continue their seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic, the WNBA seemed to shaping their plan. On Monday, the league officially unveiled its
Month: June 2020
Christian Wood, #35, Detroit Pistons, (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) 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 Detroit Pistons were 20-46 when the NBA season was suspended, 13th in the Eastern Conference, which means
6:06 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Malika Andrews Close ESPN Staff Writer Staff Writer Joined ESPN in 2018 Appears regularly on ESPN Chicago 1000 As a growing faction of NBA players remains uncertain about committing to the league’s plan for restarting the season
The NBA hiatus is coming to a close. With the season expected to resume July 30, just over a month away, there would appear to finally be a light at the end of this long, long tunnel. That said, we’re not quite there yet. But, in the meantime, we here at Basketball Insiders will continue
7:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Next month, the NBA is set to descend upon Walt Disney World to attempt to finish out the 2019-20 season. And while winning a championship will be the goal for all 22 teams, plenty of what transpires could have enormous implications and reshape the league. Because of the unusual circumstances
Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Dwight Howard believes the focus should be on activism not an NBA return. Dwight Howard backs Kyrie Irving’s message that an NBA return would only be a distraction to the Black Lives Matter movement. Irving expressed players should skip the NBA restart
3:42 PM ET San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for caving to Donald Trump in the past on the issue of player protests during the national anthem. “A smart man is running the NFL and he didn’t understand the difference between the flag and what makes the country great —
The NBA hiatus is coming to a close. With the season expected to resume July 30, just over a month away, there would appear to finally be a light at the end of this long, long tunnel. That said, we’re not quite there yet. But, in the meantime, we here at Basketball Insiders will continue
6:18 PM ET LOS ANGELES — After Friday’s NBA players’ group call revealed just how adamant a faction of the league is against resuming the season in Orlando next month, members of the Los Angeles Lakers insist that ample time remains to get their team on the same page. “[There’s] no divide,” one Lakers player
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 07: Austin Rivers #25 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on February 07, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph,
Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images In episodes 9 and 10 of “The Last Dance,” the Michael Jordan docuseries wraps up in triumphant fashion for the Chicago Bulls. After five weeks of providing the sports world with appointment viewing on a weekly basis, The Last Dance came to an end Sunday night. Covering Michael Jordan‘s
Michael Jordan was one of the most sensational dunkers in NBA history. But how does his vertical leap stack up? Statistically speaking, Michael Jordan’s accomplishments are legendary — 32,292 points (fifth all-time), and top-10 all-time rankings in both steals and free throws. No one has ever scored more points in an NBA playoff game (63)
2:56 PM ET Former Murray State star Ja Morant is asking a Kentucky judge to remove a Confederate monument in downtown Murray. Morant, who was drafted with the second pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, led Murray State to a conference championship in 2019. “Murray felt like a second home from
The world is on fire. And, frankly, the news of pending basketball hardly seems important in the slightest. The planet-wide pandemic and sweeping protests have turned everybody’s day-to-day routines on their head – but, obviously, for one group, it has done so in awful and disproportionate ways. If you can donate, consider doing so. If
12:13 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA informed teams in a memo Saturday that COVID-19 testing for players and staff taking part in the league’s restart will begin June 23 and take place every other day. The memo, which was obtained by ESPN, says players and “essential team staff” — any coaches, trainers or medical
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 19: Ja Morant speaks to the media ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 19, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks to media during Brooklyn Nets Media Day at HSS Training Center on September 27, 2019 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User
5:47 PM ET The debate about whether the NBA season resuming would benefit or distract from the Black Lives Matter movement continued Saturday with players weighing in on social media. Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers made the case on Instagram that NBA players earning their salaries would allow them to financially aid the cause while
The Boston Celtics certainly have a chance to win it all in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. The Boston Celtics were having a nice regular season before the current pandemic brought the NBA season to a screeching halt. With that being said, they weren’t going to enter the playoffs with a strong chance of taking home
8:29 PM ET When the National Basketball Players Association conducted a conference call and vote on restarting the season a week ago, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was an active participant — although his questions were of a mundane nature. Sources say Irving asked, as an injured player, if he would count among the Nets’
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and his son LeBron James Jr., on the court after the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers basketball game at Staples Center on December 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
9:59 PM ET In theory, you could pull it off without a hitch: about 1,500 people test negative for the coronavirus — several times — before entering the NBA’s proposed “bubble” at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, they interact with almost no one else, and the league emerges three months later
RCD Mallorca vs. Barcelona live stream: Watch La Liga online by John Wilkinson What does the PlayStation 5 look like? by D.J. Rivera Michael Jordan, #23, of Washington Wizards, Jerry Stackhouse, #42, (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) Michael Jordan’s tenure with the Washington Wizards left plenty of bad feelings. Now he’s saying he knows that
7:28 AM ET What will happen in the 2020 NBA draft lottery, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 25? This will be the second lottery since the NBA flattened the odds, which introduced more uncertainty at the top of the draft order. Last season, the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers all jumped from
NBPA president Chris Paul, Houston Rockets, (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) We are hearing more and more reports about players being unhappy with the NBA’s plan to resume the season. Could it really all fall apart? When the NBA’s Board of Governors voted last week to approve the league’s plan for a 22-team season restart
12:44 AM ET When San Antonio Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV cut his signature hairstyle this week, he was parting with more than just several inches off the top. Walker said he was attempting to free himself of painful memories. Walker, 21, revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he started to grow out his hair
Bronny James (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) Bronny James is growing into a big-time college basketball recruit. The son of the king is making a name for himself on the high school level where Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, is blossoming into a big-time college basketball recruit. LeBron, famously, skipped college and went
6:16 PM ET As the NBA firms up its 22-team Orlando restart schedule, 14 of the teams will be eliminated within 53 days of arriving — and only four teams will remain after 67 days, sources said. The NBA has been working to make clear to players that the actual commitment of time for most
The world is on fire. And, frankly, the news of pending basketball hardly seems important in the slightest. The planet-wide pandemic and sweeping protests have turned everybody’s day-to-day routines on their head – but, obviously, for one group, it has done so in awful and disproportionate ways. If you can donate, consider doing so. If
6:49 AM ET Nine NBA teams will head to the Orlando bubble in Florida looking to make a final push for a playoff spot. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that some players on non-title-contending teams are hesitant to restart. Rosters might be tweaked as a result, but the potential for a surprise postseason run