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
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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
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 31: Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on March 31, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
1:21 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
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
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
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,