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Trevor Ariza, Portland Trail Blazers, (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) How can a resumed NBA season be a distraction when their challenges — public health and social justice — are the same as everyone else’s right now? To the extent that it was ever plausible, the idea that sport and broader society can or should

DeAndre Jordan Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images DeAndre Jordan has revealed that he’s tested positive for COVID-19. The Brooklyn Nets‘ DeAndre Jordan revealed on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t join the Brookly Nets as they travel to Orlando in a few weeks in order to re-start the NBA season. Jordan

Mike Brown, Golden State Warriors, (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) The New York Knicks have reportedly expanded their list of head coaching candidates, giving a look to Warriors’ assistant, Mike Brown. The Knicks have no aces up their sleeve. In fact, at this point, they don’t really have sleeves at all. It’s a white

The NBA likes to lean into its reputation as a progressive leader in professional sports. But is it deserved? On June 19, the Washington Wizards’ John Wall and Bradley Beal helped lead a protest in the nation’s capital. The All-Star duo marched, with megaphones in their hands, giving voice to those tired of police forces

When the NBA season went on hiatus, the Milwaukee Bucks led the league with a 53-12 mark. In other words, they were, and are, the favorites headed into the homestretch. Records continue to be set. Depending on the state, the number could be in cases, hospitalizations, deaths. Admittedly, those two sentences back-to-back sound rather insincere

UFC Vegas 4: Dustin Poirier gets decision over Dan Hooker in bloody classic by Thomas Albano Joel Embiid (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) NBA, NBPA to allow players to replace last name on jerseys with statement on social justice The NBA and the NBPA are taking a huge step forward in the fight for social

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) The NBA schedule for the resumption of the 2019-2020 season is out. Basketball is one step closer to returning to the hardcourt. The NBA schedule for the restart of the season was released on Friday night so circle your calendars for the prospect of having basketball

Chris Long reveals which team he’d like to officially retire with by Braulio Perez Rangers are getting blasted on Twitter after new photos of stadium were posted by Braulio Perez Malcolm Brogdon, #7, Indiana Pacers, (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Malcolm Brogdon has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 as the Indiana Pacers prepare to head

A reputation for absurdity means Kyrie Irving’s ideas are often dismissed out of hand. But his radical idea about a player-run league is worth exploring. What if players just founded their own league? NBA players are hesitant about returning to play right now, for a wide range of reasons, and in the ongoing discussions, there

Nikola Jokic, Novak Djokovic, (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images) Any number of positive COVID-19 tests have the potential to disrupt the NBA’s plans for re-starting the season. Who has tested positive so far? The return of the NBA season is, in theory, a little over a month away with Jul. 30 circled as the date

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Christian Wood #35 of the Detroit Pistons in action against Taj Gibson #67 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 08, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Pistons 96-84. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported what always figured to be the case eventually: The NBA was bracing for a significant number of positive test results for coronavirus as it neared Phase 1 of its plans to resume the

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/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. Luguentz Dort is far from a household NBA name, so here’s all you really need to know if you’re unfamiliar: He’s an

Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images In a terribly unsurprising decision, Andre Drummond will pick up his enormous player option for next season. As the resumption of NBA play looms and the 2020-21 season likely to be shortened, players have decisions to make on their contract options. According to ESPN, two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond said he

Isaiah Hartenstein, #55, Houston Rockets, (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) The Houston Rockets released Isaiah Hartenstein to add a wing for their NBA playoff run. But the talented young center should catch on somewhere. The Houston Rockets are focused on winning a title this year and they have a plan to do it. At the

Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images Craig Hodges wonders if Michael Jordan is keeping him out of The Last Dance on purpose. Craig Hodges was once a starter for the Chicago Bulls. In the 1989 playoffs, Hodges started every game in the backcourt alongside Michael Jordan. He infamously got beat back door by Craig

Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport Episodes 7 and 8 of “The Last Dance” may have been the best ones yet, giving us an intimate look at Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Given Michael Jordan‘s involvement with the creation of The Last Dance, it was only natural to expect some things to be glossed over. However,

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images Avery Bradley is the latest player to opt out of the NBA’s restart in Orlando. Avery Bradley isn’t the first player to decide to opt out of the NBA’s planned restart in Orlando, but he is probably the most significant one yet, for a few reasons. As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images Trevor Ariza will not participate in the NBA’s restart in Orlando. Portland Trail Blazers small forward Trevor Ariza will opt out of participating in the NBA’s restart in Orlando, but not for the reason you might expect. As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 34-year-old wing has decided to commit

Credit: Will Newton/Getty Images As the NBA’s restart looms, Wizards forward Davis Bertans will be skipping a trip to Orlando. The NBA has set a deadline of Wednesday for players to opt-out of the season restart in Orlando, and the first known player has made a decision to sit. According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim

Jonquel Jones, Connecticut Sun, (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) The Connecticut Sun announced that Jonquel Jones will sit out the entire 2020 WNBA season, a huge blow for their title hopes. Last week, the WNBA finally rolled out their plans for safely conducting the 2020 WNBA season — a shortened, 22-game run with all the

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images San Antonio Spurs wing Lonnie Walker opened up about his hairstyle and the emotional significance of cutting it. For the first two years of his NBA career, the most recognizable thing about Lonnie Walker IV may have been his unique, trademark hairstyle. While the wing out of the University of

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images The NBA is reportedly concerned over the spiking number of coronavirus cases in Florida. Surprise, surprise! The spiking number of coronavirus cases in Florida, the state where the NBA is planning to restart its 2019-20 season, has become a major cause of concern for the league. According to ESPN’s Zach

Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images Internal support is apparently growing, but the New York Knicks are destined to screw up hiring Kenny Atkinson. The New York Knicks are embarking on a coaching search, with Tom Thibodeau, Mike Woodson, and interim head coach Mike Miller as rumored candidates. Kenny Atkinson looks like an obvious candidate too, and

Which NBA player archetypes are threatened, endangered or recovering? The 2014-15 NBA season saw the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. The Golden State Warriors emerged as the new dynasty not only due to their talent, but their play style: running mostly undersized lineups with an abundance of shooting. The

Zion Williamson, #1, New Orleans Pelicans, (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Zion Williamson is featured in NBA 2K21’s first look on the PS5 console. NBA 2K21 released a sneak peak featuring Zion Williamson on Thursday. The same day Sony released their first look at the new PlayStation 5 console, 2K Sports dropped a video showing off their

Photo by Mike Stobe/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. Sitting 6.0 games outside of a playoff spot when the NBA season was suspended, 2.0 games behind the threshold they’d need to reach

The Miami Heat have the depth and personnel to make a deep postseason run. The suspended NBA season came at the perfect time for the Miami Heat. After starting the season with 25 wins in their first 34 games, they went 16-15 over their next 31 contests. A four-month reprieve is exactly what this team

Former NBA player John Salley speaks onstage during the 2011 Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 22, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Four-time NBA champion John Salley played late into June many times. Salley believes the NBA would benefit by changing their season schedule. John

The Los Angeles Lakers clearly have the goods to win the NBA title. The Los Angeles Lakers may not have been playing perfect basketball prior to the stoppage of the regular season, but their 49-14 record still placed them atop the Western Conference standings. They will enter the playoffs as one of a handful of