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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

Mike Gundy reads scripted, insincere apology for wearing an OAN t-shirt, says Black Lives Matter by John Buhler Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images Tuesday brought a barrage of details on the NBA’s restart plans. Over the last few weeks, details on the NBA‘s planned restart at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando have trickled out. On

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images LeBron James is teaming up with some high-profile names to create an organization for protecting black voting rights. On Tuesday, LeBron James tweeted proof that saying “go out and vote” to try and fix the problems in our country doesn’t work when the voting structure itself is inherently racist.

Don’t leave the Toronto Raptors out of the title contenders group for the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Despite last summer’s widespread dissolution of Big 3s around the league, despite the Golden State Warriors’ iron grip on NBA supremacy finally loosening, and despite the coronavirus throwing the entire season out of whack, there are still only three

Would MLB mandating a 48-game season be just as bad as no season? by Mike Phillips Louis Riddick says Patrick Mahomes is ‘elevating’ as transcendent athlete by Matt Verderame LaMarcus Aldridge, #12, San Antonio Spurs, (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) The San Antonio Spurs announced that center LaMarcus Aldridge will miss the remainder of the

A league-wide lack of salary-cap space may limit the amount of free-agent fireworks in 2020, but a handful of teams could take advantage of the barren market. Even before the coronavirus pandemic threatened to wreak havoc on the NBA’s 2020-21 salary cap, few teams were projected to have much cap space this offseason. Barring unexpected

Antoine Griezmann reiterates desire to finish career in MLS by Steve Zavala Red Sox players need to make a statement in light of Torii Hunter’s indictment of Boston by Sam Dunn Damian Lillard, #0, Portland Trail Blazers, (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) Damian Lillard was the latest NBA star to join police brutality protests, marching

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images Russell Westbrook is teaming with Stanley Nelson to produce a docuseries on the Tulsa Race Massacre. Former Oklahoma City Thunder star and MVP Russell Westbrook participated in Black Lives Matter protests earlier this week, and now he’s getting involved with a project that will educate on a horrific historic incident

The Philadelphia 76ers will only restart the season as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they have the talent to win this year’s NBA title. No one will consider the Philadelphia 76ers as the favorites to win the NBA championship once the season restarts. That doesn’t mean they should be written off

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Former NBA marksman Mike Miller has still got it. Mike Miller hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2016-17 season, when he averaged 1.4 points in 7.6 minutes per game. He’s 40 years old now, and even during his last few glory years with the Miami Heat from 2010-13, his

Anthony Davis, #3, Los Angeles Lakers, (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Using hand-tracked player locations to examine two different approaches that NBA teams are using to balance offensive rebounding and transition defense. Dwyane Wade stands in the foreground with his arms outstretched, nonchalantly waiting for his pass to find its mark. LeBron James — midair

Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images Knicks players are reportedly furious the team hasn’t made a public statement about George Floyd. One week ago, George Floyd was murdered in a senseless act of police brutality, and since then, protests have broken out in cities across the United States. Peaceful protests have been met with more police

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JANUARY 17: Karl Anthony-Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 17, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images Giannis Antetokounmpo joined Black Lives Matter protests and gave protestors water. Black Lives Matter protests in Milwaukee saw some recognizable faces join their ranks on Saturday, as NBA reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and several other Milwaukee Bucks participated in the peaceful protests. Donning grey T-shirts that said “I can’t breathe,” the

Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images The NBA will use win percentage to determine its standings for the playoffs. With the NBA set to resume at the end of July following a four-and-a-half-month hiatus that began with a month of regular-season basketball remaining, the fairest way to restart the 2019-20 was giving the 16 current playoff

Robin Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Robin Lopez has a funny reaction to the NBA playing at Walt Disney World. When the NBA announced its intentions to resume its 2019-20 NBA season and postseason at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, you knew one of the greatest Disney fans of

TV power rankings for fans of amplifying Black voices by Shea Corrigan Shannon Sharpe eviscerates Drew Brees’ stance on protests by Allison Cary Adam Silver, NBA Draft, (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) With their plan to restart the season, the NBA has announced a new schedule for the 2020 NBA Draft and Draft Lottery. The

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young is already playing basketball again, for some reason. Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young might not get his chance to finish his 2019-20 season, but apparently he’s already playing basketball again. While the murder of George Floyd and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests have rightfully

Draymond Green, #23, Golden State Warriors,(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) There is an idea out there that Draymond Green was exposed this season, struggling without his superstar teammates. It’s absurd. Draymond Green is not a charming protagonist. His shooting numbers have been tenuous for a while now, but without the best of circumstances working in