Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) MLB rumors: 5 favorites to trade for Reds pitcher Luis Castillo by Tim Boyle Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton enters this NBA offseason as a restricted free agent. There is a chance Deandre Ayton has played his final game in a Phoenix Suns uniform. Because the Suns did
8:43 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Ham, who takes over the Lakers as a first-time head coach, replaces Frank Vogel, who was fired in April after the team went 33-49 and missed the playoffs this season.
The Lakers continue their head coaching search but have already interviewed one candidate and have two more intriguing meetings coming up soon. It’s going to be a busy offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, mostly by necessity. With LeBron James nearing 40 years old and after the team missed out on the playoffs (even the
Joel Embiid didn’t sound very enamored with his teammates after they came up short in the second round against the Miami Heat. The Philadelphia 76ers’ season officially ended on Thursday with a 99-90 loss to the Miami Heat. It was a frustrating loss for a team who couldn’t quite pull themselves out of the 0-2
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 11: Iman Shumpert and James Harden attend Black Ops Basketball Session at Life Time Athletic At Sky on September 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images) NFL analyst paints shockingly bad picture of Trey Lance, 49ers by John Buhler Everyone seems to love trashing the conditioning
Draymond Green sees his Golden State Warriors playing the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. On the Inside the NBA set outside of Chase Center, Draymond Green goes full-blown Nostradamus by predicting his Golden State Warriors will face the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. Admittedly, this is not the boldest of proclamations, but is
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — As they find themselves on the precipice of the 2022 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics might find motivation in a series that happened a decade ago. The Oklahoma City Thunder were near the top of the basketball world in 2012, having reached the Finals with a roster featuring
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid hinted at a possible reunion with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler — but it wouldn’t be in Philadelphia. The majority of the NBA started their offseason early, watching the playoffs from home as they await opportunity in October. Plenty of these players are tweeting observations of what they’re seeing in
11:27 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019 and for the sixth time in the last eight years. The Warriors punched their ticket with their 120-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 on the Western Conference
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on April 28, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to
4:30 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Zion Williamson has been cleared in his return to play progression without any restrictions, the New Orleans Pelicans announced Thursday afternoon. The announcement clears the way for Williamson to go through offseason workouts unrestricted this summer as he prepares for the 2022-23 season. Williams missed the entire 2021-22 season after
NBA analyst Jalen Rose admitted he made a mistake when he was the lone person to vote Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving to All-NBA 3rd Team. It’s not easy to own freezing cold takes in sports, but Jalen Rose did it with grace: he actually called himself out for making a big mistake during
DALLAS, TEXAS – MAY 22: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center on May 22, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. The Golden State Warriors won 109-100. NOTE TO
1:04 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN MIAMI — The Boston Celtics found themselves trailing the Miami Heat by five, on the road, at halftime of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night. And yet, the Celtics felt just fine. They couldn’t have played much worse in the first half, committing 10 turnovers and
Sports media personalities Dan Le Batard and Stephen A Smith opened up on air about the Uvalde school shooting, and how something must change in the United States as it pertains to gun violence. Ten days after an anti-Black mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket shook the nation, the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy
2:31 AM ET MIAMI — In late January, the San Antonio Spurs traded backup guard Bryn Forbes to the Denver Nuggets. Five months later, that unassuming move has made a major impact on the 2022 Eastern Conference finals. It was the opening of an opportunity for the Boston Celtics that has been fully realized as
Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only player since the 1966-67 NBA season to make the All-NBA team. Deciding the NBA’s GOAT is a constant, fluctuating conversation, but historical records don’t lie. In that regard, seeing that Giannis Antetokounmpo just did something that no NBA player has done in 55 years makes him
Draymond Green threw some shade at the Minnesota Timberwolves regarding Andrew Wiggins after his huge Game 3 performance. The Golden State Warriors are officially one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019. They have reached this point after taking the first three games in the Western Conference Finals against
2:49 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN MIAMI — In three of the first four games of the Eastern Conference finals, the team leading at the end of the first quarter has come out on top each time. So, as the Boston Celtics prepare to take on the Miami Heat in Game 5 here at FTX Arena
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young endorses Steve Kerr’s passionate plea for gun reform on Twitter, saying “enough is enough.” For many Americans reeling from the news of the Uvalde school shooting, there’s the question of whether or not gun violence will intersect with their own lives if it hasn’t already. Golden State Warriors head coach
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. At first glance, it would be hard to place blame on Giannis Antetokounmpo for any of the Bucks’ offensive struggles in their 2-2 split with the Boston Celtics. He’s
May 24, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game four of the 2022 Western Conference finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Padres sound frustratingly far away from Fernando Tatis Jr. return by
8:45 AM ET Hanif Abdurraqib If I am being honest with myself, I probably do not love beautiful basketball as much as I’ve convinced myself I do over the past handful of my adult years. Of course, what registers as beautiful is subjective, but in this instance, I am talking specifically about the kind of
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gave an angry and impassioned speech urging senators to pass tighter gun laws after the school shooting in Texas. Like many Americans on Tuesday hearing news of an unimaginable school shooting in Texas, Steve Kerr is angry and frustrated. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire in an elementary school in Uvalde,
The Boston Celtics could be without Marcus Smart and Robert Williams in crucial Game 4. After nearly coming back in Game 3, the Boston Celtics are especially beat up heading into their biggest game of the season on Monday night. Although the team’s best player Jayson Tatum appears to be fine, the same thing cannot
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 Finals has rolled out with some bizarre statistical twists. Going into Game 4, the Miami Heat held a 2-1 lead despite outscoring the Celtics in just
The NBA Draft is still months away but according to one insider, the top two picks have already been decided on. Last week’s NBA Draft lottery locked in the order for the 2022 NBA Draft and put the Orlando Magic in the driver’s seat. In what is widely considered to be a class with a
1:54 AM ET DALLAS — Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic doesn’t necessarily see any honor in avoiding being swept in the Western Conference finals. He remains focused on beating the Golden State Warriors in the series, regardless of the long odds. The Mavs are attempting to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a
The All-NBA teams were revealed ahead of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, and Jayson Tatum made the First Team for the first time of his career. The Conference Finals are still ongoing, with the Golden State Warriors one win over the Dallas Mavericks away from the NBA Finals, while the Boston Celtics and
May 20, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in game two of the 2022 western conference finals at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Tiger Woods withdraws from PGA Championship: Golf Twitter applauds his effort by Cody Williams