The magic of an improbable underdog win can make a fan out of anyone — like a slew of unlikely Denver Nuggets fans, converted in 1994. Fandom, like religion, is usually inherited. My dad grew up a Nuyorican in Spanish Harlem in the 1960s. Cross the wrong block into the wrong neighborhood and things could
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. This morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke news that Nikola Jokic had been selected as the NBA MVP, with an official announcement to come later this week. It was Jokic’s
2:05 AM ET MILWAUKEE — The Giannis Antetokounmpo–Jayson Tatum rivalry is here. It is defining the present of the Eastern Conference and may extend well into the future. Antetokounmpo is putting up Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal numbers. Tatum is breaking the records of all those retired jerseys for his 75-year-old storied franchise that has
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 Miami Heat have already punched their ticket to the next round and the Warriors and Bucks could do so tonight. With the Conference Finals just days away, I
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) Shaq has to defend his IcyHot sponsorship live on NBA on TNT by John Buhler 3 things we learned from UFC 274 by Joey LeMaster The Dallas Mavericks announced that two fans have been banned from American Airlines Center until 2023 for their involvement in an
12:44 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN MILWAUKEE — Three people were shot near Deer District outside Fiserv Forum near the conclusion of Friday night’s Game 6 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, sending fans there fleeing through the streets. The Milwaukee Fire Department said one man and one woman shot were transported to the
Brooklyn Nets guard/forward/superfan Ben Simmons liked a tweet from Skip Bayless trashing his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers had just lost to the Miami Heat in Game 6 on Thursday night, thus ending their season. It’s not quite clear what Simmons has against Philly, minus the feelings most exes have about each other.
5:20 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN CAMDEN, N.J. — Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said coach Doc Rivers will return next season for a third year with the franchise. “I just think he’s a great coach,” Morey said during Friday’s exit interviews after the Sixers were eliminated the previous night on their home
Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler thrashes the Philadelphia 76ers for their decision to roll with Tobias Harris instead of keeping him on their roster. And just like that, the playoffs hopes for a Sixers chip this year died along with Joel Embiid’s MVP opportunity. A bitter week for Philadelphia fans to be sure, but it
Doc Rivers passionately responded to a question about his job security after the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers were down 0-2 in their second-round series against the Miami Heat, tied it up with wins their next two games following the return of Joel Embiid, and entered the verge of elimination
Mar 12, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan gestures to the referees during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports The Bulls were easily dispatched by the Bucks in Round 1 of this year’s NBA playoffs. Here’s how Chicago can improve heading into next season. Chicago
2:42 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — After acquiring James Harden at the trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers hoped this would finally be the year they break through and make it into the conference finals — and beyond — in the NBA playoffs. Instead, for the fourth time in five years, Philadelphia saw its season
Steph Curry’s prediction that the Golden State Warriors would “whoop that trick” hilariously backfired, and the Memphis Grizzlies were sure to rub it in. Heading into Game 5, Steph Curry was a little too confident that the Warriors would dominate in Game 5. So confident, in fact, that Curry jazzed up his Memphis pre-game prediction
9:34 PM ET PHILADELPHIA — The Miami Heat are headed to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years after closing out the Philadelphia 76ers 99-90 in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night. As has been the case throughout the series, it was Jimmy Butler who led the way
Former Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom believes that billionaire Elon Musk could bring “justice” to the NBA if he purchased the league. Elon Musk has made waves in his aggressive bid to buy Twitter, but Enes Kanter Freedom has another major purchase in mind for Musk: the NBA. The former Boston Celtics center, who
The Brooklyn Nets are “exasperated” by the Ben Simmons injury saga after the star guard was ruled out of Game 4 vs. the Celtics, per Brian Windhorst. By trading James Harden for Ben Simmons, the Nets have apparently traded one problem for another. Simmons has yet to suit up for Brooklyn. He’s been missing because
Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks doesn’t sound committed to Kyrie Irving long-term, as the star point guard’s contract is up this offseason. Irving sounds like he wants to be back in Brooklyn. Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons are both saying all the right things. Unfortunately, the decision to bring back Kyrie is not up
8:00 AM ET Maya A. Jones It’s a Monday afternoon at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, and Suns center Deandre Ayton is locked in. He’s not focused on his team’s upcoming game against the Los Angeles Lakers the next day, thinking ahead to a playoff run, or worrying about his contract negotiations with the Suns.
Less than a month from his 36th birthday, a rejuvenated Al Horford has helped keep the Celtics alive against the Bucks. Plus: a note on the NBA’s MVP award. The NBA playoffs have a way of producing unlikely heroes. In arduous battles where each team knows the other’s tendencies, anticipates its tactics and keys in
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MAY 11: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at FedExForum on May 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving responded to online trolls by calling his critics “cockroaches” during a recent Twitch stream. “It’s but so long y’all can say the same jokes,” Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving warned the Twitch community. “But so long.” Irving, who has become a reviled figure among the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston
NBA Twitter lost their minds after the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off an insane Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics. The Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics has been nothing short of fantastic. With the series tied 2-2, both teams had to fight tooth and nail for the pivotal Game 5
1:32 AM ET BOSTON — The relationship between Giannis Antetokounmpo and teammate Khris Middleton, now nine years in, is well known for its depth and trust. But about that Jrue Holiday relationship … “It’s blooming, it’s blooming!” Antetokounmpo said after the Milwaukee Bucks finished off a jaw-dropping display of clutch play in stealing a 110-107
The Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast returns with an episode on teams that added a big star (or more) but severely underperformed. Two examples this year with the Brooklyn Nets being swept in the first round after gaining (and losing) James Harden (and never getting Ben Simmons to replace him) and the Los Angeles
Adreian Payne, Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Post-spring SEC football power rankings: Alabama reclaims top spot from Georgia by John Buhler Former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne passed away at the age of 31. The college hoops world is in mourning, as former Michigan State basketball standout Adreian Payne passed away at
1:13 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN BOSTON — The Milwaukee Bucks leaned on their championship pedigree in Game 5 on Wednesday night, rallying from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to escape Boston with a 110-107 victory against the Celtics and take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The winner of Game 5 in a
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr lavished praise on Mike Brown after he was hired by the Sacramento Kings. Ahead of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors learned that there will be changes made to their coaching staff. On Sunday, May 8, reports indicated that
1:51 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving might have to show the Brooklyn Nets he’s more than a great basketball player if he wants a future with the team. General manager Sean Marks made clear Wednesday that Irving will have to prove a commitment to being available to his team, a commitment
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45): Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports Donovan Mitchell will be one of the most intriguing trade pieces until he is moved this offseason. Which teams can put forth the most intriguing trade proposals? The Utah Jazz are likely going to change the roster in a major way. Is there any player
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was not pleased with the performance of the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5, as they were blown out by the Miami Heat. Momentum appeared to be on the side of the Philadelphia 76ers once they got Joel Embiid back from injury in time for Game 3. They took the next two