The Over and Back NBA podcast is celebrating the NBA at 75 by rewatching some of the greatest Slam Dunk Contests in NBA history. The NBA slam-dunk contest was back. Vince Carter had single-handedly resurrected the competition from the deep dark depths of death. Or did he? The 2000 dunk contest would be the last
8:00 AM ET NOT LONG AFTER Tyronn Lue had been doused with cold water by his team after matching the second-largest NBA comeback since 1996, his cellphone was ringing. On the other end, Lue heard a familiar, distinct and drawn voice. “So you just going to keep getting down 25, come back and win, huh?”
If LeBron James continues to lead the league in scoring, he will claim the second seasonal scoring title of his 19-year NBA career. The debate continues to rage as to whether LeBron James is basketball’s GOAT, and the only thing that can strengthen his case is winning more titles. Of course, those titles aren’t restricted
Why Vince Carter’s final season as an Atlanta Hawk, and his years as a veteran mentor, mean just as much as prime Vinsanity did. He stepped onto the court for the first time in the 2019–20 season, donning a white Atlanta Hawks uni with bright red and neon green lettering — a loud contrast against
8:00 AM ET As the NBA’s 2021-22 regular season draws to a conclusion on April 10, teams near the middle of the standings are battling for postseason seeding with a special focus on the league’s play-in tournament. Held before the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, the play-in tournament adds an exciting wrinkle to
12:57 AM ET CLEVELAND — With the Los Angeles Lakers‘ flat-lining season experiencing a bit of blip with Monday’s 131-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James says he still has something left to play for. “I’m literally having the time of my life right now,” James said after the Lakers finished their four-game road
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 30: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 30, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
12:00 PM ET With a layup in the first half against the Washington Wizards on March 19, 2022, LeBron James moved past Karl Malone for second place on the NBA’s career regular-season points list. Now the Los Angeles Lakers star has his eyes set on another Lakers legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s current all-time leading
Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers The best memes, Tweets, gifs and more from women’s March Madness so far by Rylie Smith Myles Turner’s Lego collection is sure to make you jealous. Indiana Pacers‘ star Myles Turner has been out since Jan 14. rehabbing an injured foot. Turner was averaging 12 points a game before he
8:00 AM ET While the Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a disappointing NBA season, LeBron James continues to be the lone bright spot. James passed Karl Malone on Saturday night, moving into the No. 2 spot on the all-time scoring list. Though James racked up another individual milestone, his team fell to
12:58 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors had a chance to start their two weeks (at least) without Stephen Curry on a good note. Led by Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, they fought back from trailing the San Antonio Spurs by 10 in the third quarter. Momentum was on the
1:36 PM ET NEW YORK — As the Brooklyn Nets prepare for the final 11 games of the regular season, center Andre Drummond offered an interesting perspective on how he hopes the team approaches the stretch run. “Got to treat this s— like pickup,” Drummond said, laughing, after Sunday’s practice. “Just take the best five
NBA legend Larry Bird predicted that LeBron James made his surrounding cast look better during his first stint in Cleveland, and he turned out to be right. When it comes to overall NBA excellence, it’s virtually impossible to beat Larry Bird. Bird remains the only person to win in NBA history to win Rookie of
6:23 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN MINNEAPOLIS — A small fracas in the game Saturday between the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves led to a pair of ejections midway through the first quarter. Bucks forward Serge Ibaka and Wolves forward Taurean Prince were face-to-face after fighting for positioning following a free throw from Karl-Anthony Towns, when
The Phoenix Suns have one of the most potent pick-and-roll attacks in the NBA with multiple options to score. Is there any way for defenses to counter? Despite a surprising hand injury shelving Chris Paul for several weeks, the Phoenix Suns have the luxury of coasting their way into the playoffs thanks to the cushy
9:13 PM ET WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a cut to the basket and an uncontested driving layup, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time second leading scorer Saturday night in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards. James passed former Utah Jazz Hall of Famer Karl Malone with 5 minutes, 20 seconds
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confronted Celtics guard Marcus Smart for two dangerous plays involving Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Draymond Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson may not consider Celtics guard Marcus Smart to have played dirty against them, but that doesn’t mean the Warriors-Celtics game was free from confrontation. The Celtics defeated the Warriors 110-88, but
4:47 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman‘s return to game action has been pushed back again because of more swelling in his right knee. Wiseman was held out of practice Friday and Saturday and will not play in either Santa Cruz Warriors G League games this weekend. There
Russell Westbrook put Los Angeles Lakers fans in a glass case of emotion after making an overtime-forcing shot against the Toronto Raptors. To say that Los Angeles Lakers fans had a stressful time watching their game against the Toronto Raptors may be an understatement. The closing seconds of regulation were truly something, with the team
5:23 PM ET The Dallas Mavericks responded Friday to a wrongful termination suit by Donnie Nelson, accusing the former longtime general manager of a “lengthy scheme to extort as much as $100 million” and saying the lawsuit was preceded by demands that he receive “in effect, a blackmail payment” in exchange for his promise not
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports The Houston Rockets win the NBA Draft Lottery and sent the order in our first 2022 NBA Mock Draft. As March Madness gets going we’re taking a first stab at 2022 NBA Mock Draft. For this iteration, we’ve used an NBA Draft lottery simulation from Tankathon, with the Houston Rockets landing
Skip Bayless’ feud with Russell Westbrook’s wife took a step in the right direction over the weekend, when Bayless address the interaction itself. This is not the first nor will it be the last public feud in the long, storied career of sports talking head Skip Bayless. At a certain point, you almost have to
1:25 AM ET Just seconds after badly missing a 3-pointer off the backboard, Russell Westbrook came up with a big steal before sinking a clutch 3 that forced overtime to help the Los Angeles Lakers snap an 11-game road losing streak in Toronto. Westbrook’s 3, which he hit after looking down and moving his foot
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 Boston Celtics are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, 12-3 over their last 15 games and outscoring opponents by an average of 12.7 points per 100
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 16: Kemba Walker #8 of the New York Knicks looks out during game against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to
4:23 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will be reevaluated in two weeks, the team announced, after he sprained a ligament in his left foot Wednesday night. Curry injured the foot in the second quarter of Golden State’s game against the Boston Celtics when he and Marcus Smart
Dec 14, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Liberty Media robbed a generation of Braves fans of their Chipper Jones by John Buhler Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant had an NSFW back-and-forth
8:00 AM ET SIXTY FLOORS ABOVE Philadelphia’s Center City, sitting at a side table by the window-walled lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel, Malik Monk peeks through the glass toward the hustle and bustle below. It’s a Wednesday afternoon in late January and the Lakers are set to face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Chase Center on March 16, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to
Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook says he doesn’t care about trash talk, but Timberwolves Patrick Beverly and Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t help but talk. The trash-talking NBA players endure beyond the confines of the game tend to cross the line, as the Russell Westbrook situation has proven in Los Angeles. Westbrook has been a mind-boggling disappointment