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 Lakers are working through myriad problems right now but Russell Westbrook is the most obvious by far. In Wednesday night’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, he shot 2-of-14
The New Orleans Pelicans have announced that injured power forward Zion Williamson will continue rehabilitating his foot “away from the team.” In December, Pelicans fans awaited for the return of Zion Williamson before receiving a depressing update: Williamson’s foot injury actually regressed, and it would be much longer until he was able to return to
12:25 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks delivered another statement win on Thursday night with a 118-99 thumping of the Golden State Warriors, continuing their trend of being at their best this season when matched up against other likely title contenders. The Bucks blitzed the Warriors from the start, jumping out to
A new development indicates a Ben Simmons trade is nowhere near fruition: the asking price has gone up for the 76ers point guard, according to ESPN. Every day, new rumors about the availability of Ben Simmons seem to crop up, but a Jan. 12 update holds more water than prior assumptions. On Wednesday night, Simmons’
11:40 AM ET The Atlanta Hawks are trading Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks for Kevin Knox in a swap of former first-round draft selections, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Atlanta also will receive a protected first-round draft pick via Charlotte, sources tell Wojnarowski, while the Knicks will acquire veteran forward Solomon Hill and
In a trade involving four teams, the Atlanta Hawks are trading Cam Reddish, Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-rounder for Kevin Knox and a 2022 first-rounder. One month after trades open up for players picked up in free agency, a comprehensive list includes those who are restricted, those with at least two years remaining on
8:00 AM ET JIMMY BUTLER INTERRUPTED his pregame warmup and made a beeline toward half court. There, Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles stood, watched and waited as the All-Star closed in. Butler’s mission: Peace. At this point, the quick wits, sharp tongues and competitive fires of both Butler and Ingles had been clashing for years,
Damian Lillard has been out for almost two weeks and now the Trail Blazers will have him out even longer with the star guard now undergoing surgery. The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t had star guard Damian Lillard on the floor since Dec. 31 as he’s been nursing an abdominal injury that has plagued him a
Tyler Herro and Jusuf Nurkic had to be separated on Wednesday night as tempers nearly boiled over the top on the hardwood. The Miami Heat ended up getting a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, but fans were most definitely treated to some extra fireworks in the middle of the action. That’s
6:45 PM ET With the NBA trade deadline a month away, Ben Simmons‘ agent — Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — met with Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and general manager Elton Brand on Wednesday, and the sides remain at a stalemate over the All-Star guard’s immediate future, sources told ESPN. Simmons
Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is having an MVP-caliber season because of a lesson he picked up from Kobe Bryant about always improving. Kobe Bryant may be gone but his impact on basketball will remain forever, in large and small ways. DeMar DeRozan is proof of that as he delivers an MVP-type season with the
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. There is no hotter team in the NBA right now than the Memphis Grizzlies, who knocked off the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night to stretch their league-best win streak
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images NFL coaching rumors: What job do insiders say is best? Wild Card preview, more by Matt Lombardo Late in the showdown between Memphis and Golden State, Ja Morant came up huge with a driving lay-up to help seal the Grizzlies win. On Tuesday night, NBA fans everywhere were treated to
8:00 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN THE STADIUM CREW has already begun to disassemble the United Center floor, turning the arena from a basketball court to a hockey rink following the Chicago Bulls‘ victory over the Orlando Magic. It’s Jan. 3, and as they stack the courtside seats, remove the scorer’s table and line the outside
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. It’s been a brutal season for the Boston Celtics, hammered again by injuries and COVID-related absences, struggling to keep themselves in the playoff picture and dealing with some apparent
LeBron James spoke on how he wanted to snatch Malik Monk from Charlotte — and how it “doesn’t make sense” how well it all worked out. LeBron James is an athlete, entrepreneur, and at this point, general manager. While unofficially listed in Lakers management, the NBA legend has been known to have his run of
While the GOAT battle between these two rages on, LeBron James has finally tied Michael Jordan in this unique stat comprised of NBA veterans. For those who continue to debate that LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan, there’s a new statistic to use in heated Twitter arguments. On Jan. 4, James tied Jordan with
It’s a matter of when the 76ers trade Ben Simmons, but they are reportedly trying to attach Tobias Harris to a deal. Depending on the week, or even the day, the Philadelphia 76ers may or may not be close to trading Ben Simmons and a new rumored suitor may even emerge. On the new suitor
9:54 PM ET While more than 300 NBA players have entered the league’s health and safety protocols this season because of COVID-19-related issues, several league general managers told ESPN that a debilitating issue remains the recent surge of team staffers — from coaches to support staff and beyond — entering protocols for the same reason.
Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, LeBron James complimented Ja Morant’s incredible chasedown block that aided their win. In their marvelous 127-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Memphis Grizzlies brought the heat to L.A., pushing the Lakers to perfectly execute on every shot. And even on perfectly-executed shots, the
7:50 PM ET Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman has agreed to a contract extension through the 2027-28 season — and will assume a new title of president of basketball operations, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Altman has engineered a franchise renaissance and reshaped a roster that has shown the promise of becoming a long-term
Jan 8, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks on against the Miami Heat during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Vikings next head coach could mean poaching Cowboys assistant by Scott Rogust Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker got the Toronto Raptors mascot thrown in
2:16 PM ET Draymond Green’s seven-second performance Sunday sparked controversy in the betting community and caused one sportsbook to delay payouts until it investigated the flurry of prop bets that were placed right before tipoff. Green experienced tightness in his lower calf while warming up but wanted to start in Golden State Warriors‘ home game
6:45 PM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden will not play Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers because of a left knee hyperextension, the team announced. Nets coach Steve Nash said after Sunday’s 121-119 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs that both Harden and star forward Kevin Durant wanted to
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 Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers played on Sunday night, though I was not among those who tuned in. I was watching a movie instead. It was not
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 28: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after the Warriors failed to tie the game in the final seconds of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on December 28, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images Shaedon Sharpe to begin practicing at Kentucky this week, so will he play this season? by John Buhler Where is the National Championship Game 2022? by John Buhler Some massive news has come in for the Golden State Warriors, as it’s looking like Klay Thompson is getting ready to
10:20 PM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers coach and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups says he believes Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is “the most skilled player” ever to play the point guard position. “Kyrie is just, he’s a wizard, man,” Billups said before Monday’s game against the Nets. “He’s must-see TV.
Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Cavaliers forward Kevin Love. (David Richard-USA TODAY Sports) 3 New Orleans Saints who won’t be back for the 2022 season by Scott Rogust Russell Wilson comments on Seahawks future after potential last game with Seattle by Ethan Lee Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love
3:25 PM ET The Orlando Magic have extended the contracts of president Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond through the 2025-2026 season, sources told ESPN on Monday. Talks on new deals for Weltman and Hammond started at the end of last season, sources said. Both executives were headed into the final year of their