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
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after scoring on a three-point shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Chase Center on January 09, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
8:00 AM ET Klay Thompson returned after 941 days away from the court. The Golden State Warriors Splash Brother, who hadn’t played in an NBA game since the 2019 Finals due to ACL and Achilles injuries, made his much-anticipated season debut with 17 points in 20 minutes during the Warriors’ win over the Cleveland Cavaliers
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) Raiders fans already trying to recruit Davante Adams on Twitter by Scott Rogust Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant pulled off a two-handed block against the Lakers that appeared to defy the laws of physics. Ja Morant might have rockets in his shoes and go-go-gadget arms.
Former Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) Davante Adams hints at feelings towards Packers using franchise tag by Cody Williams Dallas Cowboys players Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb turned up courtside for Dirk Nowitzki’s jersey retirement ceremony with the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki’s night of honor at American Airlines Center brought out the
Former Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) Former NFL QB offers Caleb Williams $1 million NIL deal to shirk USC, Georgia by Alicia de Artola Dirk Nowitzki was honored on Wednesday night at the Mavericks game but head coach Jason Kidd was ready to get him back on the court. It was
11:03 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — As his name was introduced last in the starting lineup, Klay Thompson sat in his seat, stared ahead and soaked everything in. Chase Center delivered one of its loudest roars, 941 days in the making. After being out for nearly 31 months that have tested his physical and mental
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. Under Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors have continually broken offensive norms and shattered statistical benchmarks. The 3-point shooting gets the most attention but the imprints of their offensive
5:43 PM ET After suffering a sprained left ankle, Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks is expected to miss a minimum of three-to-five weeks, and could remain sidelined through the mid-February All-Star break, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Brooks — the surging Grizzlies second-leading scorer at 18.4 points a game — injured the ankle in a
Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard could return before the end of the season, which could affect the chances of a second consecutive NBA Finals appearance. Without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have still advanced to an even 19-20 record and a tentative playoff spot. But with him, the Clippers could perhaps move even further in the
11:33 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON – After Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown produced the first triple-double of his career in Boston’s 99-75 victory over the New York Knicks here at TD Garden Saturday night, he shot down the idea that he and Jayson Tatum can’t have an effective long-term partnership. “I think we can
Klay Thompson is set to make his return to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, and he’s channeling his inner Bill Murray from Space Jam. After over two years, the Golden State Warriors are set to have Klay Thompson return to their starting lineup. Thompson had been out since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA
5:42 PM ET ESPN News Services Five-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion Klay Thompson will be available to play for the Golden State Warriors in Sunday night’s game vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Golden State star made it official with his own creative announcement on Instagram as he so loves to do. Thompson has
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 10: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball in the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 10, 2021 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
8:00 AM ET MAKING HIS WAY through the Golden State Warriors locker room following a preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Zaza Pachulia heard the familiar sound of a ball bouncing on the organization’s practice floor. Pachulia assumed one of the Warriors’ young players was getting some extra shots in. What the longtime NBA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 06: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks drives against Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celticsduring their game at Madison Square Garden on January 06, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User
According to Isaiah Thomas, the Boston Celtics wouldn’t consider bringing him back on a 10-day contract the way the Lakers and Mavericks have. A December COVID outbreak has seen NBA teams bring capable veterans back into the league, including the Boston Celtics. On Dec. 22, the Celtics signed Joe Johnson to a 10-day contract, contributing
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at TD Garden on December 31, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting
6:57 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Julius Randle apologized in a statement on his Instagram account on Friday, saying that his thumbs-down gesture to Knicks fans during Thursday’s win over the Boston Celtics as well as his postgame remarks were “an example of how sometimes you say things you regret to people you
Attending a Dallas Mavericks game may come back to haunt Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper. By sitting courtside alongside Dallas Cowboys teammate CeeDee Lamb to celebrate the iconic Dirk Nowitzki at a Dallas Mavericks game on Wednesday night, wide receiver Amari Cooper could be in trouble with the NFL. Because Cooper is an unvaccinated player, he 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. Offenses have, in general, had a tough time this season and it’s about more than the endless shuffling of lineups as teams navigate a surge in COVID cases and
12:16 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant said he hasn’t had any extra conversations with teammate Kyrie Irving about getting a COVID-19 vaccination that would allow him to play in every game this season, not just most of the road games. Irving, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, returned to the
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 06: RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks drives against Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 06, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph,
12:57 PM ET Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19. Kidd is the 13th NBA head coach to enter the protocols this season. Kidd tested positive Thursday night after the team traveled to Houston for the road game Friday against the Rockets. Assistant coach
Jan 6, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) gestures after making a basket against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball ‘Manningcast’ featuring A-Rod sounds terrible by Scott Rogust Julius Randle gave New York
8:00 AM ET When the Los Angeles Lakers host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night (10 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App), the team and the NBA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lakers’ 33-game winning streak in the 1971-72 season, regarded as one of the most unbreakable records in NBA history.
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. On Wednesday night, Stephen Curry put up his second-straight stinker, shooting 5-of-24 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc in a 17-point loss to the Dallas
12:44 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Despite helping his team engineer a remarkable comeback from 25 points down against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, star forward Julius Randle wasn’t happy. Midway through the fourth quarter, Randle made a layup and, as he ran back to the other end