With less than two months remaining in the NBA season, the New York Knicks have already passed their projected win total. The 2020-21 NBA season has seen plenty of expected results with the trade deadline just a day away. But there have been some pleasant surprises. Prime example of that is the success of the
1:38 AM ET Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said Thursday that he believes his tweets about women’s sports and the pay-gap with male athletes have been “extremely misconstrued,” saying in part, “I am on their side.” Green spoke about the topic one day after U.S. women’s national team star Megan Rapinoe ripped his remarks,
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. Wednesday’s epic showdown between the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns not only featured the top two teams in the Western Conference standings, but arguably the two best teams
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 06: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts against the Miami Heat during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to
8:58 PM ET Seven months after winning the franchise’s 17th title, the Los Angeles Lakers will finally unveil their 2020 NBA championship banner, the team announced. Prior to Thursday’s rematch against their 2020 Finals opponent, the Miami Heat, Lakers CEO and president Jeanie Buss revealed the team’s plans to display the banner at long last
The NBA’s G League Draft for the 2020-21 season took place on Monday, Jan. 11. And, given the circumstances of their season, which is being played in a bubble, it was not the normal draft we would see in any other year. Instead, for obvious reasons, it only involved teams attending the bubble. Some familiar
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 03: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to get past Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter of the NBA game at Wells Fargo Center on April 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or
12:31 PM ET Toronto Raptors guards Fred VanVleet and DeAndre’ Bembry and Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker have been suspended one game each without pay for leaving the bench area during an on-court altercation during the Lakers’ 110-101 win on Tuesday. Raptors forward OG Anunoby and Lakers big man Montrezl Harrell were fined for
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers. (Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports) NBA is expecting all arenas to be at full capacity for the 2021-22 season by Braulio Perez The Los Angeles Lakers’ road game vs. the New York Knicks will not be seen on national TV. The stars will not be out in full force when the
Feb 28, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) goes to the basket between LA Clippers center Serge Ibaka (9) and forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports Lance McCullers isn’t sure the Astros want to keep him by Brad Berreman Florida
Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) 1 veteran Cleveland Browns could trade before the NFL Draft by Cole Thompson Point guard Jrue Holiday will remain with the Milwaukee Bucks for the foreseeable future. Milwaukee Bucks point guard Jrue Holiday has agreed to a massive extension to stay put. The Athletic and Stadium’s
12:43 AM ET After missing almost two months because of a left hamstring strain, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant quieted any lingering doubts about his health as the playoffs near: He looked like same superstar he has always been. Durant, coming off the bench in his return from a 23-game absence, scored 17 points on
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – FEBRUARY 13: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat looks on during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 13, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat talks with Jimmy Butler #22 against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on February 09, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User
8:52 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — Dr. Benjamin Paolucci, a longtime team physician for the Detroit Pistons who was with the franchise for each of its three NBA championships, has died. He was 84. The Pistons said Paolucci died Wednesday in Florida. Paolucci retired from the organization in 2015 after serving the Pistons’ medical
In this week’s NBA Power Rankings, Chris Boucher blocks everything, the Suns and Mavs are streaking and James Wiseman’s critics are feeling vindicated. Our new look NBA Power Rankings are back, a non-traditional structure for a non-traditional era of professional basketball. The world is no longer just about wins and losses and teams are no
Ja Morant is an incredibly rare young talent, a productive star comfortable working with every element of basketball style. Style and aesthetics are an indelible part of basketball but the conversation around them is pure chaos. For a purely qualitative set of ideas, it’s not surprising that things are moving in every direction at once.
2:42 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Less than a minute into his first game as a member of the LA Clippers, DeMarcus Cousins maneuvered his way around Enes Kanter, tapped an offensive rebound to himself and scored on a putback right in front of a delighted Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Making his debut for the
When Luke Kennard signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers back in December, it was assumed that he was going to be a key player in the rotation this season. The Clippers acquired Kennard in a draft-day trade with the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons, a move that shipped out
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images DraftKings 2021 Masters fantasy golf picks: DFS predictions and lineup by Cody Williams The Lakers have filled their final roster spot, picking up 3-and-D wing Ben McLemore, who was recently bought out by the Houston Rockets. The Los Angeles Lakers came out of the NBA trade deadline with two open
TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 06: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors is fouled by Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2021 in Tampa, Florida.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting
2:28 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry has won two MVPs and three NBA championships, but those who have watched him closely for years believe he continues to play the best basketball of his life during a year in which his team is struggling to hold on to a
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 is nothing new for the league, but the 2021 NBA Playoffs are about to be an entirely different animal in the Western Conference compared to the East. The
After being waived over a month ago, DeMarcus Cousins is planning to sign on with the LA Clippers. DeMarcus Cousins’ stint with the Houston Rockets lasted a grand total of two months after signing in early December and then ultimately being waived in late February. Cousins was not immediately sought after at the time of
Will the signing of DeMarcus Cousins put the Los Angeles Clippers over the top against the crosstown Lakers? As of Sunday, the Los Angeles Clippers sit in third place in the Western Conference, 6.5 games behind the Utah Jazz for first. However, they have the crosstown Lakers breathing down their necks, just a half a game
5:15 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden will miss at least 10 days with a right hamstring strain, but teammate Kevin Durant is probable to return Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, the team announced Tuesday. Harden played just four minutes before he was ruled out of Monday’s 114-112 win over
When the trade deadline passed, there were two knee-jerk questions about the moves Boston made. 1. Just Evan Fournier?2. You traded Daniel Theis to save a few bucks? It is true that the Celtics let a rare opportunity slip through their fingers. Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic were up for bidding and Boston came away
7:00 AM ET How does the NBA play-in tournament work and which teams will participate during the 2020-21 season? The league first tested out the play-in round during the 2020 NBA restart in Orlando, Florida, with the Portland Trail Blazers topping the Memphis Grizzlies to get the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. In
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) 2021 NFL Draft debate: Would you rather have Travis Etienne or Najee Harris? by John Buhler What’s the biggest comeback in National Championship game history? by Steven Kubitza Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets are the
The Houston Rockets’ Victor Oladipo experiment hasn’t gone according to plan. The Rockets traded for a disgruntled Oladipo after dealing James Harden earlier this season. So far, it hasn’t gone well, with Houston losers of 20 straight games. The Rockets are in clear sell mode at this point, and are willing to get rid of