11:29 PM ET NBA Insiders Saturday’s play-in game (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC) between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies is the rare NBA win-or-go-home contest, at least for the Grizzlies. If Memphis wins on Saturday, the rematch is Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), with the winner advancing to the NBA playoffs to face the
Free agency is always a fun time for the NBA and its fans, but particularly so in 2020. Most free agents have usually earned their next deal by the 65th game of any given season – but this year is far from typical. Instead, the NBA has returned, sans its eight worst teams, meaning that
9:32 AM ET The Chicago Bulls have fired coach Jim Boylen after two seasons, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas announced Friday. Boylen was 39-84 without a playoff appearance after taking the head-coaching job in December 2018. His .317 win percentage is the second lowest to Tim Floyd (.205) in Bulls history for
Win or lose, play-in spot or not, the Phoenix Suns made the most of the NBA bubble. Just as they have for the past nine years, the Phoenix Suns finished their season outside of the playoff picture. They finished 10th in the Western Conference, five games below .500, and will see their playoff drought extend
Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images Famed photographer Walter Iooss Jr. is working with Christies with an online auction that ends Aug. 11 and spoke to FanSided about Michael Jordan. Walter Iooss Jr. formed a relationship with Michael Jordan that started just before Jordan became Michael Jordan — the greatest player to ever play
President Donald Trump has weighed in on the ongoing debate about the greatest basketball player of all time. Michael Jordan or LeBron James? LeBron James or Michael Jordan? Who is the greatest of all time? That debate has been an ongoing topic among NBA Twitter and the talking head shows on TV for years, and
11:00 AM ET All the scenarios, all the magic numbers, all the scoreboard watching — it’s all getting settled on Thursday. Here is where things stand as four teams battle for two spots in this weekend’s Western Conference play-in: Portland Trail Blazers: win and they’re in (as the No. 8 seed). Memphis Grizzlies: win and
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. Damian Lillard has been arguably the best player in the NBA bubble and undoubtedly the most exciting. He has a 61-point game and a 51-point game. In the
10:38 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN Puff Daddy and Mase topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts with their smash song “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” the last time the San Antonio Spurs missed the NBA playoffs. That’s how long it’s been — way back in the 1996-1997 season. The final buzzer sounded Thursday night with the
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – JULY 31: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Todd Gurley spotted limping, could have limited workload in camp by Scott Rogust Russell Westbrook will miss the start of the postseason. One of the more interesting playoff series in the 2020 NBA postseason involves Russell
In this week’s NBA Power Rankings, the Lopez Boys throw gauntlets, the world is Caris LeVert’s oyster and the WNBPA speaks loudly. The traditional power-ranking model is a list of all the team in a league, ordered by some objective or subjective measures of quality. But these are not traditional times. The power structures of
Giannis Antetokounmpo had to remind Donta Hall of the NBA hierarchy. Far be it from me to make fun of anyone pursuing their dream, especially in such dangerous times. The shorthanded Brooklyn Nets needed as much help as they could get entering the NBA restart, and Donta Hall answered the call, signing with the team
11:00 AM ET All the scenarios, all the magic numbers, all the scoreboard watching — it’s all going to be settled and easy to understand by close of business on Thursday night. But here’s where it’s at before we get there: Portland Trail Blazers: win and they’re in (as the 8-seed). Memphis Grizzlies: win and
Larry Bird (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Jeff Van Gundy is not a fan of the Larry Bird tomato. The tomato that poses a striking resemblance to NBA legend Larry Bird has been making its rounds over the internet. So much so that it even entered ESPN’s NBA telecast last night. Jeff Van Gundy caught
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 21: Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens checks the clock during the third quarter. The Indiana Pacers host the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of Round 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs at Bankers Life Field House in Indianapolis on April 21, 2019. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty
7:10 AM ET NBA Insiders Thursday is the biggest day of the NBA restart, as we reach the conclusion of the red-hot Western Conference play-in battle. The Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns will all be in action, and only two will advance to face off on Saturday. We asked
Monty Williams is the only choice for the NBA’s Coach of Seeding Games award. It isn’t easy ushering in a drastic culture change for a losing NBA franchise in your first year on the job. It’s even harder when you’re working with a group of inexperienced youngsters and veterans who are just as new to
11:30 PM ET Before the NBA season restarted, the league decided that the 88 seeding games at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex would not count toward season-long awards voting this year. Then on Tuesday the league announced that it would name an MVP and All-NBA teams for the restart games before the playoffs begin.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – AUGUST 02: Rui Hachimura #8 of the Washington Wizards passes under pressure from the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at HP Field House on August 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
Shabazz Napier, #5, Washington Wizards (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) The Washington Wizards have struggled in the bubble. The Eastern Conference’s playoff picture was much less chaotic than the West, which led to only nine teams from the East making it to the NBA bubble. While very few expected the Washington Wizards to challenge for
6:00 AM ET As we approach the 2020 postseason, the NBA title remains fully up for grabs. No one should be considered a clear favorite to win it all, and given the quirks of the bubble environment, more teams than ever are heading to the playoffs with visions of triumph. But one reason there’s no
Giannis Antetokounmpo head-butted himself right out of this ball game. Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t using his head when he used his head to attack Moritz Wagner. Not all is pleasant in the NBA‘s beautiful basketball bubble. Thriving in captivity is never easy, not even if you’re The Greek Freak and the star of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lakers and Clippers also kneel during national anthem (VIDEO) by Gerald Bourguet Why did Alvin Gentry sit Zion Williamson in final minutes vs Jazz? by Mark Powell LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – JULY 30: Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert #27 heads to the basket past New Orleans Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram, left, during the second half of
Nelson Cruz didn’t even realize he walked through virtual fans (Video) by John Buhler New Orleans Pelicans can’t even fill virtual stands with fans by Gerald Bourguet LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – JULY 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at
10:19 PM ET The final spot in the Western Conference playoffs will come down to a weekend play-in, where the No. 9 seed will have to win two games against the No. 8 seed — Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC and, if necessary, Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC — to make
Free agency is always a fun time for the NBA and its fans, but particularly so in 2020. Most free agents have usually earned their next deal by the 65th game of any given season – but this year is far from typical. Instead, the NBA has returned, sans its eight worst teams, meaning that
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 01: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO
WATCH: Denver Broncos covered with sanitizing spray arriving at practice by Anthony Brown Who is the best Pittsburgh Steelers player to draft in fantasy? by John Buhler (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) The Toronto Raptors once again beat the odds. When Kawhi Leonard left the Toronto Raptors at the alter after just one season, albeit
10:24 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN After initially being questionable to participate, Milwaukee Bucks reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s night on Tuesday ended early against the Washington Wizards after he was ejected in the first half. Antetokounmpo was hit with a flagrant foul 2 for his head-butt against Moritz Wagner at 8:50 in the second quarter. Antetokounmpo
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 10: Kyle Kuzma #0 hi-fives LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on December 10, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty