The panel discusses how Lou Williams, Dwight Howard, Bradley Beal and Victor Oladipo's decisions to play in Orlando are all still up in the air. Plus, how the league address kneeling during the anthem and more NBA topics.
Doc Rivers thinks that Lou Williams will rejoin the Clippers when play starts, after the player said he was 50-50.
Ten years after "The Decision," Brian Windhorst, Kevin Arnovitz and Nick Friedell recount the unforgettable week that nearly ended with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh choosing the Chicago Bulls over the Miami Heat.
The LA Clippers signed center Joakim Noah for the remainder of the season.
The schedule for the NBA's restart is set. Here are the must-watch games as teams push for the postseason.
Ten years ago, on live television, LeBron James made his now infamous decision to leave Cleveland and "take his talents to South Beach." It was one of the most consequential, most awkward, and most divisive moments in sports media history. The long, drawn-out broadcast drew ire from Cavaliers fans - who felt their homegrown star had betrayed them - and also from casual observers who disliked the idea of an athlete wielding that level of influence. So how did "The Decision" actually come to be? Ahead of this Sunday's new episode of "Backstory," Don Van Natta takes us behind the production, introduces its key players, and examines how the event forever changed the way NBA stars interact with the public.
Avery Bradley's absence is significant, but is it enough to derail the Lakers' title chances? Brian Windhorst, Jackie MacMullan and Tim MacMahon discuss that (21:45), as well as growing concerns around the league amid a number of positive coronavirus tests publicly announced this week.
Clippers guard Lou Williams said he is "50-50" on NBA players returning, reiterating his concerns that it could be a "distraction" from the nationwide movement for social justice.
Get ready for the NBA's return with the biggest questions, stats and storylines to know for every team headed to Orlando in July.
While the NBA players await the protocol that outlines the rules and regulations of life inside the bubble, Brian Windhorst, Bobby Marks and Disney aficionado Royce Young discuss what questions remain and how challenging life down in Orlando could be.
The NBA is finally set to return in July, and players and owners have agreed on a format for the comeback. But which teams actually stand to benefit from the standings, what's the fate of those facing play-in games, and where does the draft lottery come into play? ESPN basketball insider Zach Lowe (and host of "The Lowe Post" podcast) explains what's at stake in the East and West. Plus, which bubble teams could make it in, and whether this year's NBA champion deserves an asterisk due to the weirdness of the season.
Adam Silver, in an appearance on TNT's "Inside the NBA" Thursday night, said there is a chance that older NBA head coaches won't be able to be on the bench when the league resumes play due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Now that the NBA officially plans to resume its regular season at Disney World at the end of July, Brian Windhorst, Jackie MacMullan and Tim MacMahon try to answer looming questions about the Disney complex, hotel accommodations, coronavirus testing, playoff seeding plans, the TV programming schedule, the loss of home court advantage and more.
Brian Windhorst, Malika Andrews, Andrew Lopez and Kevin Pelton discuss the events of the past week and how the NBA community has rallied around the cause. Then, the crew tries to answer questions about the quality of games to expect when the NBA returns, if the "playoff-plus" format is fair and whether the league is trying to tailor its return plan around Zion Williamson and the Pelicans (16:00).
With multiple return-to-play proposals on the table, Brian Windhorst, Jackie MacMullan and Tim MacMahon discuss the feasibility of these options, as well as the NBA's real motivations behind each plan. Plus, the crew identifies the teams who could benefit the most from this extended layoff (33:50).
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Lakers | 49 | 14 | .778 | - | L1 |
| LA Clippers | 44 | 20 | .688 | 5.5 | W1 |
| Sacramento | 28 | 36 | .438 | 21.5 | L1 |
| Phoenix | 26 | 39 | .400 | 24 | L1 |
| Golden State | 15 | 50 | .231 | 35 | L1 |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(27) | Mfiondu Kabengele | C | Florida State |
| 2(18) | Terance Mann | SF | Florida State |
| YEAR | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 44 | 20 | .688 |
| 2018-19 | 48 | 34 | .585 |
| 2017-18 | 42 | 40 | .512 |
| 2016-17 | 51 | 31 | .622 |
| 2015-16 | 53 | 29 | .646 |
