Month: May 2022

Expect for Russell Westbrook to suit up again for the Los Angeles Lakers next NBA season. All signs are pointing towards Russell Westbrook exercising his $47 million player option to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers at least for one more season. NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Lakers are “tuning out the skeptics” and are telling […]

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. A lot has been made, at least in some corners of social media, of the challenging paths the Warriors and Celtics have taken to the NBA Finals, at least […]

The brilliant new book Cover Story by Alex Wong, tells the history of the NBA through its most iconic magazine covers at SLAM, Sports Illustrated and more. Alex Wong has been one of the most creative NBA writers for years, continually coming up with features on topics that no one else would have thought of. […]

The Washington Nationals weren’t thrilled after the New York Mets won Monday’s game, even comparing their NL East rival to Nickelback. The Nats will have two chances at revenge on Tuesday and Wednesday, but a 13-5 defeat at the hands of the division-leading Mets isn’t a good way to start the week. New York’s bats […]

The new book Hoops: A Cultural History of Basketball in America sets a worthy goal but isn’t quite able to deliver on its promise. Sports do not exist in a vacuum. They develop and evolve within a specific context and their meaning and significance shift as the culture does. Basketball is no exception and it […]

Minnesota Vikings tight end Adam Thielen feels “fresh” as he rejoins his team in OTAs after an ankle injury that sidelined him at the end of last season.  In a sense, Minnesota Vikings tight end Adam Thielen is looking for a “fresh start” — or a “refreshed start”, for that matter. Thielen isn’t planning on […]

The Golden State Warriors have so much more NBA Finals experience over the Boston Celtics. With the 2022 NBA Finals set to tip off Thursday night in San Francisco, it should be noted that the Golden State Warriors have infinitely more championship experience over the Boston Celtics. Although Boston will be playing in its 22nd NBA […]

Jimmy Butler became the most potent player in the NBA playoffs, although it wasn’t enough in the end. What did we learn from his postseason transformation? The Miami Heat are not advancing to the NBA Finals. Jimmy Butler did not win the inaugural Eastern Conference Finals MVP Award, but no one came out of the […]