Trailer: Blake Griffin Takes Sports Commentary to Late Night with New Series ‘The Stepback’

Former NBA star Blake Griffin is stepping into the world of late-night television with The Stepback, a new series that blends sports commentary, comedy, and cultural analysis. The first trailer has been released, offering a preview of the show, which will feature Griffin hosting in front of a live studio audience.Rather than focusing exclusively on scores, statistics, and game results, Griffin aims to explore the bigger conversations shaping the sports industry and fan culture. The series combines his experience on the basketball court with his passion for comedy, giving him a new platform to share his perspectives in a more entertaining format. Griffin has previously worked as an NBA analyst for Prime Video.The trailer opens with Griffin seated behind a late-night talk show desk before a live audience. Introducing the show’s concept, he promises to “ask questions insiders won’t,” setting the tone for a program that looks beyond the box score to examine the topics generating debate across the sports world.Among the subjects featured in the preview are sports gambling, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, marijuana use among athletes, advanced analytics, and taxpayer-funded stadiums. Griffin tackles these issues through a combination of humor and commentary, offering a different perspective from conventional sports analysis.The trailer also takes aim at the evolving sports media landscape, particularly the growing popularity of video podcasts. In one scene, an image of ESPN personality Brian Windhorst appears as Griffin quips, “Can I just say something? Not all podcasts have to be video.” The joke highlights the show’s willingness to poke fun at sports media trends and the endless stream of online commentary.The Stepback is produced by Griffin’s production company, Mortal Media, which he runs with former NFL player Ryan Kalil, in partnership with Amazon’s Wondery.The series is scheduled to premiere on October 20, 2026, with new episodes arriving every Tuesday on YouTube and Prime Video. Timed to coincide with the start of the new NBA season, the show will give basketball fans a weekly mix of sports discussion, cultural commentary, and Griffin’s comedic take on the stories shaping the game.