Sam Amick

NBA seeks cell phones from multiple teams, including Lakers, in gambling investigation: Sources

Sources: NBA asked teams, including Lakers, to hand over documents and property as part of investigation into illegal sports gambling. Two LeBron associates are among those cooperating.

With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social, @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

OKC's Mark Daigneault unplugged: The art of coaching the ambitious defending champs

If you need a break in Nico coverage…enjoy this chat with OKC coach Mark Daigneault.

On the Thunder’s title defense strategy, coaching SGA, & whether or not he has a Ted Lasso side, at @theathletic.com

“I just don’t want to f*** it up.”

(10-1 so far) 😳

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Seeds of Nico Harrison's demise sowed even before he traded Luka Dončić

What if Michael Finley never grabs Luka Doncic’s beer?

On those 13 symbolic seconds after Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks won the West, and why Nico Harrison finally paid the price for his disastrous decision to trade a generational talent, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a revealing admission late last night: He wasn’t a fan of how his team won the title.

On the MVP’s growth mindset, this scorching OKC start (w/out Jalen Williams), and why the rest of the NBA should worry, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...

What does Ja Morant's future with the Memphis Grizzlies look like? It's complicated

My read of the Ja Morant situation in Memphis, where the prospect of moving him - which there are no signs of the Grizzlies wanting to do - isn’t as simple as it might seem, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Draymond Green and his drive to join the greatest NBA defenders of all time

Draymond Green unplugged, @theathletic.com: Behind the defensive goal that is his obsession, why he strongly disagrees with Kevin Durant’s recent comments about defense, a league-wide discussion about defense and much more (including his Warriors future)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

NBA coach Chauncey Billups hires defense attorney who worked for Trump, Giuliani

From @samamick.bsky.social’s story: Chauncey Billups’ new lawyer also represented Joe Sanberg, the co-founder of Aspiration, the company accused of helping the Clippers circumvent the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard.

😮‍💨 www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

NBA coach Chauncey Billups hires defense attorney who worked for Trump, Giuliani Marc Mukasey has defended several high-profile clients, including President Donald Trump and Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg.

News: Chauncey Billups has hired renowned trial lawyer Marc Mukasey to defend him in the federal investigation into illegal gambling, @theathletic.com has learned.

Much more here on Mukasey's background, including deep ties to President Trump...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Wemby for MVP, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves dilemma and more early NBA observations The Spurs' young big man is doing things we've never seen. Plus: notes on the Sixers, Hawks, Warriors and more.

The Wemby (early season) takeover and what it means, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves dilemma, the Sixers’ (rookie) salvation, and more observations, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

NBA reviewing injury reporting in light of FBI illegal gambling probe

A deeper look at the NBA's memo about the FBI's gambling probe, and the issue of injury reporting, at
@theathletic.com
(including a look at the Luka Doncic example from last night)

W/ @joevardon.bsky.social and @mikevorkunov.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

NBA scandals overshadow greatness on the court, and that’s the real travesty The Warriors and Nuggets played an early season classic on Thursday, but all anybody could talk about was the integrity of the league.

Even with the Warriors and Nuggets shining, the gambling scandal was all anyone could talk about at Chase Center last night (until the end).

On the travesty of another controversy overshadowing the NBA game, and chipping away at trust, @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Talked to Steve Kerr about his aging Warriors team last night, and how he plans to keep it intact until the end this time.

On lessons learned from last season, the Jonathan Kuminga future, and more, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Nuggets are all about giving Nikola Jokić what he needs to win amid culture reset

Inside the Denver Nuggets' culture reset in the summer and why - after a year of internal dysfunction and a glaring lack of depth - the fixes had everything to do with Nikola Jokic and his future, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Adding Russell Westbrook to a mismatched Sacramento Kings’ squad? Why not? The Sacramento Kings are a confusing mashup of expensive contracts and ball-dominant players. But they will be entertaining to watch.

Why not?

My view on the Kings’ Russell Westbrook addition, their mishmash roster that’s in flux, a new coach with a daunting challenge, and the Clippers - amid all their controversy - offering a reminder of how dangerous they might be, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga, and New York Knicks’ interest, is just on hold Giannis is a Buck for now, and possibly for a while yet. But the superstar's future is uncertain.

Story includes intel on why the Knicks - who are locked in on their title hopes with this current team - are known to have concerns about what it might take to land Giannis down the line. That and more here, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Giannis wants another championship. Whether it will be with Milwaukee remains to be seen

What I’m hearing on the Giannis Antetokounmpo front, and why this past week of waves in Milwaukee was a sign of things to come, at @theathletic.com

The Knicks, and so many other teams, are still watching more closely than ever.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

What is Project B? The latest on a new global league recruiting basketball stars Speculation has bubbled for months about an international league that could pose a threat to both the NBA and WNBA.

Maverick Carter might be out of the international leagues that have been the talk of the NBA & WNBA recently, but the plans are still in full swing.

With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social, including an interview with co-founder Grady Burnett

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Emergency Jonathan Kuminga Episode

New "Warriors Plus-Minus" episode with @thompsonscribe.bsky.social @samamick.bsky.social -- the Jonathan Kuminga Signs What's Next Emergency Episode.

-Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/50XQ...
-Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

What we learned (and didn't learn) on NBA media day, from Luka to Giannis to Kawhi

From Giannis to Jokic, Luka, Kawhi, Kuminga and more, my look at the major storylines and, yes, revelations from the media day mayhem, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Lakers' LeBron James is happy after tumultuous offseason, at least for now

My view of LeBron James' 23rd (!) media day, and what his latest messaging - after a tumultuous offseason - might mean for his Lakers (and NBA) future, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

What we know about ‘Uncle Dennis’: A central figure in the Kawhi Leonard, Clippers investigation The Athletic conducted interviews with 17 different sources, league and team personnel to learn about Kawhi Leonard's uncle and advisor.

Who is Uncle Dennis?

A profile of Dennis Robertson — Kawhi Leonard's uncle and a man also in the middle of the Clippers/Kawhi/Aspiration investigation — and how he operates.

From @danwoikesports.bsky.social @samamick.bsky.social and me www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Warriors’ standoff with Jonathan Kuminga nearing an end, but the outcome remains unclear The 22-year-old has multiple contract options with Golden State, and a sign-and-trade with Sacramento also remains in play.

After more than a month of no talks between the Warriors and Kings about a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, sources tell @theathletic.com that they reconnected recently.

Could a deal still go down here? One (hopefully last) look at the dynamics in play.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Jonathan Kuminga wants security. The Warriors want flexibility. Who blinks first? The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are in imperfect fit. With training camp two weeks away, they could be stuck with each other.

On the continued Jonathan Kuminga-Warriors saga, the 2027 summer that is playing a pivotal part, and key factors to consider in the final stretch of this face-off, at
@theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Adam Silver strikes bold tone, for him, on Clippers investigation

My latest read on the Kawhi Leonard-Steve Ballmer-Clippers saga, with Adam Silver showing a brief glimpse of his...Stern side in today's BOG remarks.

Intel on owners' reactions, the problematic evidence that keeps piling up and more, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Plenty 'unusual' about Kawhi Leonard sponsorship deal: 'This does not happen'

My read on the Kawhi Leonard-Steve Ballmer-Clippers saga, with some early feedback from folks around the league on the severity of the situation, at @theathletic.com

"This does not happen," one GM said.

"I've never seen it," said another exec.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

Jonathan Kuminga's contract, intriguing teams and more lingering NBA offseason questions

Is this thing on?!

A late summer NBA discussion with @fredkatz.bsky.social and @thompsonscribe.bsky.social, at @theathletic.com

Talking Jonathan Kuminga (and the other RFAs), the revamped team we're most excited to see and the one that, well, we're not.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

A Jonathan Kuminga note: Anyone saying the 1st-rounder protections are the only obstacle to a Kings-Warriors S&T is wrong, as I'm told Golden State really doesn't want to move either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody (which would be required).

Details - @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

Why Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors remain locked in a stalemate, and where they go from here

New for @theathletic.com - I was @samamick.bsky.social 's capology assistant while he did all the actual work on this update on the Kuminga-Warriors-Kings situation.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

Why Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors remain locked in a stalemate over qualifying offer talk The Warriors know their window of contention is closing rapidly and that botching the Kuminga situation will only hasten that.

On the Jonathan Kuminga stalemate with the Warriors, the details of the Kings' latest offer and why that deal hasn't gone down just yet, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

The Warriors, Celtics and Lakers are among the teams that have interest in doing a deal with Damian Lillard sooner rather than later, sources tell Eric Nehm, @samamick.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social.

More intel: www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...