Ben Golliver

Page One Welcome to my new writing home.

After everything that happened with the Washington Post’s Sports department, I’ve decided to launch a Substack as I weigh my next steps. Here’s why:

substack.com/@bengolliver...

The NBA’s $525 million injury epidemic Many of the league’s highest-paid players are getting hurt, and teams are on pace to rack up more than a half-billion dollars in lost productivity this season for their injured stars.

Story: The NBA's injury epidemic has never come at a greater cost @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry won 70 games. Is SGA’s Thunder next? The defending NBA champion has a strong shot to join the 1995-96 Bulls and 2015-16 Warriors in the history books. Here’s why.

Story: Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry led the NBA's only 70-win teams. WIll Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder join them? @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | Nine months after the worst trade in NBA history, ‘Fire Nico’ becomes a reality The Dallas Mavericks dismissed general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, thanks largely to a vocal fan base that couldn’t forgive him for dealing Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Column: The Dallas Mavericks fired Nico Harrison because their irate fans absolutely refused to forgive, forget or move on @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | The NBA is obsessed with three-pointers. Victor Wembanyama isn’t anymore. The 7-foot-4 French phenom is dunking more and shooting from outside less. Opposing defenses are racing to adjust.

Story: Victor Wembanyama’s scoring game has undergone an extreme makeover. Defenses are racing to adjust. @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The twin sons of a former Duke star are the program’s next great hope Cameron and Cayden Boozer didn’t always want to follow their father, Carlos, to Durham. Now that they did, another promising Blue Devils season is in their hands.

Feature: The Boozer twins wanted to escape their NBA father's shadow, but Duke's pull proved too strong.
How Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils turned the brotherhood into the "nephewhood" to reload after Final 4 heartbreak @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

The FBI says these seven NBA games were illegally targeted by gamblers In an indictment released Thursday, prosecutors outlined the circumstances under which seven NBA games allegedly were part of an illegal gambling scheme.

The FBI says these seven NBA games were illegally targeted by gamblers @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | The top 100 players of the 2025-26 NBA season The Washington Post’s annual rankings project the premier talents for the upcoming season. Where does your favorite player land?

The Top 100 NBA Players of 2026 @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social @arturgalocha.bsky.social @alvarovalino.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/inter...

No joke: Chinese rookie Yang Hansen is the NBA’s biggest summer star The Trail Blazers surprised many when they took the 7-foot-1 center in the first round of the draft last month, but Yang has delighted on and off the court.

Feature: Yang Hansen, a towering jester with a “fat boy” past, is the NBA’s star of the summer.
The @trailblazers.bsky.social rookie, who drew 5.4 million Chinese viewers for a summer league game, on pressure, Yao & the glory of sleep @washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Damian Lillard will return to the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal Portland’s all-time leading scorer, who suffered an Achilles’ tear during a playoff game in April, heads home after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Story: Damian Lillard will return to the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

A former NBA star has a grandmaster plan to make chess cooler Derrick Rose partnered with Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked player in the world, as part of an initiative to make chess more appealing to casual participants.

Feature: Derrick Rose has a grandmaster plan to make chess cooler @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Cooper Flagg showed it all in Mavericks debut — except his jumper Flagg’s first appearance in the NBA Summer League showcased his all-around game, even if his shot wasn’t falling.

Story: Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg showed it all in his Las Vegas Summer League debut — except his jumper
@washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

After a winding search process, the Knicks find a new coach Mike Brown is set to replace Tom Thibodeau, who was fired despite leading the Knicks to their first conference finals in 25 years.

Story: After a winding search process, the Knicks find a new coach
@washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | NBA free agency winners and losers: Rockets going big; Bucks going nowhere After two mostly tepid days to tip off the league’s free agency period, Houston looks like a bona fide contender, while Milwaukee looks lost.

Column: NBA free agency winners and losers
@washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

NBA free agency tracker: Bucks to waive Damian Lillard; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to record extension The NBA’s free agency period is officially open. Follow along as the notable agreements and trades roll in.

Story: NBA free agency tracker @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | NBA draft winners and losers: Mavericks take their guy; Pelicans take risks Dallas made the easy choice and selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick. New Orleans was among the teams that went a more questionable route.

Column: 2025 NBA Draft winners and losers @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Mavericks make it official, select Cooper Flagg with first pick in NBA draft Flagg, the 18-year-old former Duke forward, is considered the best American prospect to enter the league in more than a decade.

Story: Dallas Mavericks make it official, select Cooper Flagg with first pick in NBA draft @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Analysis | NBA mock draft: After Cooper Flagg goes first, expect the unexpected The Dallas Mavericks are certain to take Flagg with the No. 1 pick Wednesday night, but anything is possible after that.

Column: 2025 NBA mock draft
@washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Luka Doncic left big shoes to fill in Dallas. Enter Cooper Flagg. Flagg is set to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft Wednesday night, and the Mavericks are about to have a new franchise player.

Story: Luka Doncic left big shoes to fill in Dallas. Enter Cooper Flagg.
@washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Thunder outlasts Pacers in Game 7 for Oklahoma City’s first NBA title Oklahoma City prevailed, 103-91, after Indiana lost star Tyrese Haliburton to a leg injury in the first quarter.

Story: Thunder outlasts Pacers in Game 7 for Oklahoma City’s first NBA title @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Suns agree to trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for players and picks The long-rumored trade sends Durant, a 15-time all-star, to his fifth NBA franchise after the Suns failed to make the playoffs following a disappointing season.

Story: Suns agree to trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for players and picks @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Glory or devastation awaits the Thunder and Pacers in Game 7 A closer-than-expected NBA Finals reaches its pinnacle Sunday night. Will Oklahoma City measure up in Game 7, or will Indiana pull off its biggest upset yet?

Story: Glory or devastation awaits the Thunder and Pacers in Game 7 @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Tyrese Haliburton plays through injury, sparks Pacers to force Game 7 Guard scores 14 points in 23 minutes as Indiana rolls at home, 108-91, to send the NBA Finals to a winner-take-all finale in Oklahoma City on Sunday night.

Story: Tyrese Haliburton plays through calf strain, sparking Pacers blowout to force the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016 @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Jeanie Buss to sell majority stake in Lakers in record deal With the franchise valued at $10 billion, an agreement is reached to sell one of the most glamourous franchises in sports to Dodgers owner Mark Walter.

Story: Jeanie Buss to sell majority stake in Lakers in record deal
@washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Jalen Williams steps up in Game 5, helps Thunder seize control of Finals All-star guard goes for 40 points as Oklahoma City turns back a late Pacers’ rally for a 120-109 win and a 3-2 series lead.

Story: Jalen Williams steps up in Game 5, helps Thunder seize control of Finals @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder strike back to even the NBA Finals After its Game 1 letdown, Game 2 is Oklahoma City’s almost from start to finish during its 123-107 victory over the Pacers.

Story: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder strike back to even the NBA Finals @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton stuns Thunder in last second to open NBA Finals Indiana’s postseason of improbable comebacks continues with an 111-110 win. Haliburton’s jumper gave the visitors their only lead of the night, but the one that mattered most.

Story: Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton stuns Thunder in last second to open NBA Finals @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

How the Thunder and Pacers outfoxed big-market super teams to reach NBA Finals Oklahoma City and Indiana needed years of savvy maneuvering to overcome their disadvantages as small-market franchises and reach the sport’s biggest stage.

Story: How the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers outfoxed big-market super teams to reach the NBA Finals @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Knicks fire coach Tom Thibodeau after he led them to conference finals Thibodeau was New York’s most successful coach in a generation, but he drew criticism for relying too heavily on his starters.

Story: The New York Knicks fire coach Tom Thibodeau, just days after he led them to first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2000 @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Thrilling Pacers run Knicks ragged, reach first NBA Finals in 25 years Indiana pulled away from New York in Game 6 on Saturday night, setting up a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder to decide a championship.

Story: The thrilling Indiana Pacers run the New York Knicks ragged, setting off a joyous celebration by reaching first NBA Finals in 25 years @washingtonpost.com @postsports.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...