Baxter Holmes

Kobe Bryant and the secret history of the black mamba In late 2002, Nike began creating a global campaign featuring the black mamba -- and presented it to an NBA superstar. That star was not Kobe Bryant.

NEW: Nearly 10 years ago, Kobe Bryant declared “Mamba out” in his final words as a Los Angeles Laker. But years before he assumed the black mamba persona, Nike created a campaign built around the snake for someone else – Michael Jordan. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

INSIDE THE REPORTING 🔎 Baxter Holmes on his Buss family infighting piece | The Sports Reporters YouTube video by NBA on ESPN

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmkB...

How Buss family infighting drove the $10B sale of the Lakers The post-Jerry Buss era was defined by resentment, dysfunction and conflict -- and ended with the loss of the most valuable family-owned franchise in the world.

Jerry Buss built an empire but feared infighting among his children would tear it apart. He was right. "I don’t think my dad would be happy with the way things just went down,” said one. "Not at all.” How family dysfunction and discord fueled the $10B sale: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Clippers' Ballmer aims to dismiss fraud suit over Kawhi Leonard's pay Attorneys representing Steve Ballmer are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges the LA Clippers owner participated in a fraud by funneling money to star Kawhi Leonard through a now-defunct green ba...

NEWS: Attorneys representing Steve Ballmer are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges the Clippers owner funneled money to star Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration, calling the allegations “sensational” and “patently false,” according to court documents: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Minority owners target Ishbia's stake in filing A filing in a lawsuit against Mat Ishbia includes new financial details that two Suns minority owners say could threaten Ishbia's majority ownership.

NEWS: A less-redacted court filing in a lawsuit against Mat Ishbia includes new financial details that two Phoenix Suns minority owners say could threaten Ishbia's majority ownership of the team. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Some leftovers from my interview with Robert Caro, who reports that he had a “terrific jump shot” and recalled what it was like watching Bill Bradley play at Princeton in the 1960s. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

How a legendary historian is quietly fueling OKC's championship rise As OKC GM Sam Presti formed a Thunder team built for a dynasty, he was inspired by a man who has been working on the same project for more than 50 years.

NEW: Thunder GM Sam Presti is a huge fan of the legendary historian Robert Caro and frequently cites Caro’s “turn every page” mantra as a guiding light for the powerhouse Thunder. “I am truly touched, if you want to know the truth,” Caro tells ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Minority owners claim Ishbia mismanaging Suns A pair of Phoenix Suns minority owners allege that Mat Ishbia is using the franchise as "his personal piggy bank" in a lawsuit claiming misconduct and mismanagement by the Suns' governor.

NEWS: A pair of Phoenix Suns minority owners allege that Mat Ishbia is using the franchise as "his personal piggy bank" and that the Suns' governor has sunken a once profitable team into the red, according to a new lawsuit claiming misconduct and mismanagement by Ishbia. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

A special feature on the Thunder’s 2025 NBA Championship rings honors the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. It’s a poignant reminder of the Thunder’s deep connection to the Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago and the recovery efforts that followed: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Aspiration co-founder pleads guilty to wire fraud Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, whose former company is embroiled in an NBA scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers, formally pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud in federal court in downt...

NEWS: Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, whose former company is embroiled in an NBA scandal involving the LA Clippers, formally pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud in federal court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday. He declined comment after the hearing. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Knicks, Raptors agree to voluntarily dismiss lawsuit The Knicks and Raptors agreed to voluntarily dismiss a 2023 lawsuit involving the alleged theft of thousands of confidential files, according to a court filing Friday that was obtained by ESPN.

NEWS: The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors agreed to voluntarily dismiss a 2023 lawsuit involving the alleged theft of thousands of confidential files, according to a court filing Friday that was obtained by ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

How the Thunder helped heal Oklahoma City 30 years after unimaginable terror For 30 years, the Oklahoma City bombing -- the most devastating act of homegrown terrorism in history -- has been seared into the identity of the city. Since 2008, the Thunder have been trying to hono...

NEW: The Thunder are built upon a tragedy that seared their city 30 years ago. When Sam Presti arrived in 2008, he was so inspired by the recovery that he built his team in its image, forging bonds with those whose lives forever changed on April 19, 1995. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Sources: Suns told employees not to sue team The Phoenix Suns asked employees to sign agreements limiting their ability to sue the team in order to keep their jobs, multiple sources told ESPN

NEWS: The Phoenix Suns, while facing several lawsuits from current and ex-employees, told employees this spring that in order to retain their jobs they needed to sign an agreement limiting their ability to sue the team, team sources told ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

'They're done building around him': Inside the tumultuous Kawhi Leonard era in Los Angeles Just weeks after the Clippers shocked the NBA world by signing the 2019 NBA MVP, a feeling percolated across the organization: fear.

NEW: The Clippers have won three playoff series with Kawhi Leonard. They've also faced a string of lawsuits, fines and investigations -- now leading to owner Steve Ballmer. "At some point," one ex-staffer says, "Steve has got to get out of the Kawhi business." www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Suns sued by minority owners over records access Suns minority owners Andy Kohlberg and Scott Selding have filed a lawsuit against the team, alleging that owner Mat Ishbia has refused access to internal records.

NEWS: A pair of Phoenix Suns minority owners who were holdovers from the Robert Sarver regime are suing the team, alleging that current Suns owner Mat Ishbia has refused access to internal records. It's the sixth lawsuit against the team since Nov. 2024. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Employee suing Suns for retaliation fired by team The Phoenix Suns have fired an employee who is suing the team for discrimination, harassment and retaliation, ESPN has learned.

NEWS: The Suns have fired an employee who is suing the team for discrimination, harassment and retaliation, ESPN has learned. All told, there have been five civil lawsuits filed in federal court against the organization by current or former employees in a 10-month span. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Ex-NBA player McLemore gets prison sentence A judge sentenced Ben McLemore to more than eight years in Oregon state prison after the former NBA guard was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in 2021.

NEWS: A judge sentenced Ben McLemore to more than eight years in state prison Wednesday after the former NBA guard was found guilty for raping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman at a Lake Oswego house party in 2021: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

How Cooper Flagg and the beleaguered Mavericks responded to a shocking NBA draft lottery The presumptive No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft and the organization, still reeling from trading away Luka Doncic, might just be made for each other -- at exactly the right time.

NEW: "We never even considered that the impossible could happen on May 12," one Mavericks source tells ESPN. "I'm not sure there has ever been a more abrupt reversal of fortune.” How Cooper Flagg and the Mavs responded to a shocking NBA draft lottery: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Suns again sued by employee for discrimination A current employee has sued the Suns, citing allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by ESPN.

NEWS: The Suns are being sued by a current employee, the fourth suit against the team since November. In this one, a staffer says he was demoted after raising security concerns and that the Suns failed multiple arena audits, with handguns & knives making it inside: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

NEW: On Boston's Jrue Holiday, the long lineage of his defensive prowess (which dates back more than 50 years in a family defined by its remarkable athletic success) and his philosophy today.
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'Job well done': Inside Gregg Popovich's unparalleled NBA legacy Friends, colleagues, players and confidantes all agree: Popovich has impacted more people across the game than perhaps anyone in history.

NEW: Adam Silver, Mike Krzyzewski, Steve Kerr, Jerry Colangelo, Larry Brown and Hank Egan, who coached Gregg Popovich in college, all weigh in on the legacy of the legendary coach. "He impacted more people in our game than anybody," Krzyzewski tells ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Celts pounce after Banchero sits, oust Magic in 5 The Celtics broke open Tuesday night's game after Paolo Banchero went to the bench with his fifth foul and rolled to a 120-89 victory to close out the series in five games.

Dispatch from Boston, where the Celtics ousted the Magic in style, posting the biggest win by any team trailing at halftime in playoff history. Along the way, the Celtics proved that they can find ways to win even when a team takes away what they do best: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Tatum again leads C's, features wrist in celebration Jayson Tatum scored 37 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, to give the Celtics a 3-1 series lead over the Magic -- and showcased a new celebration featuring his injured right wrist.

Dispatch from Orlando, where Jayson Tatum’s 37 points — including 16 in the fourth quarter — and a new celebration involving his injured right wrist gives the Celtics a chance to close out the bruising Orlando Magic back in Boston: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Celts vent after loss: Refs not controlling play Through three games of this first-round series, the seventh-seeded Magic have displayed a physical style of basketball that the defending champion Celtics say they believe is over the line.

Dispatch from Orlando, where Jaylen Brown says of the Celtics' first-round series vs. Orlando, "There might be a fight break out or something because it's starting to feel like it's not even basketball and the refs are not controlling their environment." www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Bloodied KP fires up C's: Won't let teams 'punk us' Kristaps Porzingis laughed off a bloody gash on his forehead late in the third quarter of Boston's Game 2 win, saying he knew his reaction would fire up the Celtics crowd.

Dispatch from Boston, where Kristaps Porzingis laughed off a bloody forehead gash, fired up the TD Garden crowd and said the Celtics "won't let anybody punk us." Said Boston HC Joe Mazzulla: "I like watching him bleed on the court. I think it's important." www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

'He's got it': An oral history of the NBA's COVID-19 shutdown -- and how it changed sports forever On the fifth anniversary of the night the NBA shut down, ESPN reveals how it happened, down to the minute -- told by the players, executives, politicians, doctors and journalists who were there.

NEW: Five years ago today, Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, and the NBA shut down, signaling to many the start of the pandemic in America. After dozens of interviews with those directly involved, Tim MacMahon and I reconstructed the events of that day: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Ex-Knick Robinson's kidney transplant successful Ex-NBA guard Nate Robinson had a successful kidney transplant Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

NEWS: Nate Robinson first learned nearly 20 years ago, when he was playing for the New York Knicks, that his kidneys weren't functioning properly and that he would one day need a transplant. Today, after a successful surgery, he has a new kidney. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

The heave-making fourth-quarter star the Celtics need to make a repeat title run Last season's star-turn in the NBA Finals was a decade in the making for Payton Pritchard, who says a meeting with a six-time All-Star set him a path to NBA success and championship glory in Boston.

NEW: As a child, Payton Pritchard dreamed of making the NBA, even if others suggested a backup career. Now, he’s the king of half-court heaves, a fourth-quarter dynamo and a front-runner for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. On the highs and lows of his journey: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

An NBA All-Star, a legendary father and the enormous weight of legacy Beyond quietly dominating like Wilt and trying to lift a woebegone franchise to contention, Domantas Sabonis is chasing something even bigger: finishing an evolution his iconic dad began 40 years ago.

NEW: On lineage and legacy, fathers and sons and what it means to be a Sabonis. "He is a warrior," Arvydas tells ESPN of Domantas. "Like me." www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Back in Indy, Metta World Peace laments how it all went wrong Returning to face his former team, Metta World Peace talks candidly about how he believes he won't ever recover from how his Pacers tenure ended.

On the 20-year anniversary of the “Malice at the Palace,” my story from 2016 on Metta World Peace lamenting how that event defined his time in Indy: “That’s something that I can never, ever forgive myself for.” www.espn.com/blog/los-ang...