Baxter Holmes

Baxter Holmes

@baxterholmes.bsky.social

LA-based Senior NBA Writer for ESPN. ex-Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe. Oklahoman. Signal: baxterholmes.01 Baxter_holmes@protonmail.com

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Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

NEWS with Don Van Natta, Ramona Shelburne and Shams Charania: The NBA has found no evidence showing LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap, sources tell ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comSources: NBA has no evidence Ballmer funneled money to Leonard via sponsorsThe NBA has found no evidence showing LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard, according to three people with knowledge of discussions between the two sides in recent days.
Baxter Holmes
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NEWS: The NBA investigation into whether the LA  Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard could drag into 2027 if the parties don’t agree on the findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, sources tell ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comSources: NBA probe into Clippers, Kawhi Leonard could go into '27The NBA investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard could drag into 2027 if the parties don't agree on the findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, sources told ESPN.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

NEW: A group of Catholic sisters have gone viral for their decades-long dedication to their hometown team. If their prayers are answered, the Wemby Era will begin with a  Spurs win. Meet the Salesian Sisters: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comSalesian Sisters are divine force behind Spurs' NBA Finals hopesA group of Catholic sisters have gone viral for their decades-long dedication to their hometown team. If their prayers are answered, the Wemby Era will begin with a Spurs win.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

NEWS: Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, his uncle Dennis Robertson and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer have been interviewed by NBA investigators amid the league’s probe into allegations the team circumvented the salary cap to compensate Leonard, sources tell ESPN. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comSources: NBA interviews Leonard, adviser in Aspiration caseLA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and his business adviser have been interviewed by NBA investigators amid the league's probe into allegations the team circumvented the salary cap to compensate Leonard, sources said.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

NEWS: A federal judge on Monday sentenced Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg, whose now-bankrupt green banking company is at the center of an NBA investigation into the LA Clippers, to 14 years in federal prison for defrauding investors out of $248 million. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comAspiration co-founder Sanberg sentenced to 14 years in prisonJoseph Sanberg, whose now-bankrupt green banking company is at the center of an NBA investigation into the Clippers, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Monday.
Baxter Holmes
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NEW: In the age of analytics, one area has long remained especially elusive. "How do you measure fear?" one Western Conference analytics staffer asks. Enter Victor Wembanyama. Says another analytics staffer: "What he does best is hard to quantify." www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comWhy Victor Wembanyama's most dominant skill remains a mysteryWhat makes the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year so dangerous isn't that he blocks so many shots. It's that he prevents players from shooting in the first place.
Baxter Holmes
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On OKC's 2025 title: Kevin Durant: "I have a sense of pride, man, like I really, really am grateful to be an alumni of the Thunder." Russell Westbrook: "I was extremely, extremely happy for them, for the fans. They deserve it because they are truly the best fans in sports."

Baxter Holmes
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NEW: In 2007, in one of Sam Presti's very first moves as a GM, he executed a sign and trade of Rashard Lewis. Nearly two decades later, the domino effects of that transaction are still paying off for the Thunder today: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comHow a trade 19 years ago is still helping OKC and its title hopesLittle did anyone know on July 11, 2007, that a minor trade between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Orlando Magic would change NBA history.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

NEWS: Attorneys representing LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer say Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg's actions have caused him “immeasurable" reputational harm, while Sanberg's attorneys are asking for a lighter sentence. Sanberg has cooperated w/ the NBA's investigation. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comLetter: Aspiration co-founder cooperated with NBA investigationAttorneys representing the NBA and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer submitted separate letters to a federal judge ahead of the sentencing of Joseph Sanberg, the co-founder of Aspiration, a now-defunct com...
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

NEWS: A lawsuit between Suns owner Mat Ishbia and two Suns minority owners is expected to head to mediation, which could lead to Ishbia buying out the last two holdovers from the Robert Sarver ownership group — and increasing his own stake to 96%: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comSuns' ownership dispute to be settled through mediationPhoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and two Suns minority owners are heading to a confidential binding mediation that could result in Ishbia buying out the minority owners' 13% stake in the team.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

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/_/...

espn.comKobe Bryant and the secret history of the black mambaIn 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comHow Buss family infighting drove the $10B sale of the LakersThe 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comClippers' Ballmer aims to dismiss fraud suit over Kawhi Leonard's payAttorneys 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...
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

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/_/...

espn.comHow a legendary historian is quietly fueling OKC's championship riseAs 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comMinority owners claim Ishbia mismanaging SunsA 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.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

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/_/...

espn.comAspiration co-founder pleads guilty to wire fraudAspiration 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...
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comKnicks, Raptors agree to voluntarily dismiss lawsuitThe 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comHow the Thunder helped heal Oklahoma City 30 years after unimaginable terrorFor 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...
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comSources: Suns told employees not to sue teamThe Phoenix Suns asked employees to sign agreements limiting their ability to sue the team in order to keep their jobs, multiple sources told ESPN
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.com'They're done building around him': Inside the tumultuous Kawhi Leonard era in Los AngelesJust weeks after the Clippers shocked the NBA world by signing the 2019 NBA MVP, a feeling percolated across the organization: fear.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comSuns sued by minority owners over records accessSuns 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.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

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/_/...

espn.comEmployee suing Suns for retaliation fired by teamThe Phoenix Suns have fired an employee who is suing the team for discrimination, harassment and retaliation, ESPN has learned.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

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/_/...

espn.comEx-NBA player McLemore gets prison sentenceA 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comHow Cooper Flagg and the beleaguered Mavericks responded to a shocking NBA draft lotteryThe 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comSuns again sued by employee for discriminationA current employee has sued the Suns, citing allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by ESPN.
Baxter Holmes
@baxterholmes.bsky.social

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/_/...

espn.com'Job well done': Inside Gregg Popovich's unparalleled NBA legacyFriends, colleagues, players and confidantes all agree: Popovich has impacted more people across the game than perhaps anyone in history.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comCelts pounce after Banchero sits, oust Magic in 5The 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comTatum again leads C's, features wrist in celebrationJayson 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comCelts vent after loss: Refs not controlling playThrough 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comBloodied 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.com'He's got it': An oral history of the NBA's COVID-19 shutdown -- and how it changed sports foreverOn 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comEx-Knick Robinson's kidney transplant successfulEx-NBA guard Nate Robinson had a successful kidney transplant Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
Baxter Holmes
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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/_/...

espn.comThe heave-making fourth-quarter star the Celtics need to make a repeat title runLast 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.
Baxter Holmes
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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...

espn.comBack in Indy, Metta World Peace laments how it all went wrongReturning 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.
Baxter Holmes
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New ESPN feature story from earlier this week, with reporting from Las Vegas, Maine and North Carolina -- on the improbable rise of Cooper Flagg and the legendary 1980s NBA team that helped shape him: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.com'There's disbelief about him because he's just that good': Inside Cooper Flagg's improbable riseFrom grade school, Flagg has faced test after test -- all designed to define his ceiling. He has passed them all, fueled by lessons from one of the greatest teams in NBA history.
Baxter Holmes
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NEWS: Ex-Phoenix Suns staffer sues team, claiming racial discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination, according to lawsuit obtained by ESPN. The lawsuit also alleges racial, sexual and financial misconduct among current and former Suns executives. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.comFormer employee files civil lawsuit against SunsAndrea Trischan, a former Suns employee, seeks what the team said is $60 million in damages after filing a civil lawsuit against them, alleging discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination.

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