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/_/...

Sources: NBA has no evidence Ballmer funneled money to Leonard via sponsors

The 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.

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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/_/...

Sources: NBA probe into Clippers, Kawhi Leonard could go into '27

The 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.

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Hi everyone! I'll be doing a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Wednesday at 1 PM ET at the link below regarding my recent ESPN feature story on the Salesian Sisters in San Antonio. More info here: www.reddit.com/r/NBASpurs/c...

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/_/...

Salesian Sisters are divine force behind Spurs' NBA Finals hopes

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.

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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/_/...

Sources: NBA interviews Leonard, adviser in Aspiration case

LA 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.

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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/_/...

Aspiration co-founder Sanberg sentenced to 14 years in prison

Joseph 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.

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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/_/...

Why Victor Wembanyama's most dominant skill remains a mystery

What 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.

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Baxter Holmes on turning his ESPN.com story into E60's 'The Oklahoma Standard'

In an interview with Awful Announcing, Baxter Holmes explains how his long-form story became a documentary for ESPN.

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Our ESPN E60 documentary "The Oklahoma Standard," which features sit-down interviews with Thunder players, Sam Presti, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and those directly impacted by the April 19, 1995 OKC bombing, is now available to stream on the ESPN App: www.espn.com/watch/roadbl...

The Oklahoma Standard on ESPN Watch ESPN

Watch The Oklahoma Standard on Watch ESPN

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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/_/...

How a trade 19 years ago is still helping OKC and its title hopes

Little did anyone know on July 11, 2007, that a minor trade between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Orlando Magic would change NBA history.

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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/_/...

Letter: Aspiration co-founder cooperated with NBA investigation

Attorneys 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...

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NEW: What was actually in Kawhi Leonard's contract with Aspiration? What do league insiders think of it? Answering nine questions on where the NBA's investigation into the Clippers stands: www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

The latest on the NBA's investigation into the LA Clippers

What was actually in Leonard's contract? What do league insiders think of it? Here's what we know about the allegations -- and where the investigation stands.

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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/_/...

Suns' ownership dispute to be settled through mediation

Phoenix 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.

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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/_/...

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.

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

INSIDE THE REPORTING 🔎 Baxter Holmes on his Buss family infighting piece | The Sports Reporters

YouTube video by NBA on ESPN

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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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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...

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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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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/_/...

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...

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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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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...

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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/_/...

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

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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/_/...

'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.

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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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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.

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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/_/...

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.

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