Baxter Holmes

“If the commissioner comes in and investigates to see what the f--- is going on in Phoenix, [he] would be appalled.”   Based on interviews w/ 70+ current & former employees throughout his 17-year tenure as owner, my story on Robert Sarver’s Phoenix Suns: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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%: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

Advancing commitment to journalism, ESPN hires 6 standout former Washington Post writers Hirings highlight continued focus on high-impact journalism & storytelling More: bit.ly/4cVyShZ

New story: Deandre Ayton is a tantalizing talent - tall, strong and athletic, with a soft touch. His success in LA will depend on how he applies that talent for a team in need of a specific role espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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. espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

“Basketball language is like a different language.” English is the second (or third or fourth) language for a lot of NBA players, and I always wondered which language those guys used to think the game. So we asked. ESPN story: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors finally split after five turbulent years. Inside the misalignment that doomed the relationship. espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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 & discord fueled the $10B sale: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

New ESPN feature: This year’s Lakers are pushed by a trash-talking, joke-cracking, high-scoring duo in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves - whose relationship on and off the court will be key to the team reaching its full potential espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

What was so bad that the Clippers needed to urgently send future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul home from a road trip in the middle of the night? @ramonashelburne takes a look inside the ugly Chris Paul-Clippers divorce — and a season on the brink of disaster. spr.ly/6017Czt3X

Chris Paul only spent one season in OKC but left a lasting impression on reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 👀 @BannedMacMahon on how CP3 helped shape the Thunder's budding dynasty ⬇️ spr.ly/6012C646m

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. espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

Why can’t my grandfathers books be fueling a KNICKS title run instead? 😂 espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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. espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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

How did Mark Cuban go from claiming control of basketball ops after the Mavs sale to having no more say than any other season-ticket holder? And how much juice has Cuban regained now? My ESPN story explains: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

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: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…

After the hearing, Sanberg declined comment and referred questions to his attorney, who declined to answer a question regarding whether Sanberg conspired with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to circumvent the NBA's salary cap rules through Kawhi Leonard's sponsorship deal.