Sam Amick

@TheAthleticNBA The best part of it all when it comes to Wemby? By all appearances, this is just his beginning. @sam_amick on how the Spurs star is helping to fix the competitiveness issues that have plagued the NBA in recent years ⤵️ nytimes.com/athletic/71304…

Victor Wembanyama is doing more than chasing MVP. He is changing the energy around the NBA. If you somehow haven’t noticed by now, the 22-year-old who has been such a bright spot in these dark NBA times is relentlessly and refreshingly competitive.

Why Victor Wembanyama is the NBA's MVP - even if he doesn't win the award, at @TheAthletic nytimes.com/athletic/71304…

The Milwaukee Bucks have approached Giannis Antetokounmpo about getting shut down the rest of this season, per league sources, but Antetokounmpo remains uninterested in such an approach. On the uncomfortable situation in Milwaukee, at @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/71281…

Resident truth teller Rudy Gobert with interesting perspective last night. He wants the Timberwolves to model OKC’s mindset, and acknowledges that there’s a gap there right now. Much more here on what ails Minnesota, at @TheAthletic nytimes.com/athletic/71174…

On the (unimpressive) week that was for the Jekyll-and-Hyde Timberwolves, who played with their food in a win against the Warriors, and why this won’t work against the best of the best (like OKC on Sunday). @TheAthletic nytimes.com/athletic/71174…

Words from last night on the moment SGA’s consistency became history, and the pride you could feel in the building from a crowd seeing its franchise face’s all-time rise legitimized with another milestone. Wilt’s milestone is now Shai’s: nytimes.com/athletic/71150…

Spent a couple of days in New York with Alysa Liu. Meeting Harry Potter. Ducking paparazzi. Popping a collar or two. The life of the Olympic gold medalist figure skater is quite whirlwind nytimes.com/athletic/71044…

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency is now marked by history. His historic streak of 127 games with 20+ points has now survived for 497 days, stretching across two regular seasons. @JoelXLorenzi has more: nytimes.com/athletic/71125…

A terrifically written piece by the young gun @JoelXLorenzi on SGA’s imminent breaking of Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight 20-point games. With insight both from Shai’s teammates and those who played with and against the Dipper. In @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/71077…

Why Bam Adebayo and the Heat should have stopped at 81 - just like the broadcast said - rather than taking Kobe’s mark, @TheAthletic (Free link) nytimes.com/athletic/71071…

For a little more than a year, Cleveland’s Max Strus has run a charity. He keeps it small in purpose so he can know the people he helps. These are their stories, @TheAthleticNBA nytimes.com/athletic/70818… via @NYTimes

Aaron Gordon with 13 points in the first five minutes against OKC.... This is what the Nuggets have been waiting for (and more). nytimes.com/athletic/70859…

Monday morning musings, at @TheAthletic * On SGA catching Wilt in the 20-plus club, and why it warrants a pause in the officiating conversation * ROY race: Cooper returning & Kon’s (compelling) candidacy * The Warriors’ Porzingis problem (Free link) nytimes.com/athletic/71006…

Jordan Poole left a positive legacy with the Washington Wizards. Just ask his former teammates who made a beeline for him after last night's game in New Orleans. Story in @TheAthleticNBA, free to everyone: nytimes.com/athletic/71005…

Lakers win 110-97 against the Knicks. It's their first win as an underdog, per @statmuse, since Dec. 14 -- a stretch where they've lost 12 straight against "better" teams. Luka, Reaves were great on both ends.

Aaron Gordon is still on track to return tonight against New York. He'll go through his pregame before making the final call, but the plan remains in place. Denver, which is 21st in defensive rating, desperately needs him. More here, at @TheAthletic nytimes.com/athletic/70859…

It’s not the MVP chants or the Kobe Bryant trophy that have Anthony Edwards saying he’s having the most fun in his life. It’s the connective tissue formulating within the Timberwolves. Like Beanie Sigel once did, Ant-Man can feel it in the air. nytimes.com/athletic/70920…

As NBPA pres Fred VanVleet worries about sports gambling's effect on players, particularly since money from gaming companies is about 1% of BRI. "It’s not substantial enough to make it worth any of this. For us or for the league." My story on his new role: nytimes.com/2026/03/04/bus…