“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:

Reporting with @Baxter https://t.co/HuxI63YSgQ

Spokespersons representing the teams issued the same statement to ESPN: "The Knicks and (Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment) withdrew their respective claims and the matter is resolved. The Parties are focused on the future."

NEWS: The Knicks and Raptors agreed to voluntarily dismiss this lawsuit, according to a court filing Friday that was obtained by ESPN.

Kung Fu, meditation and a 'Dream Shake': Inside Victor Wembanyama's return - via @ESPN App

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.

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.

ICYMI: In six seasons for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard has been paid $243.8M while playing in 301 games. In that span, the team has won three playoff series while facing constant allegations of misconduct. Inside a culture of fear, frustration and secrecy:

NEW: The Clippers tried to keep Kawhi Leonard happy & healthy. What followed was fear, secrecy, lawsuits, fines & investigations -- now leading to owner Steve Ballmer. "At some point," an ex-staffer says, "Steve has got to get out of the Kawhi business."

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.

Follow-up: The Suns have fired the employee who is suing the team for harassment, discrimination and retaliation, ESPN has learned. More on the circumstances, including comment from the Suns:

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:

The Mavericks had the fourth-lowest odds to win the lottery since 1985 🤯 "Dallas wasn't even on our bingo card," The Flagg family and their reaction to the draft lottery ⤵️ via @Baxter

Sam Presti built and then rebuilt a contender around a superstar trio. The lessons he learned the with Durant-Westbrook and Harden helped “inform the music” on this second riff with SGA, Chet and JDub —a team that grew together, not apart.

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:

Tyrese Haliburton and Caitlin Clark aren’t just friends, they’re pushing each other to be better and making Indiana the center of the basketball universe. “Ty and I would both tell you this is where we hope to stay the rest of our careers," Clark told ESPN

NEW: "We do not put our foot on the scale," the NBA's Monty McCutchen tells ESPN. "Teams don't always believe that." What to make of the officiating in the 2025 NBA playoffs:

NEWS: The Suns are being sued by a current employee, the fourth suit against the team since Nov. In this one, a staffer says he was demoted after raising security concerns & that the Suns failed multiple arena audits, w/ handguns & knives making it inside:

NEW: On Boston's Jrue Holiday, the long lineage of his defensive prowess and his philosophy today. "When you get multiple stops against somebody?" Holiday tells ESPN. "It can take their heart away. It can completely change the landscape of the game."

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.  https://t.co/pv4dK0iBKN

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: