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Sam Amick

@samamick.bsky.social

32K followers 110 following 120 posts

Senior NBA writer, The Athletic Previously: The Sacramento Bee, AOL FanHouse, Sports Illustrated, USA Today The Athletic archive: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/sam-amick/ The old-school stuff: https://nbaconfidential.wordpress.com/the-archive/

www.nytimes.com

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Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 2d

Story includes intel on why the Knicks - who are locked in on their title hopes with this current team - are known to have concerns about what it might take to land Giannis down the line. That and more here, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga, and New York Knicks’ interest, is just on hold

Giannis is a Buck for now, and possibly for a while yet. But the superstar's future is uncertain.

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 2d

What I’m hearing on the Giannis Antetokounmpo front, and why this past week of waves in Milwaukee was a sign of things to come, at @theathletic.com

The Knicks, and so many other teams, are still watching more closely than ever.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Giannis wants another championship. Whether it will be with Milwaukee remains to be seen

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 4d

Maverick Carter might be out of the international leagues that have been the talk of the NBA & WNBA recently, but the plans are still in full swing.

With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social, including an interview with co-founder Grady Burnett

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

What is Project B? The latest on a new global league recruiting basketball stars

Speculation has bubbled for months about an international league that could pose a threat to both the NBA and WNBA.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Sam Amick

timkawakami.bsky.social @timkawakami.bsky.social · 11d

New "Warriors Plus-Minus" episode with @thompsonscribe.bsky.social @samamick.bsky.social -- the Jonathan Kuminga Signs What's Next Emergency Episode.

-Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/50XQ...
-Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Emergency Jonathan Kuminga Episode

open.spotify.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 12d

From Giannis to Jokic, Luka, Kawhi, Kuminga and more, my look at the major storylines and, yes, revelations from the media day mayhem, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

What we learned (and didn't learn) on NBA media day, from Luka to Giannis to Kawhi

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 13d

My view of LeBron James' 23rd (!) media day, and what his latest messaging - after a tumultuous offseason - might mean for his Lakers (and NBA) future, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Lakers' LeBron James is happy after tumultuous offseason, at least for now

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Sam Amick

Mike Vorkunov @mikevorkunov.bsky.social · 17d

Who is Uncle Dennis?

A profile of Dennis Robertson — Kawhi Leonard's uncle and a man also in the middle of the Clippers/Kawhi/Aspiration investigation — and how he operates.

From @danwoikesports.bsky.social @samamick.bsky.social and me www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

What we know about ‘Uncle Dennis’: A central figure in the Kawhi Leonard, Clippers investigation

The Athletic conducted interviews with 17 different sources, league and team personnel to learn about Kawhi Leonard's uncle and advisor.

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 18d

After more than a month of no talks between the Warriors and Kings about a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, sources tell @theathletic.com that they reconnected recently.

Could a deal still go down here? One (hopefully last) look at the dynamics in play.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Warriors’ standoff with Jonathan Kuminga nearing an end, but the outcome remains unclear

The 22-year-old has multiple contract options with Golden State, and a sign-and-trade with Sacramento also remains in play.

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · 26d

On the continued Jonathan Kuminga-Warriors saga, the 2027 summer that is playing a pivotal part, and key factors to consider in the final stretch of this face-off, at
@theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Jonathan Kuminga wants security. The Warriors want flexibility. Who blinks first?

The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga are in imperfect fit. With training camp two weeks away, they could be stuck with each other.

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Sep 11

My latest read on the Kawhi Leonard-Steve Ballmer-Clippers saga, with Adam Silver showing a brief glimpse of his...Stern side in today's BOG remarks.

Intel on owners' reactions, the problematic evidence that keeps piling up and more, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Adam Silver strikes bold tone, for him, on Clippers investigation

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Sep 4

My read on the Kawhi Leonard-Steve Ballmer-Clippers saga, with some early feedback from folks around the league on the severity of the situation, at @theathletic.com

"This does not happen," one GM said.

"I've never seen it," said another exec.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

Plenty 'unusual' about Kawhi Leonard sponsorship deal: 'This does not happen'

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Aug 28

Is this thing on?!

A late summer NBA discussion with @fredkatz.bsky.social and @thompsonscribe.bsky.social, at @theathletic.com

Talking Jonathan Kuminga (and the other RFAs), the revamped team we're most excited to see and the one that, well, we're not.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

Jonathan Kuminga's contract, intriguing teams and more lingering NBA offseason questions

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Aug 4

A Jonathan Kuminga note: Anyone saying the 1st-rounder protections are the only obstacle to a Kings-Warriors S&T is wrong, as I'm told Golden State really doesn't want to move either Buddy Hield or Moses Moody (which would be required).

Details - @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

Reposted by Sam Amick

John Hollinger @johnhollinger.bsky.social · Aug 1

New for @theathletic.com - I was @samamick.bsky.social 's capology assistant while he did all the actual work on this update on the Kuminga-Warriors-Kings situation.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

Why Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors remain locked in a stalemate, and where they go from here

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Aug 1

On the Jonathan Kuminga stalemate with the Warriors, the details of the Kings' latest offer and why that deal hasn't gone down just yet, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

Why Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors remain locked in a stalemate over qualifying offer talk

The Warriors know their window of contention is closing rapidly and that botching the Kuminga situation will only hasten that.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Sam Amick

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Jul 2

The Warriors, Celtics and Lakers are among the teams that have interest in doing a deal with Damian Lillard sooner rather than later, sources tell Eric Nehm, @samamick.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social.

More intel: www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...

Reposted by Sam Amick

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Jul 2

We’ve seen this movie before. Giannis Antetokounmpo gets antsy, sending signals that he’s not so sure about his future with the Bucks.

Now Damian Lillard is gone and Myles Turner is in the fold.

Historically speaking, gambles don’t get any bigger than this: http://dlvr.it/TLhFyC

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Jun 23

Big news indeed! Welcome to the squad, my friend...

Follow Dan if you're not already. He's one of the best in the biz.

Dan Woike @danwoikesports.bsky.social · Jun 23

Big news: I’m thrilled to share that I’m joining the best sports newsroom in the world, @theathletic.bsky.social, to cover the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s an incredible honor to work with so many journalists that I’ve long admired. Can’t wait to get started.

Reposted by Sam Amick

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jun 17

From @theathletic.bsky.social: There’s a fascinating fourth team that could re-emerge in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes as a real contender in the coming days: the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kevin Durant trade latest: Why Timberwolves should be considered dark-horse fit

Minnesota does not want to make a seismic change if Durant isn't on board. The question is whether there’s any chance he comes around to it.

Reposted by Sam Amick

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Jun 12

Firing Tom Thibodeau was the plan.

Everything that's come after the Knicks' choice to send him packing has been a wild goose chase the likes of which we’ve never seen in the Association.

🔗: http://dlvr.it/TLK4j9

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Jun 9

List of players to average at least 30 points, six assists, five rebounds, and 1.8 steals on a deep playoff run (16 games or more)...

Michael Jordan (four times)
LeBron James (two times)

And....

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

That's it.

(h/t @stathead.com)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

SGA won't try to 'reinvent the wheel' but he's quietly rewriting history in NBA Finals

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Sam Amick

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Jun 9

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t soar through the air like Ja Morant or Anthony Edwards, or fill up the box score the same way as Nikola Jokić.

But he has managed to end all of their seasons — and is worthy of your respect.

http://dlvr.it/TLFZGz

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Jun 9

Our whole army of hoops scribes is weighing in on Game 2 in our live blog, both on location and remotely. Join along here, at
@theathletic.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

www.nytimes.com

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Jun 7

Pacers GM Chad Buchanan on the Tyrese Haliburton trade with Sacramento that sparked this Indy era.

Much more here on how that deal went down, the Pacers star’s rise and his incredible Game 1 moment, at @theathletic.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

Sam Amick @samamick.bsky.social · Jun 7

On Tyrese Haliburton, reflecting on the trade that brought him here with Indy GM Chad Buchanan, and why the Pacers star won’t be able to celebrate these moments at the Waffle House much longer, at @theathletic.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

Tyrese Haliburton, fueled by slights, just keeps burning brighter

www.nytimes.com