Mike Vorkunov
@mikevorkunov.bsky.social
National NBA + basketball reporter at The Athletic — a self-indulgent way to say I write about basketball, and its intersection with money.
Co-founder @30newsletter.bsky.social
SUBSCRIBE PLEASE: www.youtube.com/@MikeVorkunov22
[email protected]
Co-founder @30newsletter.bsky.social
SUBSCRIBE PLEASE: www.youtube.com/@MikeVorkunov22
[email protected]
Did you know that Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle were once banned from Major League Baseball by the MLB commissioner because they worked for Atlantic City casinos?
November 17, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Did you know that Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle were once banned from Major League Baseball by the MLB commissioner because they worked for Atlantic City casinos?
ESPN and other Disney-owned channels are back on YouTube TV
November 15, 2025 at 1:33 AM
ESPN and other Disney-owned channels are back on YouTube TV
Props to the New York Jets. They are just the 2nd NFL team since 1940 to have 0 interceptions on defense in their first 10 games of the season. They haven't intercepted a single pass.
NFL didn't start tracking interceptions until 1940. (only the 2017 Raiders did that too over the last 85 years)
NFL didn't start tracking interceptions until 1940. (only the 2017 Raiders did that too over the last 85 years)
November 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Props to the New York Jets. They are just the 2nd NFL team since 1940 to have 0 interceptions on defense in their first 10 games of the season. They haven't intercepted a single pass.
NFL didn't start tracking interceptions until 1940. (only the 2017 Raiders did that too over the last 85 years)
NFL didn't start tracking interceptions until 1940. (only the 2017 Raiders did that too over the last 85 years)
UA will still release the Curry 13 in February. Statements from Curry and UA CEO Kevin Plank in a company release
November 13, 2025 at 10:56 PM
UA will still release the Curry 13 in February. Statements from Curry and UA CEO Kevin Plank in a company release
There's something crazy about the NCAA men's basketball single-game steals record. It's not that Mookie Blaylock has it with 13 steals in one game, it's that he did it twice!
Troy's Nelson Phillips tied the record in Nov. 2022.
Troy's Nelson Phillips tied the record in Nov. 2022.
November 13, 2025 at 4:06 AM
There's something crazy about the NCAA men's basketball single-game steals record. It's not that Mookie Blaylock has it with 13 steals in one game, it's that he did it twice!
Troy's Nelson Phillips tied the record in Nov. 2022.
Troy's Nelson Phillips tied the record in Nov. 2022.
I knew about Michael Ray Richardson's "Ship be sinking" quote but didn't realize it became a weeklong bit between him and Knicks coach Red Holzman
November 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I knew about Michael Ray Richardson's "Ship be sinking" quote but didn't realize it became a weeklong bit between him and Knicks coach Red Holzman
Prosecutors describe pitches by Clase in these games to have been thrown to help bettors win on him:
May 19, 2023 vs. Mets
June 3 vs. Twins
June 7 vs. Red Sox
April 12, 2025 vs. Royals
April 26 vs. Red Sox
May 11 vs. Phillies
May 13 vs. Brewers
May 17 vs. Reds
May 28 vs. Dodgers
May 19, 2023 vs. Mets
June 3 vs. Twins
June 7 vs. Red Sox
April 12, 2025 vs. Royals
April 26 vs. Red Sox
May 11 vs. Phillies
May 13 vs. Brewers
May 17 vs. Reds
May 28 vs. Dodgers
November 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Prosecutors describe pitches by Clase in these games to have been thrown to help bettors win on him:
May 19, 2023 vs. Mets
June 3 vs. Twins
June 7 vs. Red Sox
April 12, 2025 vs. Royals
April 26 vs. Red Sox
May 11 vs. Phillies
May 13 vs. Brewers
May 17 vs. Reds
May 28 vs. Dodgers
May 19, 2023 vs. Mets
June 3 vs. Twins
June 7 vs. Red Sox
April 12, 2025 vs. Royals
April 26 vs. Red Sox
May 11 vs. Phillies
May 13 vs. Brewers
May 17 vs. Reds
May 28 vs. Dodgers
Federal prosecutors allege that Clase and Ortiz told bettors in advance what pitches they'd throw (what kind and how fast) so they could win bets on them and that sometimes the pitchers received kickbacks for their participation in the alleged scheme.
November 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Federal prosecutors allege that Clase and Ortiz told bettors in advance what pitches they'd throw (what kind and how fast) so they could win bets on them and that sometimes the pitchers received kickbacks for their participation in the alleged scheme.
NCAA found that 6 basketball players across 3 schools (UNO, Miss. Valley State, and Arizona St) manipulated their performance so that others could win money betting on their games.
NCAA found 3 players on the University of New Orleans were point shaving in 7 games last season.
NCAA found 3 players on the University of New Orleans were point shaving in 7 games last season.
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
NCAA found that 6 basketball players across 3 schools (UNO, Miss. Valley State, and Arizona St) manipulated their performance so that others could win money betting on their games.
NCAA found 3 players on the University of New Orleans were point shaving in 7 games last season.
NCAA found 3 players on the University of New Orleans were point shaving in 7 games last season.
The average viewership for the NBA Finals and World Series over the last decade
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The average viewership for the NBA Finals and World Series over the last decade
James Dolan said the Knicks season opener was streamed by 50,000 people (and he valued that as $500,000 in revenue) for MSG Networks. He was asked today on an earnings call if there's been any thought for any strategic acquisitions for MSG Networks; his answer below:
November 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
James Dolan said the Knicks season opener was streamed by 50,000 people (and he valued that as $500,000 in revenue) for MSG Networks. He was asked today on an earnings call if there's been any thought for any strategic acquisitions for MSG Networks; his answer below:
You listen to a podcast for nearly 20 years and then you see your friend end up on it. What a time to be alive.
(Go buy @yaronweitzman.bsky.social's new book!)
(Go buy @yaronweitzman.bsky.social's new book!)
October 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM
You listen to a podcast for nearly 20 years and then you see your friend end up on it. What a time to be alive.
(Go buy @yaronweitzman.bsky.social's new book!)
(Go buy @yaronweitzman.bsky.social's new book!)
This was a mean thing OG Anunoby did to Davion Mitchell
October 27, 2025 at 1:29 AM
This was a mean thing OG Anunoby did to Davion Mitchell
Stan Van Gundy just genuinely shocked me when he said Fat Joe, seated court side at MSG, name-dropped him in a song when he was the Heat head coach. I checked and it's mostly true! Fat Joe rapped about him on "If It Ain't About Money" but when SVG was the Magic HC
October 25, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Stan Van Gundy just genuinely shocked me when he said Fat Joe, seated court side at MSG, name-dropped him in a song when he was the Heat head coach. I checked and it's mostly true! Fat Joe rapped about him on "If It Ain't About Money" but when SVG was the Magic HC
Chauncey Billups seems to have roles in both the sports gambling ring and the rigged poker game ring, though he has only been charged with being a part of the poker ring. An unnamed Co-Conspirator 8 sure seems to match his description. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
October 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Chauncey Billups seems to have roles in both the sports gambling ring and the rigged poker game ring, though he has only been charged with being a part of the poker ring. An unnamed Co-Conspirator 8 sure seems to match his description. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
The Department of Justice is making announcements and a press conference today related to "numerous arrests" they've made related to illegal sports betting
October 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The Department of Justice is making announcements and a press conference today related to "numerous arrests" they've made related to illegal sports betting
Found these "Vote In Numbers" buttons the Warriors used for their 2019 All-Star campaign. Wonder if anyone wants them?
If you do, just ♥️ this post + subscribe to Business Decision YouTube channel. I'll pick 1 person (maybe 1 person wants them!) and send them to you
m.youtube.com/@MikeVorkuno...
If you do, just ♥️ this post + subscribe to Business Decision YouTube channel. I'll pick 1 person (maybe 1 person wants them!) and send them to you
m.youtube.com/@MikeVorkuno...
October 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Found these "Vote In Numbers" buttons the Warriors used for their 2019 All-Star campaign. Wonder if anyone wants them?
If you do, just ♥️ this post + subscribe to Business Decision YouTube channel. I'll pick 1 person (maybe 1 person wants them!) and send them to you
m.youtube.com/@MikeVorkuno...
If you do, just ♥️ this post + subscribe to Business Decision YouTube channel. I'll pick 1 person (maybe 1 person wants them!) and send them to you
m.youtube.com/@MikeVorkuno...
Good story here by the Wall Street Journal on the Clippers/Kawhi/Ballmer/Aspiration story. This part is pretty important www.wsj.com/business/bal...
October 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Good story here by the Wall Street Journal on the Clippers/Kawhi/Ballmer/Aspiration story. This part is pretty important www.wsj.com/business/bal...
Aside from how the NBA uses AI for international youth scouting and player development, or automation in officiating, I found it interesting that the NBA convinced itself last season there weren't too many 3s because of the physiological research it does on fans in a lab.
October 17, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Aside from how the NBA uses AI for international youth scouting and player development, or automation in officiating, I found it interesting that the NBA convinced itself last season there weren't too many 3s because of the physiological research it does on fans in a lab.
When Malik Beasley came under federal investigation for sports gambling this summer, it wasn't even the first time the Pistons had a sports gambling scandal.
Pistons star Jack Molinas was banned by the NBA in 1954 for betting on Pistons games that season. He made the All-Star Game but couldn't play
Pistons star Jack Molinas was banned by the NBA in 1954 for betting on Pistons games that season. He made the All-Star Game but couldn't play
October 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
When Malik Beasley came under federal investigation for sports gambling this summer, it wasn't even the first time the Pistons had a sports gambling scandal.
Pistons star Jack Molinas was banned by the NBA in 1954 for betting on Pistons games that season. He made the All-Star Game but couldn't play
Pistons star Jack Molinas was banned by the NBA in 1954 for betting on Pistons games that season. He made the All-Star Game but couldn't play
Why LeBron James had a bad week — and repeated the mistakes of The Decision all over again.
And the league that might want to compete with the WNBA, NBA, and Unrivaled.
New episode of Business Decision: dub.sh/KLsKTlX
And the league that might want to compete with the WNBA, NBA, and Unrivaled.
New episode of Business Decision: dub.sh/KLsKTlX
October 11, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Why LeBron James had a bad week — and repeated the mistakes of The Decision all over again.
And the league that might want to compete with the WNBA, NBA, and Unrivaled.
New episode of Business Decision: dub.sh/KLsKTlX
And the league that might want to compete with the WNBA, NBA, and Unrivaled.
New episode of Business Decision: dub.sh/KLsKTlX
NBA season, we back
October 9, 2025 at 9:58 PM
NBA season, we back