Sam Amick
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Sam Amick
@samamick.bsky.social
32K followers 110 following 140 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/
Posts Replies Media Videos
samamick.bsky.social
Nikola Jokic newser, at @theathletic.com

In the midst of another MVP-caliber season, the Nuggets big man goes down with a left knee injury in Miami. More details here…

www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Nikola Jokić leaves Nuggets-Heat game with left knee injury
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:50 AM
samamick.bsky.social
On Giannis’ windmill that left the Bulls seeing red late Saturday night, at @theathletic.com

Amid all of the messiness that surrounds him, and with the Bucks stubbornly signaling that he’s going nowhere, it was a refreshing reminder that he’s one of a kind.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Giannis throws down: ‘We’re fighting for our lives and we gotta get our hands dirty’
His late windmill may have been an affront to basketball decorum, but to Giannis Antetokounpo, it was an absolute necessity.
www.nytimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Talking all things NBA on “The Athletic Show,” where the intentional fouling debate was in full swing.

Episode (on Amazon Fire and YouTube) features a strong Steve Kerr interview from @zenakeita.bsky.social

@theathletic.com @robertmays.bsky.social and Jason Goff

youtu.be/nKkjYi6jx1k?...
December 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
samamick.bsky.social
The Spurs lost the finale, but the message sent to the Thunder - and the league at large - was still the most meaningful NBA Cup moment of them all.

On San Antonio’s emergence as a real threat and questions surrounding their ascent, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
The Spurs lost the NBA Cup, but the rest of the league remains on notice
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
samamick.bsky.social
(Early) NBA trade talk: What I’m hearing about Giannis, Anthony Davis, the Timberwolves’ plans, all things Kings, and Jonathan Kuminga (with a Pelicans tie-in) as the key Dec. 15 date nears, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
What I'm hearing about Giannis, AD and other major NBA trade situations
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
samamick.bsky.social
The annual NBA front office rankings are back - with 36 execs weighing in - and one thing remains unchanged: OKC stands alone at the top.

See how the top 10 unfolded, with a bonus question about front offices on the rise, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
Which NBA teams have the best front offices? Here’s how 36 executives voted
Three dozen decision-makers across the league weighed in on their peers, what they admire and who stands above the rest.
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
samamick.bsky.social
An urgent call for a meeting, change of travel plans, plane delay and a late-night hoops divorce that shocked the NBA world: Inside the stunning Chris Paul exit from the Clippers, with @lawmurraythenu.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social , at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...
How Chris Paul’s short-lived reunion with the LA Clippers fell apart
Chris Paul returned to a Clippers team many believed could compete for a title. Instead, LA is 5-16 and Paul is no longer with the team.
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
samamick.bsky.social
Can OKC - now 21-1 after beating Golden State - break the 73-win record? The resident experts, Steve Kerr and Draymond Green, weigh in.

A deep (data) dive on how this Thunder team compares (so far) to the 2015-16 Warriors, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Can the Thunder break Golden State’s 73-win record? The Warriors say yes
After beating Golden State to improve to 21-1, OKC is chasing the 2015-16 Warriors. "I do think they're capable," Draymond Green said.
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:17 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Embattled Grizzlies star Ja Morant has gone from "go ask the coaching staff" to...joining the coaching staff? Sort of.

A look here at how he's using his voice during his absence, the trade rumors that persist, and more, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Ja Morant can be a headache for Memphis. He's also 'a huge advantage,' even on the bench
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:10 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Kings GM Scott Perry addresses his team’s brutal start, the patience needed for a rebuild to come, the (longstanding) issue of autonomy under owner Vivek Ranadive, Doug Christie’s performance and much more, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Scott Perry unplugged: Sacramento GM talks building for the future, trades, Doug Christie
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Sources: NBA asked teams, including Lakers, to hand over documents and property as part of investigation into illegal sports gambling. Two LeBron associates are among those cooperating.

With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and @joevardon.bsky.social, @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
NBA seeks cell phones from multiple teams, including Lakers, in gambling investigation: Sources
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:02 PM
samamick.bsky.social
If you need a break in Nico coverage…enjoy this chat with OKC coach Mark Daigneault.

On the Thunder’s title defense strategy, coaching SGA, & whether or not he has a Ted Lasso side, at @theathletic.com

“I just don’t want to f*** it up.”

(10-1 so far) 😳

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
OKC's Mark Daigneault unplugged: The art of coaching the ambitious defending champs
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:26 PM
samamick.bsky.social
What if Michael Finley never grabs Luka Doncic’s beer?

On those 13 symbolic seconds after Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks won the West, and why Nico Harrison finally paid the price for his disastrous decision to trade a generational talent, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Seeds of Nico Harrison's demise sowed even before he traded Luka Dončić
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:54 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a revealing admission late last night: He wasn’t a fan of how his team won the title.

On the MVP’s growth mindset, this scorching OKC start (w/out Jalen Williams), and why the rest of the NBA should worry, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
November 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
samamick.bsky.social
My read of the Ja Morant situation in Memphis, where the prospect of moving him - which there are no signs of the Grizzlies wanting to do - isn’t as simple as it might seem, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
What does Ja Morant's future with the Memphis Grizzlies look like? It's complicated
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:53 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Draymond Green unplugged, @theathletic.com: Behind the defensive goal that is his obsession, why he strongly disagrees with Kevin Durant’s recent comments about defense, a league-wide discussion about defense and much more (including his Warriors future)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
Draymond Green and his drive to join the greatest NBA defenders of all time
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Sam Amick
danielle-lerner.bsky.social
From @samamick.bsky.social’s story: Chauncey Billups’ new lawyer also represented Joe Sanberg, the co-founder of Aspiration, the company accused of helping the Clippers circumvent the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard.

😮‍💨 www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
NBA coach Chauncey Billups hires defense attorney who worked for Trump, Giuliani
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
samamick.bsky.social
News: Chauncey Billups has hired renowned trial lawyer Marc Mukasey to defend him in the federal investigation into illegal gambling, @theathletic.com has learned.

Much more here on Mukasey's background, including deep ties to President Trump...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
NBA coach Chauncey Billups hires defense attorney who worked for Trump, Giuliani
Marc Mukasey has defended several high-profile clients, including President Donald Trump and Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg.
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
samamick.bsky.social
The Wemby (early season) takeover and what it means, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves dilemma, the Sixers’ (rookie) salvation, and more observations, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
Wemby for MVP, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves dilemma and more early NBA observations
The Spurs' young big man is doing things we've never seen. Plus: notes on the Sixers, Hawks, Warriors and more.
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
samamick.bsky.social
A deeper look at the NBA's memo about the FBI's gambling probe, and the issue of injury reporting, at
@theathletic.com
(including a look at the Luka Doncic example from last night)

W/ @joevardon.bsky.social and @mikevorkunov.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
NBA reviewing injury reporting in light of FBI illegal gambling probe
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Even with the Warriors and Nuggets shining, the gambling scandal was all anyone could talk about at Chase Center last night (until the end).

On the travesty of another controversy overshadowing the NBA game, and chipping away at trust, @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
NBA scandals overshadow greatness on the court, and that’s the real travesty
The Warriors and Nuggets played an early season classic on Thursday, but all anybody could talk about was the integrity of the league.
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Talked to Steve Kerr about his aging Warriors team last night, and how he plans to keep it intact until the end this time.

On lessons learned from last season, the Jonathan Kuminga future, and more, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
October 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Inside the Denver Nuggets' culture reset in the summer and why - after a year of internal dysfunction and a glaring lack of depth - the fixes had everything to do with Nikola Jokic and his future, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
Nuggets are all about giving Nikola Jokić what he needs to win amid culture reset
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
samamick.bsky.social
Why not?

My view on the Kings’ Russell Westbrook addition, their mishmash roster that’s in flux, a new coach with a daunting challenge, and the Clippers - amid all their controversy - offering a reminder of how dangerous they might be, at @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...
Adding Russell Westbrook to a mismatched Sacramento Kings’ squad? Why not?
The Sacramento Kings are a confusing mashup of expensive contracts and ball-dominant players. But they will be entertaining to watch.
www.nytimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
samamick.bsky.social
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
October 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM