“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: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3244…

“We’ll put our track record of impactful stories centered on leagues, teams, and sports figures of significance against that of any outlet in the industry.” I gave a 500-word statement to @Ourand_Puck about our Aug. 17 Steve Ballmer/NBA settlement negotiations. puck.news/newsletter_content…

New story: Buss Sports Capital is joining the new San Diego Padres ownership group, Joey and Jesse Buss announced Wednesday. The brothers will serve on the Padres' advisory board led by new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4973…

New story: Lakers minority owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong will not be selling his stake in the team, his attorney, Chuck “Tiger” Kenworthy, told ESPN. “Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are good friends and we will be joining them …”espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4967…

Jerry Buss built an empire but feared infighting among his children would tear it apart. He was right. "I don’t think my dad would be happy with the way things just went down,” said one. "Not at all.” How family dysfunction & discord fueled the $10B sale: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4759…

NEWS with @DVNJr, @ramonashelburne and @ShamsCharania: The NBA has found no evidence showing LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money through team sponsors to pay Kawhi Leonard in order to circumvent the salary cap, sources tell ESPN. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4963…

New story: ESPN spoke to more than a dozen sources throughout the NBA after the Lakers’ sale on Wednesday, hoping to find out why Mark Walter sold so quickly and what it means for the team - and the league - moving forward espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4959…

NEWS: The NBA investigation into whether the LA Clippers circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard could drag into 2027 if the parties don’t agree on the findings or any proposed settlement that involves punishing the team, sources tell ESPN. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4948…

New story: Inside LeBron James’ bold Philadelphia decision to bookend his career. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4947…

As reported here, LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer again met with Wachtell Lipton last week in NYC in what sources told @ShamsCharania and me is expected to be one of the last steps in the investigation: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4936…

I wrote about the Chicago Bulls’ latest rebuild. And what it’s going to take inside the organization to turn a dormant franchise around: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4935…

In January, I spent the playoffs embedded with Sean Payton and the Broncos. Sixteen-hour days, capturing every meeting, decision, and the raw and unfiltered creativity, energy, desperation, rage, joy, and loneliness of trying to win in The Second Season. espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4922…

LeBron James knew for over a week that he was ready to move on from the Lakers. There’s was no reason to meet in person or virtually. The only difficulty was finding a place in the no-phone zone at Wimbledon for Rich Paul to place the call letting them know… espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4927…

“You can’t make sense of it other than they had to do something. … They couldn’t bring him back.” ESPN story on NBA scouts and executives reacting to the Jaylen Brown trade and attempting to explain why Celtics settled for that return: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4926…

ESPN story on coaches’ concerns about a contract that they hope isn’t precedent setting: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4916…

You can ask Baxter questions about the interview starting Wednesday at 1 PM ET on Reddit: spr.ly/6016B8Ftww

If the Salesian Sisters' prayers are answered, the Wemby Era will begin with a Spurs' championship win 👀 @Baxter has more on the viral group ⤵️ spr.ly/6015B8FtwZ

Josh Hart has a theory on how after so many have tried and failed to become the Knicks savior and king of New York, it just might end up being a stocky, 6-foot-2 point guard from Villanova.  "Because I don't think he came in that way. He doesn't care about it," Hart said. "He just wants to win.” Deep dive on A-number 1, king of the hill Jalen Brunson, with cameos from Jimmy Fallon, Q-Tip, Fran Lebowitz, Latrell Sprewell and Jamal Crawford.  espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4899…

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and his business adviser have been interviewed by NBA investigators amid the league's probe into allegations the team circumvented the salary cap to compensate Leonard, sources said. spr.ly/6010B8tVFY

NEW: A group of Catholic sisters have gone viral for their decades-long dedication to their hometown team. If their prayers are answered, the Wemby Era will begin with a Spurs win. Meet the Salesian Sisters: espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4897…

NEWS: Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, his uncle Dennis Robertson & Clippers owner Steve Ballmer have been interviewed by NBA investigators amid the league’s probe into allegations the team circumvented the salary cap to compensate Leonard, sources tell ESPN. espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4897…