Sam Amico (@amicohoops.bsky.social)

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Publisher/senior NBA writer http://HoopsWire.com. Previous: Fox Sports, SI, CBS Sports.

5.2K followers 98 following5K posts

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

42m

Timberwolves bringing back former Akron standout Enrique Freeman hoopswire.com/timberwolves...

hoopswire.comTimberwolves bringing back former Akron standout Enrique FreemanEnrique Freeman’s time away from the Timberwolves didn’t last long. Ten days after waiving him, Minnesota is bringing back a player it already knows pretty well. Freeman, a Cleveland native who played...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Nikola Jokic doubles down on message to booing Nuggets fans hoopswire.com/nikola-jokic...

hoopswire.comNikola Jokic doubles down on message to booing Nuggets fansNikola Jokic isn’t backing off. If Nuggets fans want to boo their own team, he’d prefer they find something else to do with their evening. Denver’s star center stood by his criticism of the home

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA Notes: Raptors, Kawhi Leonard, Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Nuggets hoopswire.com/nba-notes-ra...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Raptors, Kawhi Leonard, Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, NuggetsRaptors The Raptors brought Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto hoping for another memorable run. Three games into the season, they’re already waiting on his knee. Leonard is expected to miss “a period of w...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Jaylen Brown’s camp calls Celtics trade-demand claim ‘10000% a lie’ hoopswire.com/jaylen-brown...

hoopswire.comJaylen Brown’s camp calls Celtics trade-demand claim ‘10000% a lie’Jaylen Brown is playing for the Sixers. How he wound up leaving the Celtics is still generating almost as much discussion as anything he’s doing in Philadelphia. Now his camp is pushing back on the

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Sixers apply for disabled player exception hoopswire.com/sixers-apply...

hoopswire.comSixers apply for disabled player exceptionThe Sixers can’t get center Ariel Hukporti back this season. They’re hoping his injury will at least give them another way to bring in some help. Philadelphia has applied for a disabled player excepti...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Paul Pierce says loss of Fox Sports job has left him struggling with bills hoopswire.com/paul-pierce-...

hoopswire.comPaul Pierce says loss of Fox Sports job has left him struggling with billsPaul Pierce made millions playing basketball. His latest court filing describes a much tougher financial picture now that one of his biggest sources of income is gone. The former NBA star says he is s...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Sam Presti addresses Russell Westbrook reunion idea after Thunder injuries hoopswire.com/sam-presti-a...

hoopswire.comSam Presti addresses Russell Westbrook reunion idea after Thunder injuriesThe Thunder need help after losing two starters to injuries. Naturally, someone asked Sam Presti about a familiar name. As in, Russell Westbrook. With Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace facing lengthy a...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Knicks reporter Stefan Bondy calls Brett Siegel a ‘phony’ in heated online feud hoopswire.com/stefan-bondy...

hoopswire.comKnicks reporter Stefan Bondy calls Brett Siegel a ‘phony’ in heated online feudWhat started as a discussion about Jaylen Brown, Brian Scalabrine and the Celtics somehow turned into a rather personal disagreement between two NBA reporters Monday night. And personal might be putti...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

10h

Ty Jerome’s scoring surge could bring trade interest to Grizzlies hoopswire.com/ty-jeromes-s...

hoopswire.comTy Jerome’s scoring surge could bring trade interest to GrizzliesTy Jerome is scoring like a guy the Grizzlies should want to keep. He may also be scoring like a guy other teams will want to call about. That’s the interesting part of his early-season

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

15h

Dribbles: Cavs battle back, discover rookie spark along the way hoopswire.com/dribbles-cav...

hoopswire.comDribbles: Cavs battle back, discover rookie spark along the wayCLEVELAND — Random dribbles from the Cavaliers' 127-125 overtime win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. 1. I'll admit it. I didn't think the Cavs were going to win this game. No...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

16h

Cavs find some fight, topple Timberwolves in OT hoopswire.com/cavaliers-ca...

hoopswire.comCavs find some fight, topple Timberwolves in OTCLEVELAND — The Cavaliers have spent the first few days of the season trying to figure out how to protect a lead. On Monday, they got to experience things from the other side. Turns out,

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

17h

Cavs’ Mario Hezonja returns to NBA with something to prove, different outlook hoopswire.com/cavs-mario-h...

hoopswire.comCavs’ Mario Hezonja returns to NBA with something to prove, different outlookMario Hezonja has unfinished business in the NBA. There was a time, though, when he wasn’t sure he wanted anything to do with basketball. Now he’s with the Cavs, getting another shot. This time, he

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

17h

NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Nets, Cavs, James Harden hoopswire.com/nba-notes-la...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Nets, Cavs, James HardenLakers The Lakers are winning, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are rolling, and the injury report hasn’t changed much. They’ll gladly take two of those three. Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr remain out for...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

18h

Will Thunder’s injury losses force Sam Presti into a trade? hoopswire.com/will-thunder...

hoopswire.comWill Thunder’s injury losses force Sam Presti into a trade?The Thunder have spent years collecting draft picks for a moment when they might need them. Losing two starters in one night would seem to qualify. That doesn’t mean Sam Presti needs to make a

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

21h

NBA Notes: Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Spurs, Wizards, Alex Sarr hoopswire.com/nba-notes-he...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Heat, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Spurs, Wizards, Alex SarrHeat The Heat traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo to become a contender. They’d probably settle for becoming a team with a win Monday night. Miami is 0-3 heading into its meeting with the Mavericks, and ...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

21h

Thunder’s Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace facing potential season-ending injuries hoopswire.com/thunders-jal...

hoopswire.comThunder’s Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace facing potential season-ending injuriesThe Thunder are facing two major injury losses just days into the season. Jalen Williams has a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula, while Cason Wallace has a torn labrum in his left shoulder, a...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

22h

NBA Notes: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Kings, Nique Clifford, Sixers hoopswire.com/nba-notes-ma...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Kings, Nique Clifford, SixersMavericks Cooper Flagg’s shoulder injury looked concerning Friday. By Monday morning, the Mavericks were getting a considerably more encouraging picture. Dallas upgraded Flagg to probable against the ...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

22h

Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson: “We’re definitely not hitting on cylinders right now. Kinda peaks and valleys.”

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

23h

Cavs need more than a fast start against unbeaten Timberwolves hoopswire.com/cavs-cavalie...

hoopswire.comCavs need more than a fast start against unbeaten TimberwolvesThe Cavs have shown they can build a big lead. Tonight would be a good time to show they know what to do with one. The unbeaten Timberwolves visit Rocket Arena for a 7 p.m.

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Cavs, others add DirecTV, but TV frustrations aren’t over hoopswire.com/cavs-others-...

hoopswire.comCavs, others add DirecTV, but TV frustrations aren’t overThe Cavs have another way for fans to watch. Whether it’s a way those fans actually use is another question. DirecTV and DAZN announced a multiyear agreement Monday covering local broadcasts for the C...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Magic get encouraging Jalen Suggs injury update hoopswire.com/magic-get-en...

hoopswire.comMagic get encouraging Jalen Suggs injury updateThe Magic will be without Jalen Suggs for a while. After the way he went down Sunday, though, the latest news offers some relief. Suggs has been diagnosed with a mild bone bruise in his

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

LeBron James on playing center for Sixers: ‘We got an MVP over there’ hoopswire.com/lebron-james...

hoopswire.comLeBron James on playing center for Sixers: ‘We got an MVP over there’LeBron James can play center. He would just prefer the Sixers remember they already employ a pretty accomplished one. “Well, s--- we got an MVP over there. I’m not here to have a sustainable role

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA joins prediction market business, leaves legal fight to courts hoopswire.com/nba-joins-pr...

hoopswire.comNBA joins prediction market business, leaves legal fight to courtsThe NBA has new partners in Kalshi and Polymarket. Whether their sports offerings amount to financial trading or illegal gambling? The league is leaving that one to the courts. “We’ll let the courts d...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Republican, Democratic senators press NBA over Rwanda ties hoopswire.com/republican-d...

hoopswire.comRepublican, Democratic senators press NBA over Rwanda tiesA Republican and a Democrat are asking Adam Silver the same question: How far is the NBA willing to go in doing business with a government accused of serious human rights abuses? Sens. Marsha Blackbur...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Jalen Brunson on Knicks’ 0-3 start: ‘Falls on my shoulders’ hoopswire.com/jalen-brunso...

hoopswire.comJalen Brunson on Knicks' 0-3 start: 'Falls on my shoulders'Jalen Brunson isn’t looking around the Knicks’ locker room for someone to blame. He’s starting with himself. “Everything falls on my shoulders,” Brunson told reporters after Sunday’s home loss to the ...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA Notes: Timberwolves, LaMelo Ball, Pacers, Ivica Zubac, Lakers hoopswire.com/nba-notes-ti...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Timberwolves, LaMelo Ball, Pacers, Ivica Zubac, LakersTimberwolves LaMelo Ball has some advice for his new teammates. Keep your head up, and not just when things aren’t going well. With Ball running the offense, a pass could be headed your way whether

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Former Nets VP alleges team fired him for taking parental leave hoopswire.com/former-nets-...

hoopswire.comFormer Nets VP alleges team fired him for taking parental leaveA former Nets executive says he returned from parental leave and found a considerably different workplace waiting for him. Sixteen days later, he alleges, he was out of a job. The former cybersecurity...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sends message after Jalen Williams injury hoopswire.com/shai-gilgeou...

hoopswire.comShai Gilgeous-Alexander sends message after Jalen Williams injuryShai Gilgeous-Alexander was visibly shaken when Jalen Williams went down Sunday. Afterward, he offered his teammate something considerably stronger than concern. “I have no doubt in my mind he’ll be b...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Ty Jerome is scoring like a star, and Grizzlies keep winning hoopswire.com/ty-jerome-is...

hoopswire.comTy Jerome is scoring like a star, and Grizzlies keep winningTy Jerome has scored 104 points in three games. If you had him down for that before the season, please send along your lottery numbers. The Grizzlies guard followed his 45-point opener and 28-point pe...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Luka Doncic finds his rhythm, hopes he’s found his home hoopswire.com/luka-doncic-...

hoopswire.comLuka Doncic finds his rhythm, hopes he’s found his homeLuka Doncic would like to spend the rest of his career with the Lakers. After Sunday, the Jazz might prefer he spend a little less of it in Salt Lake City. Doncic scored 52 points

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Jalen Williams leaves Thunder win on stretcher hoopswire.com/jalen-willia...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Cavs keep playing with fire, and even Donovan Mitchell knows it hoopswire.com/cavs-keep-pl...

hoopswire.comCavs keep playing with fire, and even Donovan Mitchell knows itThe Cavaliers escaped with a win Saturday night. They also escaped with a few more lessons about finishing games, something coach Kenny Atkinson would probably prefer they learn without all the drama....

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Dalton Knecht calls Knicks his ‘best opportunity’ hoopswire.com/dalton-knech...

hoopswire.comDalton Knecht calls Knicks his ‘best opportunity’Dalton Knecht had other options after the Lakers waived him. He picked the Knicks, even with no shortage of guards already ahead of him. “It just felt like the best opportunity,” Knecht said, via SNY.

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Woof woof 🏈

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Giannis changes teams, but Heat’s start looks familiar hoopswire.com/giannis-chan...

hoopswire.comGiannis changes teams, but Heat’s start looks familiarGiannis Antetokounmpo left the Bucks for South Beach, presumably with something better in mind. Three games into his Heat career, the scenery has changed more than the results. Miami is 0-3 after Satu...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Sixers give LeBron a reason to rest easy hoopswire.com/sixers-give-...

hoopswire.comSixers give LeBron a reason to rest easyLeBron James sat out, and the Sixers still had more than enough offense. That might be the most encouraging part of their 3-0 start. Nobody needs to draw sweeping conclusions from three games in Octob...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA Notes: Mavericks, Walter Clayton Jr, Knicks, Mikal Bridges, Spurs hoopswire.com/nba-notes-ma...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Mavericks, Walter Clayton Jr, Knicks, Mikal Bridges, SpursMavericks Walter Clayton Jr. is starting his second NBA season with his third team. That’s a lot of introductions for a guy still trying to get his career going. But Clayton likes where he landed.

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Dribbles: Cavs get the win, but why must they make it so difficult? hoopswire.com/cavaliers-ca...

hoopswire.comDribbles: Cavs get the win, but why must they make it so difficult?Random dribbles on the Cavaliers’ 125-121 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets in Saturday’s home opener. 1. I said before the season that I thought these Cavaliers could be a frustrating bunch. I real...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Thunder waive rookie after season-ending injury hoopswire.com/thunder-waiv...

hoopswire.comThunder waive rookie after season-ending injuryOtega Oweh’s first NBA season ended before it could begin. Now the Thunder have waived him to make room for another young wing. Oklahoma City announced the move Saturday, opening a two-way spot after ...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Available NBA free agents by position. hoopswire.com/2026-nba-fre...

hoopswire.com2026 NBA Free Agent ListA look at 2026 NBA free agents, some of whom finished last season unsigned, by position. This list is updated daily.

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Jazz add former lottery pick hoopswire.com/jazz-add-for...

hoopswire.comJazz add former lottery pickKobe Bufkin hasn’t had much of a chance to get comfortable in the NBA. The Jazz will give him another shot. Utah has officially signed the former lottery pick to a two-way contract, the team

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA Rumors: Warriors, Kristaps Porzingis, Wizards, Anthony Davis, Nets hoopswire.com/nba-rumors-w...

hoopswire.comNBA Rumors: Warriors, Kristaps Porzingis, Wizards, Anthony Davis, NetsWarriors The Warriors may want to trade Kristaps Porzingis, but getting another team to send back someone who can help? Well, that's where things get complicated. According to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sp...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Knicks’ title defense off to historically slow start hoopswire.com/knicks-title...

hoopswire.comKnicks’ title defense off to historically slow startThe Knicks have their championship rings. They’re still looking for their first win. Friday’s 107-103 loss to the Celtics dropped New York to 0-2, making it the first defending NBA champion to lose it...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Stephen Curry: Warriors’ loss to Grizzlies could cost him sleep hoopswire.com/stephen-curr...

hoopswire.comStephen Curry: Warriors' loss to Grizzlies could cost him sleepThe Warriors led by 12 with less than four minutes left. They had Stephen Curry on the floor and their first win within reach. Then, as Curry put it, “pretty much everything went wrong.” Golden

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Talkin’ Cavs: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Kenny Atkinson hoopswire.com/talkin-cavs-...

hoopswire.comTalkin' Cavs: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Kenny AtkinsonI joined the BIGPLAY Cleveland show and I can tell you I didn't overreact to the Cavaliers' season-opening meltdown vs. the 76ers. But I sure didn't take it easy on them, either. You can listen

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Cavs games reportedly coming to DirecTV for home opener hoopswire.com/cavs-cavalie...

hoopswire.comCavs games reportedly coming to DirecTV for home openerThe Cavs' move to DAZN created fuss among fans who hope to watch the team. But the organization may have reached a new deal, too.

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Cavs have chance to quiet outside noise that comes with meltdowns hoopswire.com/cavaliers-ca...

hoopswire.comCavs have chance to quiet outside noise that comes with meltdownsThe Cavs are coming off one of the worst openers in history. But hey, this is the NBA, and there's always another game.

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

NBA Notes: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Warriors, Stephen Curry, Hornets hoopswire.com/nba-notes-ma...

hoopswire.comNBA Notes: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Warriors, Stephen Curry, HornetsMavericks The Mavericks got their bounce-back win. Now they’ll wait to find out what it cost them. Cooper Flagg left Friday’s 121-105 road victory over the Pacers after landing on his left shoulder fo...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Warriors face tough market for Kristaps Porzingis hoopswire.com/warriors-fac...

hoopswire.comWarriors face tough market for Kristaps PorzingisThe Warriors can look for a Kristaps Porzingis trade. Finding one that actually helps them is the harder part. According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Golden State faces several obstacles, from Por...

Sam Amico

@amicohoops.bsky.social

Lakers explored Dalton Knecht trade with Jazz, others hoopswire.com/lakers-explo...

hoopswire.comLakers explored Dalton Knecht trade with Jazz, othersThe Lakers tried to find a trade for Dalton Knecht before cutting him loose. Finding a team willing to take him at an acceptable price was another matter. The Jazz, Bulls and Bucks were among