The two‑way contract, introduced in 2017 and expanded under the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement, represents one of the most consequential innovations in the NBA’s labor architecture. Far from a marginal roster mechanism, the two‑way system has become a central pillar of the league’s developmental strategy, reshaping the relationship between the NBA and the G-League while... Continue Reading →
Who Decides If a Player Is Hurt? Inside the NBA’s Battle Over Medical Authority
The Utah Jazz announced that Lauri Markkanen will miss two weeks after sustaining a hip injury during practice. This announcement raised alarms for many, given the heightened sense of animosity with the league over tanking. A premature report, which has since been walked back, suggested that Adam Silver was prepared to send an independent physician... Continue Reading →
The Law of Losing: Legal Constraints on NBA Anti-Tanking Rules
On Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver informed the league's 30 general managers that the NBA plans to implement anti-tanking rule changes beginning next season. The proposed solutions include: reserving the ability to protect draft picks only for top-four selections; freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline; prohibiting teams from picking in the top four in... Continue Reading →
A Celebration Built on Tension: The NBA All Star Game’s Identity Crisis
Every February, the NBA’s biggest stars come together for one weekend in a made-for-television spectacle meant to celebrate the league’s brightest talents and give the fans something to get excited about. Yet what is supposed to be a showcase of joy and creativity has become a flashpoint for frustration. If the event feels increasingly strained,... Continue Reading →
The NBA is Starting a European League. Will the NFL Follow?
Last Monday, George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, revealed that the league has a goal of launching a European league by October 2027.[i] At a conference organized by an Italian news outlet, Aivazoglou named 12 “big European cities” the league is eyeing: London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona,... Continue Reading →
NBA Expands Betting Inquiry: Legal and Privacy Considerations
The rapid growth of legalized sports wagering in the United States has created new oversight responsibilities for professional leagues, including the National Basketball Association (“NBA”). As part of an ongoing inquiry into potential betting-related misconduct, the NBA recently asked multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, to provide cell phones and internal documents to assist... Continue Reading →
Gambling ‘Syndicate’ College Basketball
Dozens of suspicious bets made by gamblers were recently flagged by sportsbooks.1 These suspicious bets were made “against the same small-conference teams in at least 11 men’s college basketball games over six weeks last season.”2 The NCAA and federal authorities have been investigating “alleged point-shaving in college basketball.”3 The new documents reveal alleged gambling in... Continue Reading →
Charges Dropped Against Former NBA Star Ben Gordon
Ben Gordon was the “third overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.”1 He played eleven seasons in the NBA, winning.2 He won the “NBA’s Sixth Man Award as a member of the Chicago Bulls.”3 Gordon played five seasons for Detroit, Charlotte, and Orlando.4 On Gordon’s 40th birthday, he was arrested at... Continue Reading →
Malik Beasley Gambling Investigation Raises Questions Over Credibility of Pro Leagues
On June 29, 2025, reports emerged that federal investigators have launched an investigation into Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley, focusing on allegations of gambling on NBA games1. Beasley is just the latest subject in a string of athletes—both in the NBA and in other professional sports leagues—who have been accused of using their positions to... Continue Reading →
Athletes Beware: NFL and NBA Warn Players Against Targeted Robberies
As a professional athlete, your life is no longer private. Everyday life becomes public, including where you live. Recently, homes of professional athletes, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, have been broken into.[1] Like other celebrities, these pro-athletes are targeted due to their extended time away from home and their likelihood of owning valuables worth thousands... Continue Reading →