Ex-Alabama Player Wins $9.25M Defamation Suit Against New York Times; Harden Regrets Sacrifices

A former Alabama basketball player, Kai Spears, has been awarded $9.25 million in a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The jury found that the newspaper defamed Spears by incorrectly reporting he was present at the scene of a fatal shooting. Spears, a former walk-on for the University of Alabama men's team, sued after the Times published a report citing an anonymous source that placed him as a passenger in a car involved in the incident.

In separate basketball news, James Harden expressed regret over the sacrifices he made for his former teams, including the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers, stating they ultimately amounted to nothing. Meanwhile, Mark Mitchell is transferring to Kentucky after a court ruling allowed him a fifth season, potentially bolstering the Wildcats' roster. Other college basketball updates include Jalen Washington's continued eligibility for Tennessee despite a new NCAA ruling, and visa issues potentially preventing Djordije Jovanovic from joining St. John's.