New York Times forced to pay Alabama basketball player $9.25 million in damages

New York Times forced to pay Alabama basketball player $9.25 million in damages originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Times has been ordered to pay $9.25 million in damages to a former Alabama college basketball player, per ESPN.

An Alabama jury found Thursday that Kai Spears was defamed by The New York Times, which incorrectly reported that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in 2023. The jury awarded Spears $9.25 million in damages.

Spears sued the outlet in 2023 after its report, with the case going to trial this month. The nine-day trial concluded with the jury's decision Thursday.

Here's what to know about The New York Times being ordered to pay Spears.

In 2023, Spears sued The New York Times after it published a report that indicated he was at the scene of a 2023 shooting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Three other players from the Crimson Tide were present at the scene, including Darius Miles, who was charged with capital murder.

On Thursday, an eight-person jury delivered its verdict on Spears' case against The New York Times following a nine-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, per ESPN. The jury awarded $9.25 million  in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed Spears.

Matt Glover, an attorney for Spears, said he was pleased with the decision, according to ESPN, and that he believes "this verdict will improve journalism throughout the country." In the lawsuit, Spears claimed the inaccurate reporting had caused him "emotional distress and forever linked him with a murder."

The New York Times indicated in its 2023 reporting about the shooting incident that Spears was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting.

Per ESPN, the outlet cited an anonymous source who had spoken "on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters." However, days later, The New York Times acknowledged it had made an error and corrected the story.

After losing in court on Thursday, The New York Times said it will be reviewing its legal options, per ESPN.

"We're disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake," spokesman Charlie Stadtlander said in a statement, per ESPN. "We thank the jury for its service, but believe the verdict and award of damages are contrary to law and not supported by the evidence."

In January 2023, 23-year-old mother Jamea Harris was shot and killed while sitting in a car near the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. The shooting reportedly occurred following a verbal altercation between two groups.

The incident involved former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, who allegedly retrieved a gun from the car of another star player, Brandon Miller, who was not accused of wrongdoing. Miles allegedly gave the gun to another man, Michael Davis, who was the shooter.

Davis and Miles were arrested and indicted in the killing; Miles was charged with "aiding and abetting" Davis by providing the gun, per ESPN. In 2025, Miller testified that he was almost struck by bullets fired into his car during the shooting, and that he had driven the gun to the scene, where it was taken out of the car by Miles and Davis. 

The University of Alabama confirmed at the time of Miles' charge in 2023 that he had been "removed from campus" and "is no longer a member of the Alabama men’s basketball team," per ABC News.