New York Times defamed ex-college basketball player Kai Spears, must pay him $9.25 million in damages, jury says

August 21, 2026 / 7:39 AM EDT

/ CBS/AP

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Tuscaloosa, Ala. — An Alabama jury on Thursday awarded $9.25 million in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed a former college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa.Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men's team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that indicated he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times reported that the person had spoken "on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters." Days later, the Times acknowledged its error in an editor's note and corrected the story.

Kai Spears, of the Alabama Crimson Tide, during a practice session at State Farm Stadium in April 2024 in Glendale, Arizona.