I left Sports Illustrated to cover the LA Clippers independently

When I was 18 years old, I started an Instagram page to talk about the LA Clippers. I had no following and no professional writing experience, but wanted somewhere to voice my thoughts on the team I grew up watching.

After every game, I’d post the final score and max out Instagram’s caption limit with my analysis. A lot of those went out to zero followers. To grow my page, I’d DM fans I saw interacting with other Clippers pages and ask them to follow.

The goal was to eventually make covering the Clippers my job. I didn't know how I'd get there, but I needed to start somewhere.

For the next three years, I posted every day and took any small writing job I could find. I slowly grew, and in 2021 I was given an opportunity to cover the Clippers for Sports Illustrated.

The media landscape has changed a lot since then. Especially on the Clippers beat. The LA Times no longer has a Clippers beat writer. Neither does ESPN.

Most Clippers road games last season had zero beat reporters covering the team. To fulfill his media duties, Ty Lue would field postgame questions from play-by-play announcer Brian Sieman. No one else was there to ask him anything.

Even Kawhi Leonard noticed the lack of media presence on the road. He joked in the locker room after an early-season home game that us reporters didn't want to come anymore because the team was losing. I explained outlets aren't paying for travel, and we laughed about whether he really wants to see more of us than he already does.

It was a funny exchange, but also a sad reminder that a team with first-ballot Hall of Famers, approaching a transformative trade deadline and historic mid-season turnaround, often had zero reporters there to document it all.

I've done my best to attend everything since joining the Clippers beat. But every expense has been out of pocket. Training camp, Summer League, road games, playoffs. All the flights, hotels, Ubers — out of pocket.

On many occasions, the cost to attend those events was greater than what I made while there. Obviously, not a sustainable business model. But I picked my spots and worked multiple other jobs to fund my dream job.

All of that has led me to this point. It's time to bet on myself and go independent.

Local coverage of the Clippers has been dwindling. And many of the outlets who do still publish content about the team, including SI, have leaned heavily into a model that — to put it simply — deprioritizes the coverage real fans care about.

That's been hard to see. But it's also inspired me to make this move. Because I know the Clippers have one of the most passionate and loyal fanbases in the NBA. And they deserve coverage that cares as much as they do.

That's what I've worked hard to provide, really since I was 18 on Instagram, but especially since I became a credentialed media member. And the best place to do that is now on my own.

I recognize in 2026 you need about 100 different paid subscriptions to do anything. Asking you to add another one isn't something I take lightly. So, what should you expect from joeylinn.com?

For $6.99 per month, or a discounted $69 per year (two months free), you'll receive access to all of my content. This will include the same in-depth Clippers coverage I've aimed to provide since joining this beat. Exclusive interviews, analysis, reporting, game coverage, news, injury updates — all of it.

But for the last five years, you've gotten that for free. So we have to step things up.

Video Content

For those who have followed me for a long time, you may remember the video breakdowns I used to do with a PS4 mic and iMovie. A better version of those will be part of the content here. Film studies, player spotlights, that kind of stuff.

I'll also be sharing full interview videos from every game and practice I attend, as well as an up-close look at behind-the-scenes stuff I'm able to share. I want this site to feel like you're on the beat, experiencing all of the things I'm fortunate to on a daily basis.

You'll still get a lot of that from me on Twitter, but this site will give an extended look at what doesn't always hit social media.

Mailbags + Founding Member Tier

I've always felt I worked for the fans. And being able to answer your questions directly is something I'm excited about. On a regular basis, you'll have the opportunity to submit questions and get them answered right here. Those mailbags, and the ability to submit questions, will be included in all paid subscriptions.

For those who want to show extra support, I'm also offering a $9.99 per month, or a discounted $99 per year, Founding Member tier that includes everything in the Member subscription, plus added perks.

Like a mailbag on steroids, Founding Member subscribers will have the opportunity to vote on the content they want to see. Rather than submitting a question and having it answered, you'll be able to choose the topic of entire articles, videos, and more.

Along these same lines, I'll also be hosting live Q&A sessions with Founding Member subscribers. The plan is to do these monthly, but I suspect the frequency will increase, as this team always gives us plenty to discuss.

I try to have my finger on the pulse of what fans care about, but this will remove any guesswork, giving you the chance to hand pick the content you want to see.

To everyone who has supported my coverage over the years, I can't thank you enough. In a landscape that continues moving further away from dedicated beat reporting, I'm more committed than ever to give fans the coverage they deserve. Your support is what makes that possible. I hope you'll join me on this new journey.