Baxter Holmes’ journey to becoming one of the most respected voices in modern sports journalism began far from the bright arenas and global platforms he would one day cover. Born outside Seattle, he spent his early childhood in the Pacific Northwest before his parents made the life-altering decision to move the family back to Oklahoma to reconnect with their Native American roots. Both sides of his family have deep ties to the region, and his parents wanted their children to grow up immersed in Choctaw history, culture, and community.
Relocating to a rural community of roughly 80 residents, Holmes traded suburban life for a childhood steeped in tradition. His earliest memories include living for six months in a teepee while his father built a log cabin on their four-acre plot of land. The setting became a living classroom. His parents took him to tribal powwows, taught him about the Trail of Tears and Oklahoma’s Indigenous history, and introduced him to cultural practices such as traditional foods and the game of stickball. That early grounding in heritage, storytelling, and community would later shape his worldview as a journalist.
Sports, especially basketball, played a central role in local life. Though he admits he “warmed the bench” until his senior year, Holmes found a powerful community connection in the sport. The gym became the town’s gathering point, a place where people of all backgrounds came together. Those experiences planted the idea that sports could serve as a window into culture, identity, and shared human experience.
“One of the things that I learned growing up was the way that sports could connect people from all different kinds of backgrounds,” Holmes said. “People will gather in a common bond over cheering for that team and supporting them.”
Holmes never expected to become a journalist. Inspired by the 1996 film Twister, he initially dreamed of becoming a meteorologist and storm chaser. But the course of his life shifted during a high school math class when the local sports editor knocked on the door looking for someone to cover area teams. Holmes’ coach recommended him.
“I had always enjoyed reading and writing. I really enjoyed the art of trying to capture in words what happened in a compelling and interesting way,” said Holmes.
In sports journalism, Holmes discovered a passion for transforming movement, emotion, and narrative into stories. Soon, he was writing constantly for multiple papers and earning the nickname “Mr. Newspaper.”
“It’s something I think about a lot.” Holmes said. “How a career kind of knocked on the door and came out of nowhere.”
“One of the things that I learned growing up was the way that sports could connect people from all different kinds of backgrounds. People will gather in a common bond over cheering for that team and supporting them.”
College was always an expectation in Holmes’ family, and he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where he quickly found his true home: the student newspaper. Under the guidance of longtime advisor Jack Willis, Holmes learned professional-level journalism from day one. Willis marked up every edition of the paper, holding students to the highest standards.
The newsroom became like a second home to Baxter, and he thrived in the competitive, creatively charged environment full of ambitious young writers pushing each other to excel.
“We took ourselves very seriously,” he added. “I was around a lot of really talented people. We were making each other better all the time. I was really fortunate to be there at the time I was.”
Internships across the country followed, culminating in an internship-to-entry-level position at the Los Angeles Times. Holmes packed his car, drove across the Southwest, and walked into one of the nation’s greatest newsrooms just days after graduating.
“I’m a big believer in the idea that it can just take time to get better. I’m much better today than I was ten years ago, but I’m not nearly as good as I want to be.”
Immersed in a world of Pulitzer winners and seasoned reporters, he confronted the reality of how green he actually was as a journalist. But the challenge energized him. He embraced the constant journey toward improvement and striving to reach the fullest extent of his abilities.
“I’m a big believer in the idea that it can just take time to get better,” said Holmes. “I’m much better today than I was 10 years ago, but I’m not nearly as good as I want to be.”
In his mid-20s, the Boston Globe offered him the Celtics beat. Covering a storied franchise in a ravenous sports market was sink-or-swim, but he was determined to rise to the occasion. The pace was relentless, the spotlight intense, and the learning curve steep, yet he describes those years as some of the most exciting and formative of his life.
“I was either going to do it well, or I was going to fail spectacularly in a very public way because it’s a high-profile position, but I wanted to test myself,” said Holmes.
Although he loved writing for The Boston Globe, Holmes is not one for passing up opportunities to improve as a journalist. So, when an offer came in from ESPN to cover the LA Lakers, he jumped at the chance to work with Henry Abbott, someone Holmes greatly admires.
“I got to do a lot of the work that I really cared about under him, and he made me better immediately,” Holmes said.
Throughout his career, Baxter Holmes has remained grounded in gratitude. He credits mentors, editors, and colleagues at every stage for shaping him, guiding him, and opening doors. Their influence, combined with his relentless work ethic and belief in the uniting power of sports, has defined a career path built on curiosity, community, and the pursuit of great storytelling.
