Draft:Steve Haney
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Submission declined on 15 July 2026 by EaglesFan37 (talk).
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Steve Haney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | Thomas Jefferson School of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | Trial attorney |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | Christian Dawkins case, Jonathan Rinderknecht case, The Scheme |
Steve Haney is an American trial attorney and former prosecutor. He previously served as an assistant attorney general and prosecutor in Michigan before entering private practice.
Haney has represented Christian Dawkins in the federal college basketball corruption case, Jonathan Rinderknecht in the federal Palisades Fire prosecution, NBA player Malik Beasley, and Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson in legal and business matters.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Haney was raised in Lansing, Michigan, where he attended Everett High School.[5] He began his collegiate basketball career at Loyola Marymount University before transferring to San Jose State University, where he completed his NCAA Division I career as a guard.[6] Following his basketball career, Haney attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor before entering legal practice.[7]
Legal career
[edit]Early legal career
[edit]After earning his Juris Doctor, Haney began his legal career as an assistant attorney general and prosecutor in Michigan.[8] During his career as a prosecutor, he handled insurance fraud, automobile theft, and other complex criminal investigations before entering private practice.[8]
Christian Dawkins trial
[edit]Beginning in 2017, Haney represented Christian Dawkins in the federal college basketball corruption investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.[1][9] During the proceedings, Haney argued that the prosecution improperly criminalized conduct involving NCAA recruiting practices rather than traditional bribery or fraud.[9]
Haney continued representing Dawkins through trial, sentencing, and post-conviction proceedings, including efforts to obtain a new trial after developments involving an FBI agent connected to the investigation.[10]
The Scheme
[edit]Haney appeared in the 2020 HBO documentary The Scheme, directed by Pat Kondelis.[11] The documentary examined the federal investigation into corruption in college basketball through the perspective of his client, Christian Dawkins.[11]
Jonathan Rinderknecht and the Palisades Fire prosecution
[edit]In 2025, Haney became lead counsel for Jonathan Rinderknecht after federal prosecutors charged Rinderknecht with arson in connection with the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history.[2]
During the federal trial, Haney argued that prosecutors had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rinderknecht started the fire.[12] The defense challenged the government's interpretation of witness testimony and physical evidence while presenting an alternative theory that fireworks, rather than Rinderknecht, were responsible for igniting the blaze.[13]
Following several weeks of testimony, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and the court declared a mistrial in 2026.[14]
Sports law
[edit]A 2012 Boston Globe feature identified Haney as a former representative of Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and discussed his work with Johnson during the ownership of a Swedish professional basketball club.[4] The article described Haney's involvement in professional basketball and international sports business.[4]
In 2022, Haney represented NBA prospect Scoot Henderson during negotiations for Henderson's multi-year endorsement agreement with Puma.[15] Sports Business Journal reported that Haney, together with agents Christian Dawkins and Wallace Prather, negotiated the agreement, which was described as the richest shoe endorsement deal for a non-draft-eligible basketball player at the time.[16]
Malik Beasley
[edit]In 2025, Haney began representing NBA player Malik Beasley during a federal investigation into alleged gambling involving NBA games."[17] Following Beasley's indictment in 2026, Haney stated that Beasley maintained his innocence and urged the public to reserve judgment until the evidence was presented in court.[3] Reuters, the Associated Press, and ESPN reported on Haney's public statements and role as defense counsel during the proceedings.[18][3][17]
- ^ a b Schlabach, Mark; Goodman, Jeff (October 9, 2017). "How Christian Dawkins went from unknown to central figure in scandal that rocked college basketball". ESPN.
- ^ a b "...". Associated Press.
- ^ a b c "Former NBA players Malik Beasley, Ed Davis are latest to be charged in gambling scandal". Associated Press. June 29, 2026.
- ^ a b c Washburn, Gary (September 29, 2012). "Haney has bright ideas for new ABL". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ^ "Spartans have a point to prove". Los Angeles Times. August 6, 1989.
- ^ "Steve Haney College Stats". Sports-Reference.com.
- ^ "Steven Alan Haney". Martindale-Hubbell.
- ^ a b "Private Interests". Auto Rental News.
- ^ a b Fenno, Nathan (November 16, 2018). "Bank records indicate bribe intended for former USC basketball assistant may have been pocketed by middleman". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Christian Dawkins seeks new trial after FBI agent pleads guilty to gambling government money". ESPN. February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Scheme". HBO.
- ^ Mejia, Brittany (June 10, 2026). "In trial opening, feds accuse man of lighting Palisades fire as 'revenge' on the wealthy". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Deliberations to begin in Palisades Fire trial". CNN. June 24, 2026.
- ^ "Arson case over Los Angeles Palisades Fire ends in mistrial". Reuters.
- ^ Zagoria, Adam (June 13, 2022). "Basketball Star Scoot Henderson Signs Multi-Year Deal With Puma". Forbes. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ^ "Puma lands G League Ignite star Scoot Henderson". Sports Business Journal.
- ^ a b "Sources: Pistons' Malik Beasley subject of federal gambling probe". ESPN.
- ^ "Former NBA players Malik Beasley, Ed Davis indicted on gambling-related charges". Reuters.
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