Reeves Nelson lawsuit against Sports Illustrated dismissed in L.A. Superior Court

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by former UCLA Bruins basketball standout Reeves Nelson against Sports Illustrated and senior writer George Dohrmann, according to a press release.

Nelson filed the suit in response to a story filed on March 5, 2012, titled "Not the UCLA Way", that was the result of a lengthy investigation and gave details on the major issues plaguing the prestigious UCLA basketball program under head coach Ben Howland.

The report also gave details of Nelson's poor behavior throughout his tenure as a student-athlete within the program that ultimately resulted in his dismissal from the team. The court ruled that because Dohrmann provided evidence of using numerous sources and putting in extensive work on the article, that he would be absolved of any wrongdoing.

"We have stood behind the reporting of our Pulitzer Prize winning writer since day one," said Sports Illustrated in a statement. "We are pleased that after reviewing the case, the court agreed it should be dismissed."

Nelson is currently vying for a spot on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster in hopes of resurrecting his playing career.