Reeves Nelson files defamation lawsuit against Sports Illustrated Former UCLA basketball player Reeves Nelson filed a $10-million defamation lawsuit against Sports Illustrated on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit stems from an article ("Special Report: Not the UCLA Way") published in March in which Nelson was portrayed as a bully who mistreated former Bruins teammates. Nelson, a junior who was chosen first-team All-Pac-12 Conference the previous season, was dismissed from the team by Coach Ben Howland in December after a second disciplinary suspension. His first suspension was for missing a team meeting and team flight. The second suspension was for insubordinate conduct. The lawsuit contains sworn declarations from 18 former UCLA teammates, including several who were cast in the Sports Illustrated article as victims of Nelson's alleged bullying. Among the specific allegations disputed in the declarations: That Nelson gave Drew Gordon a black eye during a scuffle at a teammate's apartment. "We have never had a fight, not at a teammate's apartment or anywhere else, nor has Nelson ever given me a black eye from a fight or otherwise," Gordon said in his declaration. That Nelson injured the back of Alex Schrempf when he "hacked" him from behind. I explained to [reporter George] Dohrmann that I did not believe Nelson intentionally meant to injure me. I further explained ... that I hurt my hip as a result of landing on my back," Schrempf stated. That Nelson purposely stepped on Tyler Trapani's chest as he lay on the court after taking a charge during a practice. Nelson did not go out of his way to step on me. Moreover, I do not believe he in any way tried to harm me during this or any drill," Trapani's declaration said. That Nelson urinated on roommate Tyler Honeycutt's bed and clothes on New Year's Eve 2009. "Nelson did not pile my clothes onto my bed ... and he certainly did not urinate on my clothes. ... Nelson played a minor college prank on me, throwing some Jolly Rancher candy and baby powder on my bed and flipping over the mattress when I left our dorm room," Honeycutt's statement said. Sports Illustrated had no comment, according to a spokesman. After leaving UCLA, Nelson played professional basketball in Lithuania. He is now preparing for the NBA draft. chris.foster@latimes.com Times staff writer Mike Hiserman contributed to this report.