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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Tom Ley

Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers scores a basket with .3 seconds remaining during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

2025 NBA Finals – Game One

We Must Consider Whether The Pacers Have A Pact With Beelzebub Himself

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Albert Burneko

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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Ray Ratto

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Patrick Redford

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David Roth

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter on March 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

shai vs pacers

Before You Is The Defector Mega-Preview Of The 2025 NBA Finals. Kneel!

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Minnesota Timberwolves v Los Angeles Lakers – Game Five

Media Meltdowns

Curious, I’m No Longer Hearing Much Chatter From The Many Haters Who Claimed That LeBron James’s Podcast Would Never Become “#8 On Trending” And “#9 On Trending”

DENVER, CO - MAY 11: Hitting Coach Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies talks to Michael Toglia #4 in the dugout in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on May 11, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Hurdle was named the interim bench coach after the game when Manager Bud Black and Bench Coach Mike Redmond were fired after the Rockies 7-33 start to the season.

San Diego Padres v Colorado Rockies

Clint Hurdle Is Thinking Big Thoughts

Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks reacts against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New York Knicks v Indiana Pacers – Game Three

Knicks Decide They Are Too Good For Tom Thibodeau

George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, May 25, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Toronto Blue Jays v. Tampa Bay Rays

Blue Jays Rally Undone By George Springer’s Little Hops

A woman wearing Save Girls Sport hat records a video of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the girls long jump at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School on May 24, 2025 in Moorpark, California.

CIF Southern Section Masters Meet

Youth Sports

It’s A Great Time To Be A Pathetic Loser

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball against Julius Randle #30 and Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Minnesota Timberwolves – Game Four

That’s What We All Want To See

A dejected Brenton Doyle #9 of the Colorado Rockies sits on the ground after a go-ahead two run home run off the bat of Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies flew over his glove in the eighth inning at Coors Field on May 19, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Philadelphia Phillies v Colorado Rockies

Rockies Fans’ Best Hope Might Be More Losses

Tracy Morgan, Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller attend Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks – Game One

Congratulations, You Are Officially Having A Better Day Than Several Celebrities

Jalen Williams (8) of the Oklahoma City Thunder guards Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

DENVER NUGGETS VS THUNDER, NBA

The Thunder Tried Really Hard

Russell Westbrook #4 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after a three point basket during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena on April 29, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Los Angeles Clippers v Denver Nuggets – Game Five

Journalismism

Nobody Can Do That

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics lays on the ground after being injured against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Boston Celtics v New York Knicks – Game Four

It Can All Go To Hell In A Hurry

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a shot against Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers of game three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 09, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Cleveland Cavaliers v Indiana Pacers – Game Three

All Of You Motherfuckers Are On Fraud Watch

Paul Pierce

Life's Rich Pageant

Paul Pierce Turns Grim Men’s Wager Into Pleasant Men’s March

New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges blocks a shot by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at the end of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden.

Yes, it happened again: Celtics head to New York down 2-0 to Knicks after giving up another 20-point lead

Mikal Bridges Is Making A Meal Of The Celtics’ Mess

Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the fourth quarter of Round Two Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Paycom Center on May 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder – Game One

That Was All Mark’s Dang Fault

Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets goes berzerk after dunking and taking a technical for hanging on the rim theatrically during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series.

DENVER NUGGETS VS LA CLIPPERS, NBA

Nikola Jokic’s Friends Showed Up When He Needed Them Most

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a three-point basket late during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 01, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons – Game Six

Jalen Brunson Got Away Clean

A fan sits alone in the purple row of seats that are exactly on mile above sea level during a game between the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 23, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Houston Astros 8-6.

Houston Astros v Colorado Rockies

Which Towering Dinger In Denver Is Jerry Dipoto Actually Talking About?

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Bennedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers get into an altercation after Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 29, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Milwaukee Bucks v Indiana Pacers – Game Five

Bucks Collapse Leads To Giannis Antetokounmpo Delivering Fatherhood Lessons To Tyrese Haliburton’s Dad

56th NAACP Image Awards – Arrivals

Shannon Sharpe Stepping Away From ESPN Following Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers drives on Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Kawhi Leonard Is Just Living With It

Fans celebrate a three-point basket by Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Chase Center on April 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Denver Nuggets v Golden State Warriors

Defector Up All Night

Get Busy In The NBA Playoffs Open Thread

The Wyoming basketball team, left to right: Coach Everett Shelton; James Reese, forward; Milo Komenich, center; Kenny Sailors, forward; James Weir, guard; and Leon Brown, guard.

Coach Giving Instructions to Basketball Team

Silence! You Are Summoned To Read A Preview Of The 2025 NBA Playoffs