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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

Defector's 2025 Tip Jar Sweepstakes: Join Chris and Kelsey in the Great Blogger Bake Shop

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Tip jar sweepstakes

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Giri Nathan

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks attempts a layup against John Collins #20 and Nicolas Batum #33 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Intuit Dome on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, 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. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Clippers

Cooper Flagg Makes History Against The Ancient Clippers

Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors looks to pass the ball against Saddiq Bey #41 of the New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors

The Warriors Without Steph Curry Are Bad, But The Pelicans Are Still Worse

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Ray Ratto

Cason Wallace #22, Isaiah Hartenstein #55, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2, Chet Holmgren #7, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 23, 2025.

Portland Trail Blazers v Oklahoma City Thunder

Are The Thunder Too Good?

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Patrick Redford

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 24: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors waves to the crowd as he walks off the court after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena on November 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers v Toronto Raptors

Podcasts

Welcome To The ‘Nothing But Respect’ Media Hour

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 17: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after he dunks in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena on November 17, 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. (Photo by Rick Osentoski/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers v Detroit Pistons

Jalen Duren, Phenomenal Leaper, Has Made The Leap

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


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Chris Thompson

Kon Knueppel

Can Anything Make The Hornets Make Sense?

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on from the bench in the second half during timeout against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on November 22, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.

Memphis Grizzlies v Dallas Mavericks

Even In Street Clothes, Ja Morant Is The Drama

Victor Wembanyama sits court-side in street clothes.

Wemby in street clothes

Basketball Is Too Hard For All This Soft Tissue

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket after being fouled by Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson (2) in the first half

Lakers vs Jazz in Los Angeles, CA

LeBron James Embraces His Version Of An Old-Man Game

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 29: Luka Garza #52 of the Boston Celtics watches warmups before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Garden on October 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

Which NBA Teams Are Cool?

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 16: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors gets into a verbal altercation with a fan during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on November 16, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors v New Orleans Pelicans

A Brand-New Draymond Green Incident Cycle Has Arrived Right On Schedule

Boston, MA - November 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla high fives guard Payton Pritchard in the second quarter. The Celtics played the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on November 12, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Payton Pritchard, Derrick White get back on track to help Celtics rout Grizzlies

Boston Sports Franchise Removes The Phrase “White Power” From Its Website

Jokic dribbles 2025

Even By His Lofty Standards, Nikola Jokic Is On One

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Center on November 10, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. 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. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks v Dallas Mavericks

This Is Not The Start Cooper Flagg Wanted

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A Brief Tour Through The Bad Parts Of The NBA, With Ock Sportello

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Tom Ley

ScoreCard TV

Am I A Bug To You?

Nico Harrison

Nico Harrison Is Toast

Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball in overtime to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center on November 10, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

Cleveland Cavaliers v Miami Heat

The Heat And Cavs Played The Wildest Eight Seconds Of The Season

Kings head coach Doug Christie looking confused.

doug christie

The Kings Are An Abomination

Tech leaders, including Sam Altman (C), CEO of OpenAI, and Tim Cook (2nd L), CEO of Apple, attend a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump with tech leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 4, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

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Capital

An Evening With Sam Altman And Steve Kerr

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 03: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at FedExForum on November 03, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons v Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant’s Melodrama Tips Into Tedium

Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears of the New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Denver Nuggets

The Pelicans Are Already Deeply Alarming

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 25: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Charlotte Hornets v Philadelphia 76ers

The NBA’s Rookie Class Is Getting Straight To Work

A detailed view of a hand holding a Fanduel Sports Network–branded microphone during an interview after the Detroit Pistons defeated the Boston Celtics on February 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.

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