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Giri Nathan

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski looks on at a Lakers game

Adrian Wojnarowski Leaves The Scoopster Life For A Job With His Alma Mater

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

WWE Informs Viewership Of Tyrese Haliburton

Samer Kalaf

Patrick Beverley Reveals More Than He Intended About Life In Israel

Alex Shultz is a journalist based in Brooklyn. He&#8217;s a writer for <a href="https://www.hardresetmedia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hardresetmedia.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763581679564000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07bi0TNndgTXDN2QH72s3J">Hard Reset,</a> a newsletter about tech, labor, and power.

Alex Shultz

The lobby of the Javits Center during Fanatics Fest

Capital

Three Days At Fanatics Fest, Michael Rubin’s Hollow Monument To Sports And Culture

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Lebron James #6 and Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States celebrate after their team's win against Team Serbia during a Men's basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Steph Curry Kept The U.S. On Top

USA's #11 Joel Embiid celebrates at the end of the men's semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP)

Joel Embiid’s War With The French Nears Its Conclusion

Patrick Redford

Japan's #08 Rui Hachimura leaves the court after being sent off for committing to successive unsporting fouls in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between Japan and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 30, 2024.

Cheating-Ass France Men’s Basketball Needed A Pair Of Miracles To Beat Japan

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Jayson Tatum not playing in the Olympics.

Steve Kerr Needs Some Better Excuses

Joel Embiid Continues His Summer Of Grousing

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 04: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is interviewed before Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The NBA’s Landmark TV Deal Shows What Matters

Jaylen Brown and Kysre Gondrezick at a Summer League game

Celtics Wing Kisses Ring After Dissing King’s Offspring

Tom Ley

Jayson Tatum #0 high fives Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

When Did Basketball Get Wings?

Klay Thompson #11, Andrew Wiggins #22, Jonathan Kuminga #00, and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on from the bench during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 Play-In Tournament

This Is So Stupid

An Attempt To Draw This Overstuffed Sentence About Klay Thompson Leaving The Warriors

Ray Ratto

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 02: Lebron James watches as the Los Angeles Lakers introduce 2024 NBA draft picks Dalton Knecht and Bronny James at UCLA Health Training Center on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / For The Times)

Roster Flexibility Is A Flexible Term

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 16: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2024 Play-In Tournament on April 16, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Klay Thompson Left It All In Oakland

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers high fives Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers after the game on December 23, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Paul George And The Sixers Have To Make This Work

Bronny James is drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Much Ado About A Worthless Pick In An Awful Draft

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Rob Dillingham arrives prior to the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of 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. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The New CBA Is Already Making NBA Teams Squirm

Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart on a FaceTime call after the Knicks traded for Mikal Bridges.

The Knicks Spend Five First-Round Picks On A College Reunion

JJ Redick looks on before the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers on March 2, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

After All That, The Lakers Hire LeBron’s Podcast Co-Host

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 17: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Al Horford Earned It

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics exults near the Larry O'Brien Trophy after his team's win in the decisive Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics Are Champions, Among Other Things

Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Celtics Were Built To Shine

JJ Redick is seen prior to Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

JJ Redick And Shams Are Back, Maybe

The NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the NHL Stanley Cup are pictured in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

NBA