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Patrick Redford

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 3: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder is interviewed after the game against the Utah Jazz during the 2023 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 3, 2023 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chet Holmgren Has Been A Joy In An Otherwise Disappointing Summer League

Albert Burneko

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) extends his arms above his head

Catch The Victor Wembanyama Show

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Victor Wembanyama answers for his overeager security guard.

Please Do Not Hit Britney Spears For Touching The Shoulder Of Victor Wembanyama

Ray Ratto

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers watches from the bench during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Moda Center on March 24, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Damian Lillard May Have Hit The Eject Button Too Late

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

Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 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.

The Sixers Enter Another Summer Of Angst

Samer Kalaf

A closeup of the Qatar World Cup gold medal

Capital

Qatar’s Interest In The Washington Wizards Is The Next Step

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Scoot Henderson celebrates after being drafted third overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2023 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 Blazers Are At A Fascinating Crossroads

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 25: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 25, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 134-105. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Whatever The Warriors’ Plan, It Doesn’t Involve Jordan Poole

Shams Charania gestures during an interview.

Media Meltdowns

Shams Charania’s Whoopsie Sure Made Someone A Lot Of Money

Dave McKenna

In Praise Of Andre Jackson, A Dunker From The Gods

Giri Nathan

Wemby Takes New York

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 07: Former NBA athlete Isiah Thomas and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia attend Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 129-124. 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.

Isiah Thomas Will Always Find A New Situation To Fuck Up

Israel Daramola

Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards watches during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 17, 2023.

Bradley Beal Is A Wizard No More And The Suns Are Going For It

Michael Jordan on the sideline of a Charlotte Hornets game in March of 2023.

Let’s Look Back On The Charlotte Hornets Under Michael Jordan

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 12: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with his daughter Ognjena after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023 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. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Defector Up All Night

Nikola Jokic’s Tiny Adorable Daughter Is Now An NBA Champion

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates as he leaves the court after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 94-89 NBA Finals clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Nikola Jokic Just Wants To Go Home

The Nuggets Couldn’t Have Done It Without Bruce Brown

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 12: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates after a 94-89 victory against the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at Ball Arena on June 12, 2023 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. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Jamal Murray Became A Champion And His Best Self All At Once

APR 28 1968; READY FOR ROCKET-TICKET CAMPAIGN; Jack Grunwald, right, will serve as general chairman of the Denver Rockets' season-ticket drive that will be launched with an organizational dinner meeting for 60 area businessmen Monday evening at the Denver Athletic Club. Grunwald headed last year's drive that set an ABA high of nearly 700 season tickets. Mapping plans are, from left. Rockets owner J. W. Ringsby, cochairmen Max Moore and Frank Byrne.; (Photo By The Denver Post via Getty Images)

It’s An Upset That The Nuggets Exist

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

The Heat’s Fire Turned Back To Embers

Tom Ley

DENVER, CO - JUNE 12: A overall view of the Denver Nuggets team during the post-game celebration during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE

A Championship Deciphers The Past

Life's Rich Pageant

Paul Pierce Traps Kevin Garnett In Grim Men’s Livestream

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets grabs the rebound during Game Three of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on June 7, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

The Nuggets Were Just Too Damn Big

Duncan Robinson (55) of the Miami Heat flexes after a strong finish as Nikola Jokic (15) and Denver Nuggets teammates head to the bench for a timeout in the fourth quarter of Miami's 111-108 win during Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, June 4, 2023

A Little Duncan Robinson Can Go A Long Way

DENVER, CO - JUNE 4: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets on June 4, 2023 at the Ball Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBA