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Defector

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 08: Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges, middle, dunks against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, left, and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, during the second half of Game Two of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena on July 08, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Ross D. Franklin-Pool/Getty Images )

The Suns Simply Have Too Much Juice

David Roth

Devin Booker and Chris Paul high-five at the end of Phoenix's victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Podcasts

The NBA Finals At The End Of The World, With Albert Burneko

Brook Lopez tries and fails to guard Devin Booker.

The Bucks Can’t Let It Be This Easy

Samer Kalaf

ESPN sports broadcaster, Rachel Nichols at American Airlines Center on February 06, 2021 in Dallas, Texas.

Journalismism

The Current Version Of Deadspin Can’t Even Eat Shit Correctly

Albert Burneko

Young girls play basketball in a swimming pool in a 1930s photo

A Deep And Illuminating NBA Finals Preview For Basketball Morons

Ray Ratto

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 25: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks draws up a play during a huddle during the second half in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum on June 25, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Congrats To Mike Budenholzer On Not Being Fired

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Assistant coach Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 14, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona.

When A Coach Becomes A Cudgel

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to the crowd after a Phoenix Suns foul during the first half in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Is That All There Is?

This formulation was never going to work.

Guys Can Only Get You So Far

Tom Ley

The Blazers Really Don’t Want To Talk About This

The Clippers Are Not Dead

Damian Lillard gestures to the crowd during a playoff game.

Scoopbrain Is A Contagious Illness

Was That Some Sort Of Prank?

Patrick Redford

NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 04: Jason Terry #31, Shawn Marion #0, Jason Kidd #2 congratulate Jose Barea #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the New Orleans Hornets at New Orleans Arena on November 4, 2009 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Good Luck To The Mavs With All This

We Must Find The Devilish Hacker Who Sent A Mildly Embarrassing But Totally Innocuous Tweet From Jay Williams’s Account

Let Us Now Watch Game 1 Of The Eastern Conference Finals, And Speak Of It Together

Giri Nathan

Deandre Ayton Had To “Like, Dunk It, OK?” So He Did

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

Dan McQuade

Devin Booker in a suit, sitting at the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery

The Official Defector Guide To The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery

<a href="https://jeremygordon.xyz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeremy Gordon</a>&#8216;s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, and Pitchfork.

Jeremy Gordon

A Grand Unified Theory For Achieving Total Basketball Enlightenment

Trae Young Is The Best Enemy

What Was Doc Supposed To Do?

Basketball Is Played By People, Not Archetypes

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers bumps into fans during the fourth quarter during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center on June 20, 2021 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Who Wants Ben Simmons?

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 and Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate the win of game seven of the Eastern Conference second round at Barclays Center on June 19, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-111 in overtime to win the series.

NBA