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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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Better Hate An Owner

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Death To The NCAA

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Sports

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

Dan McQuade

BenWatch: Ben Back, But Bicycling

Tom Ley

Watching James Harden Right Now Is Pretty Funny

Giri Nathan

Russell Westbrook Was A Mess

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Ish Smith #10 of the Charlotte Hornets in action against Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets during a game at Barclays Center on October 24, 2021 in New York City.

Sometimes You Just Need Ish Smith

Lauri Markkanen Squashed Nikola Jokic

Ray Ratto

Oh Look, The NBA Made A Big List For You To Get Mad About

Steph Curry Is Still Pretty Lonely

Laura Wagner

Simmons maybe sleeping with his eyes open at practice on Monday.

Defector Up All Night

Daryl Morey: Not Annoyed

David Roth

Marvin Bagley is fouled by both Zion Williamson and Jaxson Hayes in a '19-20 NBA game no one on earth remembers.

Podcasts

Entering Marvin Bagley III Mode, With Patrick Redford

Knicks Heroically Overcome Selves In Season Opener

Andre Drummond Tried A Eurostep On The Fast Break

Barry Petchesky

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 20: Nassir Little #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Moda Center on October 20, 2021 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Shoe Steals Ball, Nearly Steals Game

Albert Burneko

Weeks If Not Months In Advance, A Thorough Preview Of The 2021-22 NBA Season

Patrick Redford

The Humiliating Taunt That Brought Me To The Light

Jason England

Side-by-side images of Dave Chappelle and Kyrie Irving.

Politics

The Limits Of Dave Chappelle And Kyrie Irving’s Free-Thinking

Louis Keene is a writer for the Forward and the creator of <a href="http://unstatable.com">Unstatable</a>, a newsletter about the Clippers. He’s on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/thislouis">@thislouis.</a>

Louis Keene

The late Malik Sealy and Brent Barry at a Los Angeles Clippers game in the Arrowhead Pond, in 1997.

25 Years Ago, The Clippers Came Closer To Moving To Anaheim Than Anyone Knew

BenWatch: Leaving His Ball And Going Home

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 17: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns reacts in the first half of game five of the NBA Finals at Footprint Center on July 17, 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Robert Sarver May Yet Screw This Up

Ben Simmons stands sullenly at Sixers practice.

BenWatch: Unidentified Pocket Object

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Russell Westbrook Has The Eye On Him

Shams Charania gestures during an interview.

Journalismism

Shams Charania Needs To See His Teacher After Class

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 03: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets cheers from the bench during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 3, 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Kyrie Irving Won’t Be A Net Until He Ends His Vaccine Holdout

BenWatch: Ben Simmons Is Once Again Physically Located In Philadelphia

KyrieWatch: Not Budging Yet

Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers calls out a play against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Don’t Trade Ben Simmons, But Also What Would You Take For Him?