CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

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.

Defector

Australian Football

Better Hate An Owner

Bowling

Chess

Climbing

Cricket

Curling

Cycling

Darts

Death To The NCAA

Disc Sports

Gaelic Football

Gambling

Golf

High School Sports

Horse Racing

Hurling

Infinite Replay

Jamboroo

Lacrosse

Olympics

Parasports

Pro Softball

Pro Wrestling

Racing

Rugby

Running

Skateboarding

Soccer

Sports Highlight Of The Day

Tennis

The Fights

The Great Outdoors

Volleyball

Why Your Team Sucks

Wings Week

Sports

Tom Ley

The Sixers And Joel Embiid Are Back In The Bad Times

Patrick Redford

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the Indiana Pacers on February 1, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson Is The Heart Of The Knicks

Ray Ratto

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 11: NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a press conference ahead of the Paris Game 2024 match between Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers at Accor Arena in Paris, France on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Some People Just Can’t Stand To See A Load Managed

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 29: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings looks for a rebound during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 29, 2024 at FedExForum 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

An Ode To The Modern Rebounder

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat rebounds the ball against Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 29, 2024 in Miami,

My Bad: I Cursed The Miami Heat

Joel Embiid with 70 paper; Luka Doncic with 73 paper

The NBA’s Tribute To Minimalist Art

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Knicks Have Something

The Wizards Avoided Firing Their Crappy Head Coach, By Promoting Him

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 17: Doc Rivers looks on before the Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers game on January 17, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Bucks Call Doc Rivers Off The ESPN Bench

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 20, 2023 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Kevin Porter Jr. Accepts Plea Deal, Will Avoid Jail Time

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 22, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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

Karl-Anthony Towns’s Big Night Turned Into A Big Bummer

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

Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 22: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after being showered with water after defeating the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center on January 22, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Embiid scored a franchise-record 70 points in the game.

Joel Embiid’s Epic Performance Must Be Seen To Be Believed

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs scores against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2024 in Washington

There’s No Ignoring Victor Wembanyama

Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley celebrate a bucket.

Dare To Speak The Forbidden Words: The Minnesota Timberwolves Are Good Now

Giri Nathan

This Is So Stupid

Deandre Ayton Could Have Scooted On His Butt

The Pacers And Raptors Help Each Other To Escape The Play-In

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrates after a three-point basket during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on January 16, 2024 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Paul George Makes The Clippers Terrifying

Barry Petchesky

Harvey Weinstein and James Dolan at House of Elyx on December 13, 2015 in New York City. Dolan has a drink in his hand.

Music

Lawsuit Accuses James Dolan And Harvey Weinstein Of Sexual Assault

Jordan Poole scratches his head during the loss.

The Wizards Leave You Nothing To Root For But The Other Guys

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat celebrates a 95-94 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on January 15, 2024 in New York City.

There Goes Miami’s Herro

Scoot Henderson #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder tumble after a loose ball during the second half at Paycom Center on January 11, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 NBA Is The Best At Showing Us The Worst

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center on January 07, 2024 in San Francisco, 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Warriors Are On A Two-Game Meltdown Streak

Isaiah Hartenstein celebrates with Julius Randle

Isaiah Hartenstein Is New York’s Big Dog Now

Head Coach Monty Williams of the Detroit Pistons reacts towards referee Scott Foster #48 during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Little Caesars Arena on January 09, 2024 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images)